The Endline

Sterlinho here coming to you live from Qwest Field. We just heard the National Anthem and we’re getting ready for kickoff. Oh yeah, this post is dedicated to our fan McKenzie who’s stuck at home doing homework instead of attending the game.

Tonight’s Starters:

Seattle: Keller, Evans, Marshall, Hurtado, Gonzalez, Souter, Vagenas, Alonso, Zakuani, Ljungberg, Montero

Portland: Cronin, Keel, Joy, Smith, Danso, Kirk, Marcelin, Loepz, Pore, Obatoli, Josten

The Sounders are in their traditional home kit of rave green jersey and blue shorts.

The Timbers are in all white.

3-Both teams are feeling each other out right now.  The ECS are really loud right now.

7-Zakuani just got taken down as he was running through the Timbers defence. No call so there were a lot of boos.

8-Zakuani earns a corner. The corner goes too deep and nothing comes of it.

10- The Sounders have had some good possession down the left side with Gonzalez, Zakuani and Ljungberg.

11- Somehow the “Seattle” “Sounders” cheer got going without the North End Supporters to respond to the Brougham End. I guess the East and West stands can fill in.

13-The Timbers are knocking the ball around the back quite easily.

15 – Ljungberg is finding room to move in front of the defense.

15- The ball was played in from the right to a wide open Zakuani who slides in and mis-hits the ball. It looked like a sure goal but the ball deflects into the middle of the box and is cleared.

17-Ljungberg is taken down right outside the box. A quick free kick is taken and is parried wide for a corner.

18-The corner is cleared and Portland counters down the right side.

19-Corner kick for Portland. A volley attempt is blocked.

20 – Seattle is able to counter but Fredy Montero can’t handle the pass and go with pace. Goal kick Timbers.

21-#9 Gabriel Obatoli for the Timbers looks like the more dangerous attacking option for the Timbers tonight

22-Zakuani get free down the left and cuts in to shoot with his right. The shot is blocked wide for a corner.

23-The corner gets cleared and both teams struggle for possession.

26-Zakuani gets down the left and crosses to no one.

27-Marcelin plays the ball out of bounds as he attempts to drop it to the defense.

28- ECS are singing, “Take them All.” I’m surprised how quiet the TA have been.

30-George Josten just misses wide to the right of the goal. That quiets the ECS.

I haven’t heard attendance but the lower bowl has filled in nicely. Some of the upper corners are empty but a good turnout.

34-The Sounders have been stringing some good passes together while the Timbers can’t get much offense going.

35- Ljungberg threads a pass to Montero in the box and is knocked down. No call and the boos rain down.

36- Zakuani gets free in the box and cuts back and forth. The shot is blocked, but the moves looked nice.

37-Ljungberg is down and Alonso kicks the ball out of bounds. Portland seems content to defend and counter attack.

39-Montero’s taken down from behind on the right wing. Free kick is played straight to Cronin.

42-Seattle is really attacking down the left flank.

43- Another good build up down the left. Freddie plays Fredy who knocks it back to Alonso at the top of the box. Alonso’s shot trickles into the box and is cleared.

44 GOAL Portland Timbers – against the run of play Portland gets free down the left off a Sounders miscue. Ryan Pore is clear with Keller and slots it across the goal to Gabriel Obatoli who calmly side foots it into goal.

Halftime – The Timbers lead the Sounders 1-nil going into the break. The Timbers have had 2 or 3 chances and that’s been about it. They were able to catch the Sounders on the counter attack and made them pay. Other than that the run of play has been with the Sounders. It’s shaping up to be an interesting 2nd half.

Here are the halftime stats:

Portland- Shots 4 (Obatoli 2), Shots On Goal 1 (Obatoli), Fouls 6 (Ian Joy 2), Offsides 2 (Obatoli & Josten) Corners 1, Saves 1

Seattle – Shots 5 (Zakuani 2), Shots On Goal 1 (Ljungberg), Fouls 2 (Marhsall & Souter), Offside 0, Corners 4 (Ljungberg 4), Saves 0

45- We’ve kicked off.

SUBS – I see that Roger Levesque is in for Ljungberg and Tyrone Marshall has made way for Jeff Parke.

49-Zakuani is fast! He’s playing the old kick and run down the left side. The Sounders are now attacking the South End in fron of ECS.

50- Sounders Corner. Levesque with the volley from the 18 yard line but it sails into the arms of Cronin.

53- The Seattle Sounders cheer is going again.  Montero gets free 20 yards out and swings but misses. He goes down like he was clipped from behind.

