My name is Matthew Evans, thank you for joining us tonight at VAVEL USA.
Congratulations to the Portland Timbers, they advance into the Round of 16.
Our VAVEL USA Man of the Match is Adam Kwarasey. He made some outstanding saves in key moments to keep the Timbers on top. His save on Kovar in the 56th minute comes to mind as well as others.
Thankfully the players are being very sportsmanlike and exchanging handshakes at the center circle.
The officials are receiving a police escort off the field. How fitting.
Full Time: Portland Timbers 3, Seattle Sounders FC 1
120': Urruti is played in behind the defense but he is offside. The final whistle is blown before we even reach the final seconds.
119': Neagle plays long to Remick who is offside.
117': Urruti goes down after a challenge from Rose. Fans are starting to throwing objects onto the field.
117': Wow.
116': GOAL! URRUTI! A turnaround shot to the near post and that will do it from Starfire Sports Complex. 3-1 Portland.
116': Boos raining around the ground here at Starfire.
115': A corner coming to the Timbers here.
114': This is something that I have never seen before. Seattle down to seven men after three red cards and one stretchered off the field.
113': Clint Dempsey has been sent off apparently for dissent. This is nuts. Seattle is down to 10 men. Oh wow, that was a soft foul called on Azira.
112': WOAH!!! A STRAIGHT RED TO MICHAEL AZIRA! An apparent elbow to Gaston Fernandez! AND DEMPSEY IS OFF TOO! WHAT IS HAPPENING?!?!?!
111': Yellow Card - Taylor Peay
110': The corner is cleared.
109': Portland just playing keepaway here. Dempsey with the steal, Mears wins a corner after his cross is deflected out of bounds.
108': Seattle earns a throw in deep in the Portland end.
106': Yellow Card - Jack Jewsbury
106': Portland will get us underway here in the second half of extra time.
End of 1st OT: Portland Timbers 2, Seattle Sounders FC 1
105+1': There is the end of the first half of extra time.
104': Seattle with a free kick from the sidelines. Neagle cannot beat the first defender and it is easily cleared.
103': We are watching the equivalent of a 5-on-3 powerplay in hockey, except that this is going to last for more than 30 minutes.
101': Portland just playing keepaway now. Seattle is pressing into the Portland end but they need to be careful.
100': GOAL! RODNEY WALLACE! Fochive took the original shot that bounces to Wallace from a very close distance. 2-1 Portland
99': Nagbe dances his way into the area, he fires a low shot that Perkins pushes out for a corner.
98': SAVE! Villafana cuts inside and shoots to the near post but Perkins gets a palm on the ball out for a corner.
97': Portland holding possession to try and zap the energy of Seattle.
96': MISS! Wallace plays a low ball across the face of goal. Nagbe runs towards it but he cannot get a touch to direct it at goal.
95': Portland Sub: Maxi Urruti (In), Fanendo Adi (Out)
95': Neagle curls a shot to the far corner but the shot is just wide.
94': Wallace plays a ball to the backpost. Adi and Fernandez get in each other's way and the ball is cleared.
92': Dempsey takes a half-volley from distance that does not miss by much.
91': Seattle gets us underway.
Here we go. 30 minutes more for the Sounders and Timbers. The Sounders' 21 match unbeaten streak at Starfire is on the line.
We are headed to extra time. Two 15 minute periods, if we are still tied, we will go to penalties.
Regular Time: Seattle Sounders FC 1, Portland Timbers 1
90+6': There is the second half whistle. We are going to extra time.
90+4': Portland fans in the far corner are clapping for Obafemi Martins as he is stretchered past them to the waiting ambulance.
90+4': The free kick goes right to Perkins. No danger there.
90+3': Obafemi Martins is on a regular stretcher now, his night is over.
90+3': Oh boy, Portland earns a free kick from about 25 yards out straight away.
90+2': Paparatto gets his head on the corner kick but it just misses the far post.
90+2': A late corner coming to Portland.
90+1': BLOCK! Gaston Fernandez fires a shot that is blocked by Tyrone Mears in the center of the area.
89': Portland is throwing numbers forward as they should being up two men. Martins is sitting up on the stretcher across the field.
88': Martins is stretchered off the field. For the time being, Seattle is down to nine men.
85': Martins looks to have taken an accidental boot to the chest from Darlington Nagbe. No intent on that one there. Just a painful looking fall. He is still down on the pitch.
84': Seattle Sub: Tyrone Mears (In), Leo Gonzalez (Out)
82': Portland pressing forward but nothing to show from the first wave of attack. A goal kick coming for Seattle.
