Timbers triumph over Sounders in Cascadia Cup rivalry match

Portland - Diego Valeri scored goals on either side of half-time to give the Portland Timbers a 3-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders on Sunday.

Valeri's first came on the brink of halftime, as he combined with Lucas Melano to move the ball down the left wing. Melano eventually threaded a pass through three Seattle defenders into the path of Valeri, who sent a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Stefan Frei.

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The lead was doubled five minutes into the second half with Valeri's ninth goal of the season. After receiving a cross-field pass from Jermaine Taylor, Valeri worked past defender Joevin Jones near the goal line and sliced a shot with the outside of his foot over Frei, off the far post, and in.

In the 59th minute, Seattle defender Chad Marshall headed in Andreas Ivanschitz's corner kick for his third goal. But Portland restored its two-goal advantage five minutes later on Fanendo Adi's goal.

Melano carried the ball from box to box before sliding a pass across to Adi, who chipped a shot over Frei for his 10th goal of the season.

Seattle has lost seven of its last 10 league matches (2-7-1) and was missing captain Clint Dempsey, who was suspended for this Cascadia Cup rivalry match after receiving a red card in Wednesday's 5-0 thumping of FC Dallas.