PORTLAND, Ore. – Two goals in the final 10 minutes of the first half proved the difference as Seattle Sounders FC 2 took a 2-1 victory against the Portland Timbers 2 at Providence Park on Tuesday evening. S2 (3-7-4, 13pts) looked marginally the more threatening side in the first half, and opened the scoring 10 minutes before the break when a floated cross by John Magnus from the left found Myron Samuel at the back post for a close-range finish. Magnus himself then doubled the lead eight minutes later, as a deflected cross came to him 10 yards from goal and he shot into the right corner. T2 (5-7-2, 17pts) was brighter in the second half, and pulled a goal back midway through the second half, as Blake Bodily headed home Michael Gallagher’s angled cross, but S2 held on late to take its second consecutive victory.

Scoring:
35’ – SEA – Myron Samuel (John Magnus)
43’ – SEA – John Magnus
67’ – POR – Blake Bodily (Michael Gallagher)

Three Things That Matter:

• 1. The game didn’t really catch fire in the first half, but Seattle gained the upper hand by being persistent in its efforts to get in behind Portland’s defense with its speed. It almost worked in the opening minute, only for a good defensive recovery to deny Victor Mansaray, and was finally rewarded when Myron Samuel recorded a nice back-post finish off a good cross by John Magnus in the 35th minute to put the visitors ahead.

• 2. John Magnus’ first start for S2 only got better from there, as he recorded his first goal for the team with a slightly fortuitous finish from close range. The 19-year-old Academy player is headed to the University of Washington this fall, hopefully we’ll see more of him in the S2 lineup before that happens, as he builds his game before joining the college ranks.

• 3. Portland came out much more strongly in the second half, looking much more the part of a team that currently sits in the playoff positions in the Western Conference. While the side was able to pull back a goal from Blake Bodily – who had a good individual performance throughout – T2’s lethargic first half proved costly as their Cascadia rivals did enough to take all three points.

USLSoccer.com Man of the Match

John Magnus, Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Making his first start for S2, Magnus recorded a goal and assist to lead the side to victory on the road.

Upcoming Games:

Portland Timbers 2 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 – June 19, 5 p.m. ET, Thunderbird Stadium

Seattle Sounders FC 2 vs. Swope Park Rangers – June 26, 8 p.m. ET, Starfire Stadium