Valeri’s Return Sparks Portland Timbers To Big Win Against Seattle

In the first 2016 meeting between the Cascadia rivals, the Portland Timbers emerged victorious over the hated Seattle Sounders, 3-1, in one of the most impressive performances of Portland’s season thus far.

A Timbers-Sounders match is always a heightened spectacle and this episode was no different, with both supporters’ groups at full throat over a half hour before kickoff. An impressive Freddy Kruger-inspired tifo stretched across the Timbers Army as the final act prior to kickoff.

An exciting first half saw both teams with multiple good chances at goal, including a Darlington Nagbe shot that was cleared off the line and Seattle debutante Jordan Morris missing an open goal from 8 feet away. Diego Valeri finally kicked off the scoring in the 44^th minute after taking a beautiful layoff from Lucas Melano at the top of the 18 and sliding it just beyond Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei’s outstretched arms, giving Portland a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

The second half contained more fireworks, with Valeri adding a second goal on a strike in the 50th minute from an angle that simply has to be seen to be believed. But Seattle wasn’t about to just roll over for their neighbors to the south, with Chad Marshall heading in a corner kick in the 60^th minute to bring the Sounders back within one.

However, just four minutes later, Melano would find Adi on the break, and the Nigerian striker would add another to his season tally. Portland’s third goal seemed to finally break the resolve of Seattle, and the Timbers killed off the last 20+ minutes with relative ease.

The result provides a nice springboard for Portland as they begin the second half of their campaign; Portland now sits at 29 points after 21 games played, tied for fifth place in the Western Conference.

Portland also finally seems to be getting healthy, with Caleb Porter having a full complement of players to choose from for the first time in months. Most important was the return of Valeri, who had missed the previous three games with a leg contusion. Portland had scored only one goal total in the previous three games, but was able to salvage three draws on the strength of their defense. But the difference in Portland’s attack with Valeri was obvious against Seattle, as he was far and away the most important player on the field.

As Portland heads into the stretch run of the 2016 season, they finally seem to be finding that elusive formula for sustained success. Valeri, Adi, and even Melano are beginning to peak, the backline has finally stabilized, and Gleeson has been a revelation in goal.

Portland has a long road ahead but, for the first time in 2016, the path to a repeat of the 2015 championship run can now be seen. Should Portland maintain their health and form, 2016 just might end up feeling like 2015 all over again.