Timbers can't find net in 2-0 loss

PORTLAND, Ore.
- Roger Levesque tallied two goals and the Seattle Sounders defeated the Portland Timbers 2-0 before 4,267 on Saturday evening.




The Timbers’ offense stayed cold on a balmy night at PGE Park, as Seattle (8-9-3, 27pts) snapped a five game losing streak to the Timbers, dating back to last year.




The Sounders win prevented a four-game series sweep by the Timbers (11-7-0, 33pts) and put them one point ahead of Milwaukee in the race for a Western Conference playoff berth.




Despite controlling possession for much of the first half, it was Seattle who caught the back of the net, scoring off a corner kick in the 42nd by Jonathan Bolanos that found its way to Roger Levesque, who punched it in from point-blank for the 1-0 lead.




Levesque collected his second goal of the match in the 80th minute when Seattle goalkeeper Preston Burpo found him on a long-distance outlet. As Timbers ‘keeper Josh Saunders came out of position to challenge, Levesque chipped the ball over his head for the clincher.




The Timbers had their chances in the opening period, first on a header by Alan Gordon that spun just right of its target and next on a left-sided shot from Alex Bengard, which was corralled by Burpo.




The second half did not produce as many opportunities for the Timbers, with their best look coming on a free kick by Andrew Gregor in stoppage time.




Byron Alvarez pestered the Seattle back line on several occasions, but could not break through to score.




Bolanos nearly added to the Sounders’ lead in the 62nd minute when he let loose on a free kick from 35 yards out that bounced downward off the crossbar and almost into the net.




The Timbers’ next match takes them north of the border to Calgary, where they’ll link up with the Mustangs on Wednesday, July 28 at 6 p.m. (Pacific).




SCORING SUMMARY:
Levesque, 42’ (Bolanos); Levesque, 80’ (Burpo).




PENALTY SUMMARY:
SEA Edwards, YC (21’), Velez, YC (45’), Nguyen, YC (84’), Jackson, YC (90’); POR Winters, YC (61’); Henning, YC (69’).




LINEUPS:
SEATTLE (8-9-3) Burpo GK, Jackson D, Velez D, Edwards D, Henderson M (Brown 13’), Sakuda M, Nguyen M (Smith 89’), Somoza M, Bolanos M, Levesque F (Callahan 82’), Sawatzky F (Tomlinson 66’); PORTLAND (11-7-0) J. Saunders GK, Morrison D, Thompson D, Henning D, Gregor M, Winters M, Bengard M (Miranda 76’), Alcaraz-Cuellar M, Sagare M, Gordon F, Alvarez F.