79': GOAL!!!!! OBAFEMI MARTINS!!!!!!!!! Neagle whips the ball to the back post where it falls to the boot of Obafemi Martins. He puts the ball past Kwarasey at the near post. Borchers tried to clear it off the line but the ball was already in.
79': Remick earns a corner kick for Seattle. Neagle comes over to take.
78': MISS! Dylan Remick steps into space and hits an curling shot that nearing catches the near post.
76': We apologize for the technical difficulties here in the second half. Seattle is on the back foot as expected playing down a man.
71': Seattle Subs: Dylan Remick and Clint Dempsey (In), Aaron Kovar and Cristian Roldan (Out)
69': We are back after some technical difficulties. Things are going from bad to worse for Seattle as Brad Evans has been sent off for his second yellow card of the night.
62': Jewsbury cleans out Andy Rose on the sidelines but no foul is called for that challenge. A foul is called but for the infraction before the Jewsbury one.
60': Portland Sub - Gaston Fernandez (In), Diego Valeri (Out)
59': Seattle earns another corner kick after a cross is deflected. The corner is an inswinger to the far post that Kwarasey comes out to grab before Marshall can get to it.
58': Clint Dempsey is warming up on the other side of the pitch. How much longer until we see Deuce?
56': SAVE!!!!! KWARASEY!!!! Kovar gets a clean header from within the six yard box that Kwarasey gets across to stop. What a play.
54': Deep free kick played to Marshall who gets a head on it back into the area. It is cleared. The ball is headed around the box some more but finally cleared by Portland. Seattle is really putting on the pressure here.
54': Yellow Card - Norberto Paparatto
53': Martins plays a diagonal ball towards Neagle. Kwarasey gets to it first.
51': SAVE!!! DOUBLE SAVE!!! Martins fires a curling ball to the far post that Kwarasey saves, the rebound falls to Neagle who fires at the near post but Kwarasey pushes the ball outside the near post for a corner.
50': Martins muscles his way to the ball. He fires a shot that is deflected. Kwarasey gathers before Rose gets there.
48': GOAL!!! DIEGO VALERI!!!! A cross from Wallace is whipped into the back post that bounces on its path to goal. Valeri got a boot on the ball, Perkins got a hand to the ball but he could not keep the ball out. 1-0 Portland
46': Portland Timbers kicking off. Seattle is moving from right-to-left on your keyboard.
Well interesting, the Sounders are now wearing their white shirts with the highlighter green shorts.
The teams are coming back onto the pitch for the second half.
Score Update: Real Salt Lake 2, S2 1
Score Update: Real Salt Lake 1, S2 1
We will be back after a short break with second half coverage.
Halftime: Seattle Sounders FC 0, Portland Timbers 0
45+3': There is the halftime whistle.
45+2': Jewsbury pulls down Martins in the center circle. No card shown on that one.
45+1': Two minutes of stoppage time
44': Valeri takes a knock to the ankle. He is up and limping but he did earn a free kick.
42': Kovar makes a run down the wing. He takes a cross that is deflected, it bounces in the box but Kwarasey is off his line to gather the ball.
40': Kovar throws a dart towards the front post. Jewsbury heads the ball back that is not a problem for Kwarasey.
38': Yellow Card - Brad Evans
38': Kovar plays a long throw in the box that bounces to Roldan, but he cannot get a clean shot off.
37': Kovar sends the corner across which is headed out by Adi. The ball rolls out for a throw-in.
36': Portland Sub: Taylor Peay (In), Alvas Powell (Out)
35': Kovar makes a run down the wing. He attempts a cross that is deflected out of play for a corner kick. Powell is hobbling off the field again.
33': Play is at a halt as Alves Powell is receiving treatment in the penalty area. He is slowly walking off the field.
31': A poor pass from Martins to Roldan leads to a Portland breakout. They play the ball to Adi but Marshall makes a great defensive play to dispossess the big Portland forward.
28': Powell earns a free kick after being knocked off balance by Kovar.
27': MISS! Kovar takes a volley from distance but the ball misses into the side netting.
25': Valeri is played in behind the defense. He makes a nifty move on the goal line, he cannot fire a shot and the ball is cleared by Seattle.
22': Both teams giving the ball away easily now. Not much sustained possession in the last few minutes. It has been a very disjointed game to this point.
20': Yellow Card: Andy Rose
20': Adi is played at the top of the box with his back to goal. Great play from Marshall to win the ball and not committ the foul.
Score Update: S2 1, RSL 0
16': Kovar attempts to hit a cutting Evans at the near post but Rodney Wallace heads the attempt clear.
