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Sounders stop Portland, 2-1

Sounders FC: Open Cup victory adds chapter to old Northwest rivalry

DON RUIZ; The News Tribune | • Published July 02, 2009

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PORTLAND – Seattle Sounders FC advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday with a 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers.

However, Cup considerations seemed a secondary issue to the record crowd of 16,382 that represented the USL Timbers’ first PGE Park sellout.

Those fans came for the resumption of a longtime soccer rivalry that began in the North American Soccer League in 1975 and continued though last season, which was Seattle’s last before jumping to Major League Soccer.

However, the teams were thrown together again in the third round of competition for the United States’ oldest soccer cup.

Seattle took control from the first minute, when midfielder Sanna Nyassi put a cross into the box, which Roger Levesque headed in for a 1-0 lead.

A little breathing room came 26 minutes later, as Stephen King sent another shot past Portland goalkeeper Steve Cronin from the top of the box.

However, Portland broke through in the 43rd minute, when Mandjou Keita beat the Seattle defense to a ball in the box, and the Sounders’ lead was only 2-1 at the half.

That lead stood up through the final 45 minutes, as both sides had chances but neither broke through.

That allowed the MLS Sounders first bragging rights in this new phase of the rivalry. Seattle also won the NASL series, 13-7, and the USL series, 16-11-5. Wednesday’s result also pushed Seattle ahead in Open Cup meetings, 6-5.

The victory sends Sounders FC to the Open Cup quarterfinals Tuesday when they will meet the Kansas City Wizards at Starfire Sports Stadium in Tukwila.