Coming off a come-from-behind win in their previous game against Victoria, the North Sound SeaWolves found themselves on the opposite end, losing an early lead and falling to the Portland Timbers 3-1 in a Premier Development League match June 25 at Edmonds Stadium.
The SeaWolves lost for the fourth time in five games and dropped to 4-7 with five matches left. Portland tightened its grip on the Northwest Division’s fourth and final playoff spot, improving to 7-3-1.
The Timbers swept the season series from North Sound, having defeated the SeaWolves 4-1 June 17.
“They’re a very good team,” SeaWolves coach Alex Silva said. “I was disappointed to give up a couple of easy goals, but our young guys are getting a chance to develop against good teams like this, so that’s a positive we can take.”
The SeaWolves took the lead at the 26-minute mark when Nasyir Rodriguez headed in a Jordan Correa corner kick for his first goal of the season. At that point Portland began to dominate possession, with Erik Hurtado taking multiple shots that didn’t find their mark. But in the 41st minute, Cameron Vickers sent a corner kick that found Hurtado’s head and the forward finished past SeaWolves keeper Elmer Rodriguez. It was Hurtado’s third goal of the season against North Sound.
“The first 30 minutes our possession was great, our defense shifted well and tied them up,” Silva said. “But after that first goal by Portland things started to break down and we started to make mistakes.”
Nine minutes into the second half, Portland took the lead when Steven Evans crossed to Will Seymore and Seymore one-touched a shot into the net. The Timbers got an insurance goal in the 71st minute when Mark Sherrod beat two defenders and Rodriguez for his eighth goal of the season.
“Crosses have hurt us all year and that’s what did it again today,” Silva said.
The SeaWolves generated little offense in the second half and clearly missed midfielder Marshall Kosaka, who sat out the match after picking up two yellow cards in the team’s previous match.
North Sound concludes its home schedule with a 7:30 p.m. match against the Seattle Sounders FC June 29 at Edmonds Stadium. The SeaWolves then play their final four matches on the road.
“I want our guys to stay positive, keep playing hard,” Silva said. “All that matters now is that we continue to compete, work to get better and be positive.”
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