Timbers Draw Sounders FC in High-Scoring Affair

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  1. truebluefan

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    Midfielder Diego Chara recorded the first two-goal performance of his MLS career and midfielder Diego Valeri and forward Maximiliano Urruti also scored goals as the Portland Timbers registered a 4-4 draw against Cascadia-rival Seattle Sounders FC in a high-scoring affair before a sellout crowd of 20,814 fans on Saturday at Providence Park.
    Chara's brace in addition to Valeri and Urruti's first goals of the season helped the Timbers (0-2-3, 3pts) surmount two first-half goals from Seattle (2-2-1, 7pts) to take a 4-2 lead into the final five minutes of regulation. Seattle midfielder Clint Dempsey, who netted a hat-trick on Saturday, tallied twice late in the match for Sounders FC, including an 87th-minute, game-tying penalty kick. Saturday's match was the 85th all-time meeting between the two clubs across all eras, dating back to the 1975 NASL season.

    Chara became the eighth Timbers MLS player to record a brace in a regular-season match with two well-struck shots from near the top of the penalty box in the ninth and 55th minutes. Dispossessing a Seattle player, Chara fired a shot that Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei got his fingers to, but couldn't keep out of the net in the ninth minute, negating an early goal from Seattle forward Kenny Cooper. The tally marked Chara's first goal since Sept. 16, 2011, his first goal in 69 regular-season appearances.

    With the draw, Portland extended its MLS-club record home unbeaten streak at Providence Park to 18 consecutive games, dating back to a 2-0 win against Houston on April 6, 2013. The Timbers also extended their unbeaten streak against Seattle to four consecutive games in all competitions with the draw. Saturday's match also was Portland's fifth straight match without a loss against Seattle at Providence Park in all competitions, dating back to 2011.

    Following a back-and-forth opening 45 minutes that saw the two teams combine to score four goals in 24 minutes, Portland grabbed a two-goal lead as Chara carried the ball down the center of the field before firing a strong shot from 20 yards out past Frei for his second goal of the match in the 55th minute. Less than two minutes later, pressure in the attacking third allowed Urruti to win the ball and bend a well-placed shot around Frei in the 57th minute for his first goal of the season. The one-minute, 33-second span between Chara and Urruti's goals marks the shortest time between consecutive goals in Timbers MLS history.

    Portland took a 2-1 lead on Valeri's first goal of the season in the 14th minute as defender Michael Harrington provided the assist. Valeri's goal, which glanced off the crossbar before settling in the back of the net, marked his 14th career goal for Portland in just 36 career MLS games, placing him only three goals shy of the team's MLS career record (17), held by midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe.

    In a match that featured 38 fouls and seven yellow cards, four of which were issued to the Timbers, Portland conceded a penalty kick for the fourth time in its first five games of the season after conceding just five penalty attempts during the 2013 campaign. Substitute midfielder Ben Zemanski was whistled for a foul in the penalty box while challenging Seattle defender DeAndre Yedlin for a loose ball in the 87th minute. Dempsey converted the game-tying spot kick for his third goal of the match, becoming just the second player ever to register a hat trick against Portland since 2011.

    The Timbers had the opportunity to take a three-goal lead in the second half, but defender Norberto Paparatto saw a header hit the underside of the crossbar and bounce just in front of the goal line in the 65th minute. Nagbe, making his 100th career MLS appearance for the club and 53rd straight league appearance, struck the left post with a shot in the 10th minute.

    Making his second consecutive start for the Timbers, goalkeeper Andrew Weber made four saves, including a one-handed save on a well-stuck header from Seattle defender Chad Marshall to keep the score level minutes before halftime.

    Portland plays host to its second straight home game on Saturday, April 12, against Chivas USA at Providence Park. Kickoff on KPDX is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific). The match will feature local radio broadcasts on 750 The Game and in Spanish on La Pantera 940AM.

    Notes:.

    - With the result against Sounders FC, the Timbers extended their regular-season, home unbeaten streak to 18 matches dating back to April 6, 2013.

    - Saturday's match marked the 85th meeting in the rivalry between the Timbers and Sounders dating back to 1975.

    - Saturday's match was the 54th consecutive sellout at Providence Park since 2011.

    - As a result of the 4-4 draw, the Timbers improve to 4-3-4 against Sounders FC in the all-time MLS series. Portland is unbeaten in four straight games against Seattle in all competitions.

    - The Timbers are unbeaten in their last five home games against Sounders FC (3-0-2), and have not lost to their Cascadia rivals at Providence Park since the 2011 campaign.

    - The eight combined goals between the Timbers and Sounders FC ties the most scored between two clubs in the Timbers MLS history. Portland and LA Galaxy combined for eight goals on July 14, 2012, at Providence Park.

    - Portland's four goals on Saturday were the most scored against Seattle as MLS rivals (since 2011). The last time the Timbers tallied four goals against the Sounders was July 17, 2004, in a 4-3 victory in overtime, with midfielder Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar providing the decisive goal in the 110th minute.

    - Saturday marked the fourth time in Timbers MLS history in which the club scored four or more goals in a single game.

    - Midfielder Diego Chara, who celebrated his 28th birthday Saturday, recorded the first two-goal performance of his MLS career. His tally in the ninth minute was his first goal since Sept. 16, 2011, a span of 69 regular-season appearances.

    - Chara becomes the eighth player in Timbers MLS history to score two goals in a single game.

    - Midfielder/forward Darlington Nagbe became the first Timbers player in the club's MLS history to play in 100 games. Saturday marked his 53rd consecutive MLS start.

    - The one-minute, 33-second span between Timbers goals in the second half set a new MLS-club record for shortest span between consecutive goals.

    Press release from the Portland Timbers
     

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