16': Kovar plays his free kick towards Rose at the back post. The header is blocked, Rose attempts a cross that is deflected out for a corner.
14': The match is starting to get a little chippy. Official is calling a good amount of fouls, trying to keep control of this match.
12': MISS! Rodney Wallace connects on a volley in the box that just slices wide past the far post.
10': Ross Fletcher reminding us that Diego Chara is suspended for this match due to the red card picked up in the USOC match between these two clubs last season.
9': Fisher is played into space down the right wing. He looks to put in a cross but the ball is low and easily cleared by the Timbers.
8': Portland starting to sustain some possession. Borchers plays a long ball to Adi that is cleared away by the Seattle defense.
6': Oneil Fisher plays a good ball across the middle that is headed back into the area. Neagle gets a header to the ball but it is wide.
5': Seattle earns a corner. The ball is played in to the forehead of Rose but his header goes up and over the bar.
2': Aaron Kovar and George Fochive are both down on the pitch after a collision in the middle of the field. They both look to be okay as they are up and walking off the field.
1': An early free kick coming for the Timbers after Azira is called for a handball.
1': The Sounders kick off moving from left-to-right on your keyboard and we are underway.
Seattle is wearing their pitch black shirts, with their highlighter green shorts. Portland is wearing their traditional green kits with white sleeves along with their white shorts and green socks.
The teams are coming out onto the pitch.
The anticipation is building here at Starfire for this match. It is always a tense affair when the Sounders face off against the Timbers.
Another matchup to watch is the physical battle between Fanendo Adi and Chad Marshall.
We turn out attentions to Starfire Sports Complex now. A matchup to watch tonight will be between Rodney Wallace and Oniel Fisher. Fisher is making his first start for the Sounders tonight and only his second appearance this season. He came off the bench for a four-minute cameo back in March against FC Dallas.
Score Update: FC Dallas 4, Oklahoma City Energy FC 0
Philadelphia Union and the Rochester Rhinos are entering a shootout.
The match between Real Salt Lake and the Seattle Sounders FC 2 is just moments away from getting started. S2 is wearing their all-white kits.
Score Update: Sporting Kansas City 1, Saint Louis FC 0
They are inching closer to penalties at PPL Park. Can the Union find a winner late in the second half of extra time?
Reports from Starfire Sports Complex indicate that Liam Ridgewell was a late scratch due to a stomach issue. Thanks for Don Ruiz (@donruiztnt)
Both teams dressing only 17 players for tonight's match.
Score Update: FC Dallas 3, Oklahoma City Energy FC 0
Here is the starting eleven for the Portland Timbers (4-2-3-1): Kwarasey; Powell, Borchers, Paparatto, Villafaña; Jewsbury, Fochive; Nagbe, Valeri, Wallace; Adi
Score Update: Colorado Rapids 2, Colorado Springs Switchbacks 0
Score Update: FC Dallas 2, Oklahoma City Energy FC 0
Only six on the bench for Seattle as players like Damion Lowe and Victor Mansaray are cup-tied to S2
Score Update: Colorado Rapids 1, Colorado Springs Switchbacks 0
Here is the starting eleven for the Seattle Sounders FC (4-4-2): Perkins; Fisher, Evans, Marshall, Gonzalez; Roldan, Azira, Rose, Kovar; Martins, Neagle
Score Update: Philadelphia Union 0, Rochester Rhinos 0. That match is headed into extra time.
Full Time: New York Red Bulls 3, Atlanta Silverbacks 0. Red Bulls advance into the Round of 16.
Score Update: FC Dallas 1, Oklahoma City Energy FC 0
The sixth match of the night is underway as the Colorado Rapids are playing against the Colorado Springs Switchbacks for the first time.
Five matches underway so far, only one game with goals to show for it. Which match(es) do you see going into extra time? Leave your comments in space below.
They are underway in Texas between FC Dallas and the Oklahoma City Energy FC.
Score Update: New York Red Bulls 3, Atlanta Silverbacks 0
Lineups for tonight's match between the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers should be out in the next 45 minutes. What do you expect to see on the lineup cards tonight?
The next wave of games is getting set to kick off. Sporting Kansas City vs Saint Louis FC and Chicago Fire vs. Louisville City FC kick off in the next five minutes.
Score Update: New York Red Bulls 2, Atlanta Silverbacks 0
Score Update: New York Red Bulls 1, Atlanta Silverbacks 0
The Fourth Round of the US Open Cup is underway! We will keep you posted on the early scores all the way through our live commentary of Seattle Sounders FC - Portland Timbers.