54- SUBSTITUTION – Portland: Alex Nimo goes in for Rodrigo Lopez.

57 – Not a lot of possession right now for either team.

58 – Alonso plays in a cross that bounces around in the box. The Sounders appeal for a handball but instead get a corner. The coner is cleared to the right wing to Nimo.

59- Alex Nimo has looked good since coming on for Portland. I was told that he was just acquired again today for another loan spell from Real Salt Lake.

60 SUBSTITUTION – Seattle – David Estrada comes on for Kevin Souter

62 SUBSTITUTION – Portland - The goalscorer, Gabriel Obatoli makes way for Doug DeMartin.

64 -Estrada lays it off to Evans on the right side who loses it to Stephen Keel and then fouls Keel.

65 – Levesque flick it to Montero in the box but its picked off by Portland in a good defensive play.

66 – A left footed shot by Montero from way out. Cronin easily saves.

67 SUBSTITUTION – Seattle: Zakuani goes off and Patrick Ianni goes on.

Tonight’s attendance was just announced at 18, 606.

70 – Yellow card issued to James Marcelin  of Portland for a bad tackle.

71 – The Free kick is played in by Vagenas to Jeff Parke who heads on goal. Caught by Cronin.

72- Portland is really defending right now.  Montero just faked 3 shots and finally has his attempt blocked.

73 SUBSTITUTION-Portland:  Quavas Kirk comes out for Scot Thompson. Seattle: Vagenas makes way for Stephen King.

Jeff Parke has looked good for the Sounders. In an ideal world they would sign him, but who knows if they have the cap and roster room to pick up a veteran defender.

76 – The Sounders cross from the right corner of the box and the header goes wide. A Portland defender goes down but I can’t tell who it is in the pile of players.

77 – King feeds Evans on the right who crosses it low into the box. The ball bounces around and Estrada heads it wide from a tight angle.

78- Evans again gets free down the right but his lay off across the box is too far ahead of Montero.

79 – Montero gets a ball in the box on the left, he cuts it to his right and shoots. Another easy save by Cronin.

80 Substitution – Seattle: Gonzalez makes way for Tyson Wahl

81 – Wahl gets himself involved quickly and plays in a cross from the left but no ones there.

81 – Montero dances around the ball 25 yards out and lays it off. Again the cross goes through everyone and Portland avoids danger.

82 – Evans with a Seattle Corner. It bounces around the box and Cronin punches it safely out.

83 – Another Evans cross and another Cronin punch. Portland counter quickly but in the end it trickles to Keller’s feet.

85 – A portland Counter makes it’s way down the left side. A great run put George Josten one on one with Keller. He goes around Keller and shoots but it hits off the right post and out to the 18. Keller picks it up and Seattle attacks. It should have been a 2nd goal for the Timbers.

87 Sbstitution – Portland: Josten comes out for Josh Cameron.

88 – A Sounders free kick is taken on the left side about 25 yards out. The shot curls to the near post but Cronin save it.

89- Substitution – Portland: James Marcelin makes way for Derek Gaudet

90 – Estrada plays in a cross from the left and Montero gets a head on it. Cronin catches and we’re going the other way.

90+ Another cross from the left. Parke dummies it but Cronin is there to block the ball from crossing the goal mouth.

90+ Seattle is desperately playing the ball into the box but the Timbers deal with the crosses. Cronin makes a big save and there’s the final whistle. The Portland Timbers win the Inaugural Sounders FC Community Shield 1-0.

Bart Wiley just presented the Community Shield to the Timbers captain and the team head over to the North end to thank the Timbers Army for their support.

The theme for this game was Sounders FC possession and Timber counter attacks. The Timbers had two good opportunities and put the first one away for the game winner. The second good chance had Keller beat but Josten ended up hitting the far post on an open goal.

The Sounders looked very much like last year’s team. When Ljungberg came out the same attacking creativity wasn’t there. Montero continued to play with the ball at his feet and wait until he was marked to take his shot. The Sounders frustrated fans last year when they would pass up shots and this seemed like more of the same. They need a pure goalscorer..maybe Blaise N’Kufo will be that man for them.

The stadium has cleared out now and the Timbers Army are still waiving their flags in celebration.

We’ll bring you more from tonight including DT’s pictures from the field. I’ll also offer up more thoughts on the game if I get to see some video of it.  Thanks for staying with us (especially you Stacepticon).

UPDATE

Here is the Sounders video that shows the Portland goal and their miss off the post. It also shows the cross that Evans put in to Zakuani that looked to be a sure goal. What it doesn’t show is who got beat on the Portland goal. Enjoy!