Sounders FC fall to Timbers 2-0 in reserve league

The Sounders FC dropped their first match in the MLS Reserve League 2-0 to the Portland Timbers.

TUKWILA, Wash. - The Seattle Sounders FC (0-1-1, 1 point) fell to the Portland Timbers (1-1-0, 3 points) 2-0 in an MLS Reserve League match on Tuesday night at Starfire Stadium.

"I didn’t think we played well in the first half.  We let them take the game to us.  We didn’t match their intensity and their effort.  Sometimes when you work harder than the other team, you get goals like that," Sounders FC assistant coach Ezra Hendrickson said.  "They outplayed us in the first half and their hard work gave them two goals.  We came out and tweaked our lineup a bit in the second half and were able to create more chances.  We just weren’t able to put any away today and it ended up in a 2-0 game."

The scoring opened in the 4th minute with an own goal from Seattle when Portland forward Brent Richards took a long throw from the left side that skimmed off the head of Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and into the net.

Portland doubled its lead in the 22nd minute when Bright Dike received a pass from Steve Purdy and got around the Seattle defense, finishing from the top of the box.

Servando Carrasco nearly scored for Seattle in the 31st minute but his free kick from 30-yards out was stopped by the diving keeper Brian Rowe. Moments later, Christian Sivebaek rocketed a shot from 20-yards that missed just wide of the post.

The Seattle attack was more active throughout the second half, taking nine shots and earning nine corners in the final 45 minutes.

Sivebaek had another scoring opportunity in the 78th minute when he ran onto a Marc Burch throw inside the box but his left-footed attempt was stopped by Rowe.

Following a blocked shot from Sammy Ochoa in the 69th minute, guest player Daniel Steres nearly headed in the ensuing corner kick but his attempt sailed over the crossbar.

Ochoa nearly struck for a late goal in the 84th minute after a scramble in the box but his sliding attempt was cleared off the line by the Portland defense.

"I thought Caskey showed well.  He’s been playing well for the last three weeks to a month.  I thought Mike Seamon actually played well when he came on.  Andy Rose gave a good effort," Hendrickson said.  "You can’t ask for more than effort from these guys.  If you come out and give the effort, I’m happy with that."

Seattle goalkeeper Andrew Weber left the game in the 24th minute due to injury and was replaced by Bryan Meredith.

Sounders FC will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Galaxy reserves on Monday, April 16 while Portland visits the Vancouver Whitecaps FC for its next Reserve League match on Sunday, April 22.