SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC (8-6-3, 27 points) played to a scoreless draw Saturday afternoon with the Portland Timbers (4-7-5, 17 points) on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field. The result concludes a three-match homestand for Seattle, who remains in first place in the Western Conference. Stefan Frei recorded his league-leading ninth shutout of the season and 100th of his career (regular season only), becoming the third goalkeeper in league history to reach the mark.
Seattle hosted its largest crowd of the 2023 season today, as 42,054 took in the match. The game was part of a Seattle-Portland doubleheader featuring both cities’ topflight men’s and women’s soccer teams at Lumen Field, with a single ticket providing access to the full day. Following Sounders FC’s match, OL Reign hosted the Portland Thorns at Lumen Field.
Following Saturday’s match, Sounders FC hits the road for its first-ever trip to Bank of America Stadium to take on Charlotte FC on Saturday, June 10 (4:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
- At the time of writing, Sounders FC remains atop the MLS Western Conference with 27 points, two points ahead of St. Louis and LAFC. Both St. Louis (four matches) and LAFC (five matches) have games in-hand over Sounders FC.
- Sounders FC hosted its largest crowd of the 2023 season today, as 42,054 took in the match. The game was part of a Seattle-Portland doubleheader featuring both cities’ topflight men’s and women’s soccer teams at Lumen Field, with a single ticket providing access to the full day. Following Sounders FC’s match, OL Reign hosted the Portland Thorns at Lumen Field.
- In a fierce rivalry dating back to 1975 in the North American Soccer League, today’s match at Lumen Field was the 118th all-time meeting between Seattle and Portland across all competitions. Seattle leads the all-time series with a record of 56-46-16.
- Earning a point a today’s game, Seattle arrested a four-match skid against the Timbers. Sounders FC had previously dropped four losses in a row to Portland, the most consecutive losses during any span of the MLS portion of the rivalry.
- Seattle’s home record against the Timbers moves to 7-5-5 in regular-season play in the MLS era (dating back to 2011). The club is now 14-14-8 in regular-season play against the Timbers.
- Today was also Seattle’s third Cascadia Cup match of the year, the regional cup competition played between Sounders FC, Portland and Vancouver. The Rave Green currently sit in third place in the 2023 Cascadia Cup standings. Portland is leading the way with seven points (2-1-1), with Vancouver close behind with six points (2-1-0).
- On home turf at Lumen Field in 2023, Seattle has five wins, three losses and two draws through 10 MLS contests on the EQC Pitch.
- Keeping the clean sheet today, Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei recorded his 100thshutout in MLS regular-season play. By hitting the century mark, Frei becomes just the third player in MLS history to accomplish the feat (Nick Rimando, Kevin Hartman).
- Club captain Nicolás Lodeiro made his 200th start for Seattle on Saturday afternoon across all competitions, becoming just the fifth Sounder to achieve this mark in the club’s MLS era. The Uruguayan joins Stefan Frei, Cristian Roldan, Osvaldo Alonso and Brad Evans.
- Entering the match as a 57th-minute substitute, midfielder Cristian Roldan made his return from an injury layoff that dates back to April 15. Roldan was making his way through the concussion protocol, forcing him to miss 11 matches for the Rave Green. He last featured on April 8 in 3-0 win over St. Louis. He now has eight appearances for the club in 2023 (seven starts).
- There were five changes to Head Coach Brian Schmetzer’s starting XI today from Wednesday’s match versus San Jose, with Yeimar Gómez Andrade replacing Xavier Arreaga at centerback, while Cody Baker replaced Alex Roldan on the backline (suspension). João Paulo (suspended for Wednesday’s match) was back in central midfield for Josh Atencio, while Reed Baker-Whiting rotated in for Dylan Teves on the right wing. Fredy Montero got the nod up top in place of Héber.
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – Portland Timbers 0
Venue: Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field
Assistants: Cory Richardson, Jose Da Silva
Fourth Official: Fotis Bazakos
Weather: 67 degrees and clear
POR – Diego Chara (caution) 7’
POR – Claudio Bravo (caution) 70’
POR – Cristhian Paredes (caution) 79’
SEA – Jackson Ragen (caution) 90’+2’
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Cody Baker, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Joao Paulo, Albert Rusnák, Reed Baker-Whiting (Cristian Roldan 57’), Nico Lodeiro (Héber 87’), Léo Chú; Fredy Montero (Raúl Ruidíaz 57’)
Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Xavier Arreaga, Kelyn Rowe, Josh Atencio, Dylan Teves, Travian Sousa*
*Tacoma Defiance player on short-term agreement
Portland Timbers – Alijaz Ivacic; Claudio Bravo, Dario Zuparic, Eric Miller, Zachery McGraw; Evander, Diego Chara, Cristhian Paredes, Dairon Asprilla (Nathan Fogaça 84’); Jaroslaw Niezgoda (Franck Boli 73’), Santiago Mroeno (Marvin Loría 66’)
Substitutes not used: David Bingham, Sebastian Blanco, Justin Rasmussen, Juan Mosquera, Larrys Mabiala, Noel Caliskan