PORTLAND, Ore. – Henry Wingo’s first professional goal gave Seattle Sounders FC 2 its second consecutive victory with a 2-1 win against the Portland Timbers 2 at Providence Park on Thursday night. Portland pressed the game early, and VIllyan Bijev struck the outside of the left post in the ninth minute with a first-time finish from 10 yards after a good move down the left. T2’s Russell Cicerone seized on a moment of hesitation moments later, only to be denied by S2 goalkeeper Tyler Miller. Seattle’s first good chance came in the 14th minute as Zach Mathers headed over, while Charles Renken twice went close inside the opening 20 minutes. T2’s Jack Barmby almost opened the scoring in the 32nd minute as his curling free kick went just wide as Miller was caught cheating toward a potential cross, but Seattle started to take control at the start of the second half. The visitors’ pressure paid off in the 59th minute as Sam Rogers powerfully headed home a free kick by Mathers, but T2 immediately responded with a header of its own four minutes later through Bill Tuiloma from a corner kick. T2’s Augustine Williams produced a good save by Miller minutes later, but the game swung back toward S2 with 18 minutes to go as Wingo scored his first professional goal with a great finish to the right corner from the top of the penalty area. Portland carried most of the game the rest of the way, but a close-range finish over the bar by Cicerone and a header by Bijev that was comfortably saved were the closest the hosts came to an equalizer late as S2 held on for victory.

Scoring:

59’ – SEA – Sam Rogers (Zach Mathers)

62’ – POR – Bill Tuiloma (Jack Barmby)

72’ – SEA – Henry Wingo (Irvin Parra)

Three Things That Matter:

1. Opening a big weekend of action at Providence Park – with the Portland Timbers in action on Friday night and Portland Thorns on Saturday – the rivalry clash between T2 and S2 lived up to the history of the series with an exciting, open game that produced an outstanding game-winner by Henry Wingo to give Seattle victory. The former University of Washington standout’s first professional goal capped a good outing overall by the winger, as Wingo connected sharply in midfield and regularly won possession to help his side in a game that saw momentum swing back and forth.

2. In the bigger picture, this was a vital victory for S2 as it picked up back-to-back victories against Cascadia rivals over the past two weekends. At least temporarily, Seattle is back in the top eight of the Western Conference, keeping it in the hunt for a second playoff berth in three seasons. With how the side has looked in its past two wins, there might be reason for optimism with eight games to go as S2 looks to put in a final kick while also hoping for others to slip up along the way.

3. As has happened often this season, T2 put together a good, attacking performance, and came up empty at the end as the hosts were unable to put away their chances to hold a lead on the night. The play of Jack Barmby and Villyan Bijev was again threatening, but the end product once again wasn’t quite there as Seattle was able to withstand late pressure to hold on for victory. T2 will hope the learning experience from this season, which has seen positive play, will translate to results next season for its young squad.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

Sam Rogers, Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Rogers scored a fine header to open the scoring, produced a good defensive display with four interceptions and three tackles, and reproduced Roger Levesque’s iconic “Timber!” celebration.