Seattle Sounders x Portland Timbers

The Portland Timbers and the Seattle Sounders FC played to a scoreless draw on the road at Lumen Field on a Saturday afternoon. The first half was physical and stalemated in the middle of the field since neither team could establish any rhythm or space to exploit. When the home team possessed the ball, they relied heavily on Cristian Paredes, their defensive midfielder, and their captain, Diego Chara.

Portland's most significant chances came on their counterattacks. Dairon Asprilla looked the most threatening and had the best opportunity of the first half in the 14th minute. The Brazilian crossed the ball to a streaking Asprilla on the left as the action entered the penalty area. Sounders defender Cody Baker stepped in front of the Colombian winger just as he was about to shoot, tapping the ball away from Asprilla and into Seattle's goalkeeper Stefan Frei's hands.

Battling and rough play continued until the second half. As Seattle pressed for a result at home, Portland's Aljaz Ivacic was called into action and was more active in the net. In the 54th minute, Ivacic made a crucial clearance off the line after a Nicolas Lodeiro in-swinging corner kick sparked a Portland counterattack. The ball traveled the length of the field before Evander took a shot that Frei easily blocked.

Shots were sent back and forth, but neither team could break through, and the game ended in a scoreless tie.

[Photography by Alejandro Sanchez]