The stage was set: beautiful Seattle sunshine; Raúl and Cristian on the bench; playing your biggest rival, this time at home with a chance to replace the memory of that fiasco in April. It could have — should have been — a tactical masterclass, defensive clinic, knock-down-drag-out battle between two behemoths ultimately leaving it all on the field. Instead, it was a slow, tedious match featuring a boring team against an also boring but more tired team that ended in a passionless 0-0 draw. Portland displayed their patented “bunker and casually consider countering, while fouling incessantly any time the opponent got across midfield” strategy.
Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers: Player ratings
