Timbers Lose Out to Sounders in Penalty ShootOut in LamarHunt US OpenCup

The Portland Timbers came up against a mountain on Wednesday night at PGE Park as they faced the MLS Seattle Sounders FC in the third round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. 

The Sounders were just a little faster, jumped a little higher for headers and pressed the ball up the pitch a little harder all night.

The Timbers left everything they had out on the pitch. They fought and died for everything, taking a 1-1 scoreline through the 30 minutes of extra time, before losing 4-3 on penalty kicks.

The Sounders used a brilliant display of passing to take an early lead in the 13th minute. Midfielder Miguel Montano dribbled the ball down the left touchline before sending a cross to Sanna Nyassi, just in front of the goal line, on the right side. Nyassi centered a pass to Nate Jaqua, who was unmarked, six yards directly in front of the goal. Jaqua headed the ball into the right hand side of goalkeeper Steve Cronin net.

With the Sounders keeping on the pressure and the Timbers playing back on their heels, it looked as if the Sounders were in position to take the match.

But in the 38th minute, the Timbers' new offensive sharpshooter, Bright Dike, scored the equalizer, his fifth goal in three matches.

The goal came when Ryan Pore dummied a Sounder defender inside the penalty box. Pore made a short pass to Dike, who had moved just outside the penalty box before hitting a low ball to the right side of the goal with just enough venom to send it past goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

To view the match video click here http://myscottishfootball.blogspot.com/2010/07/timbers-lose-in-penalty-kick-shootout.html