Timbers get a leg up on Sounders
Columbus, Atlanta United also earn postseason triumphs
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Portland Timbers did what they needed to do at home for the first go-round against the rival Seattle Sounders in the MLS playoffs.
Sebastian Blanco put the Timbers in front with a goal in the 29th minute and Portland hung on over a tense second half to go up 2-1 in the opening leg of their Western Conference semifinal against the Sounders on Sunday.
The second leg is set for Thursday night in Seattle.
“We won, that’s the important thing,” Timbers coach Giovanni Savarese said. “We’ll think about everything else later. We needed a win today and found the win that we needed.”
Seattle was hurt by a pair of key injuries to starters Cristian Roldan and Chad Marshall in the opening half that could have an impact on the second leg.
“Obviously it wasn’t the result that we wanted, but at the end of the day we got a road goal, so that always helps. It’s something to put in your pocket for later. But we understand we must win the game on Thursday. Those are the facts,” Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said.
Ruidiaz scored in the 10th minute to give the Sounders the early lead. Roldan moved the ball up the left side and passed it off to Victor Rodriguez, who served it into Ruidiaz out in front of the goal. Ruidiaz tucked his shot into the left side of the net out of Jeff Attinella’s reach. It was his 11th
goal this season.
The Timbers pulled even a short time later on Jeremy Ebobisse’s goal. Stefan Frei rushed Ebobisse and slid to try to stop the ball, but Ebobisse got it past him and the shot sailed into the net in the 16th minute.
Blanco maneuvered around several defenders before a clinical finish out of Frei’s reach to put Portland in front.
CREW 1, RED BULLS 0: In Columbus, Ohio, Gyasi Zardes scored his 20th goal of the season in the 61st minute, helping Columbus beat New York in the opening game of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
The second leg is next Sunday in Harrison, N.J.
Zardes had a sliding finish of a back-heel pass from second-half substitute Federico Higuain. It was Zardes’ third career postseason goal.
New York goalkeeper Luis Robles denied Pedro Santos’ open shot from distance in the 89th, and Steffen blocked Bradley Wright-Phillips’ glancing header in stoppage time.
New York’s best scoring chance came in the 27th minute when Tim Parker headed a corner kick off the post that deflected off Steffen and was cleared away.
Columbus entered off a penaltykick shootout victory over D.C. United while New York had a bye following its third Supporters’ Shield title in six seasons.
ATLANTA UNITED 1, NYFC 0: In New York, Eric Remedi scored his first MLS goal in the 37th minute as Atlanta United beat New York in the first leg of their Eastern Conference semifinal.
Atlanta, which has won 11 of its 18 road games this season, hosts the second leg next Sunday.
Remedi tapped in a rebound after Josef Martínez’s one-touch shot was blocked by Sean Johnson and settled against the post.
Johnson made a big save of Greg Garza’s breakaway shot in second-half stoppage time.
Miguel Almiron appeared to open the scoring in the 20th minute but it was disallowed after a video replay ruled Atlanta was in an offside position during the buildup. Atlanta defender Franco Escobar sent a point-blank shot wide in the 34th.
SPORTING KC 1, REAL SALT
LAKE: In Sandy, Utah, Diego Rubio scored from distance in the 60th minute, seconds after entering as a second-half substitute, and Western Conference champion Sporting Kansas City tied Real Salt Lake 1-1 in Game 1 of their two-legged semifinal.
It was Rubio’s first touch since entering as a sub. Goalkeeper Nick Rimando’s clearance attempt was deflected by a hustling Felipe Gutierrez and Rubio settled it, took a touch and sent it inside the far post.
Albert Rusnak scored for RSL in the 52nd minute by volleying home Damir Kreilach’s header on a give-and-go. Rusnak, one of RSL’s key players, will miss the next game after picking up a yellow card on a needless challenge of Graham Zusi far from goal.
Sporting KC, which will host the second leg next Sunday, has only one win in its last 13 regularseason meetings against RSL — with six ties.