We are seeing some early pictures of the crowds at the first few games tonight. They are pretty bare. Could Rochester or Atlanta take advantage tonight?
The fourth round of the Lamar Hunt US Open Cup starts in 18 minutes at PPL Park and Red Bull Arena. Which games are you watching right now?
If you would like to follow our coverage of the United States Women's National Team match against Nigeria, you can find that coverage here.
Stay tuned for score updates from all of these matches tonight here on VAVEL USA.
San Jose Earthquakes vs Sacramento Republic FC, 10:30 pm ET
Colorado Rapids - Colorado Springs Switchbacks, 10 pm ET
FC Dallas - Oklahoma City Energy FC, 9 pm ET
Chicago Fire - Louisville City FC, 8:30 pm ET
Sporting Kansas City - Saint Louis FC, 8:30 pm ET
New York Red Bulls vs Atlanta Silverbacks, 7:30 pm ET
Philadelphia Union - Rochester Rhinos, 7:30 pm ET
Other matches on the docket include:
S2 advanced to the fourth round after defeating Portland Timbers 2 in the third round at Starfire Sports Complex. S2 will kick off at 7:00 pm PT tonight.
Tonight we will also keep you post on all of the other scores in the fourth round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. One of the big matches that fans following this match would be interested in comes from Rio Tinto Stadium as the Seattle Sounders 2 take on Real Salt Lake.
If Valeri is not ready to start tonight, expect to see Gaston Fernandez start at the no. 10 spot right behind either Adi or Urruti up front.
Health is also a big question for the Timbers. Diego Valeri has not played in the last three matches after rolling his ankle against Toronto FC. Dairon Asprilla will not be available either after he injured his ankle in the Timbers’ last match against New England. Will Johnson is also unavailable due to National Team duty.
Things are starting to come together for Portland now as they are playing their best football of the season. They are currently on a three-match winning streak which has seen them outscore opponents five to one. Two of those wins were at home against Eastern Conference powers DC United and New England Revolution.
While the Sounders deal with some potential lineup shuffling, the Timbers and Caleb Porter are expected to start their strongest lineup possible tonight. Portland had the weekend off, their last match coming ten days ago when they beat the New England Revolution 2-0 at Providence Park.
Seattle will likely be without Osvaldo Alonso, Gonzalo Pineda, and Chad Barrett who are out with various injuries. Marco Pappa just played 90 minutes in Guatemala’s 1-0 win over Bermuda in CONCACAF World Cup Qualifying. Question marks are also next to the names of Obafemi Martins, Clint Dempsey, and Chad Marshall. Schmid does not want to overplay these three players this early in the season.
It will be very interesting to see how strong of a lineup is put out from Sounders manager Sigi Schmid as the team is in the middle of a three-match week. They also face a mid-week trip to Philadelphia next Wednesday before traveling back to Pacific Northwest for a derby clash with Portland.
Recent history gives the advantage to Seattle, they are on a four-match winning streak against the Timbers, as well as being unbeaten in the last five. Also Portland has only won one match in eight attempts in and around the Emerald City.
This will be the 15th meeting between these two clubs since Portland joined Major League Soccer in 2011, if you include postseason and Open Cup. Seattle holds the advantage in the series with seven wins to Portland’s four wins. The clubs have also drawn three times.
That win propelled Seattle into the semi-finals, where they destroyed the Chicago Fire 6-0 before beating the Philadelphia Union 3-1 after extra time at PPL Park for their 4th Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Trophy.
Portland would be reduced to ten men in the 99th minute when Diego Chara was sent off for a dangerous foul. The Timbers dropped back in an effort to send the match into penalties but goals from Kenny Cooper and Marco Pappa would lift the Sounders to a 3-1 win.
Seattle looked to be heading into the semi-finals after Osvaldo Alonso gave the home team the lead in the 69th minute. With time slipping away, the Timbers threw everything forward earning the tying goal in the third minute of second half stoppage time from Darlington Nagbe to send the match into extra time.
Tonight, that matchup will pit bitter rivals Seattle and Portland against each other in the U.S. Open Cup for the second consecutive year. Last year the teams played in a thrilling quarterfinal match at Starfire Sports Complex.
We have finally reached the point in the tournament in which the clubs from Major League Soccer have joined. With there being 17 United States-based MLS clubs in the Fourth Round, we knew that there would be one fixture with two MLS sides facing off against one another.
Good evening and welcome to VAVEL USA’s live coverage of the 2015 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup. We are proud to bring you fourth round action from Starfire Sports Complex in Tukwila, Washington as the Seattle Sounders FC host the Portland Timbers. My name is Matthew Evans and I will be your host for this evening’s contest.