07/17/26 12:10:00
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07/17 00:06 CDT Kevin Kelsy leads Timbers to 5-1 romp over Sounders as MLS
returns from break
Kevin Kelsy leads Timbers to 5-1 romp over Sounders as MLS returns from break
SEATTLE (AP) --- Kevin Kelsy finished with two goals and an assist and the
Portland Timbers thumped the Seattle Sounders 5-1 on Thursday night as the MLS
resumed play following the FIFA World Cup break.
Portland (5-8-2) earned a victory in its first match under 35-year-old interim
coach Jack Cassidy after Phil Neville was let go last month following 2 1/2
seasons at the helm.
Cassidy beat Brian Schmetzer, the league's longest tenured coach, and surpassed
the Timbers' previous largest margin of victory at Lumen Field --- a 3-0 win on
July 9, 2022.
Kelsy scored on a header with assists from defender Jimer Fory and Diego Char
to give Portland a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute. Fory's third assist already
matches his total as a rookie last season. Char's helper was his first.
Kamal Miller, Cole Bassett and Kelsy scored in a seven-minute span early in the
second half and Portland cruised to the finish, handing the Sounders (7-4-3)
their third loss in a row and second straight at home.
Miller took passes from fellow defender Brandon Bye and Ariel Lassiter in the
56th minute to score his first goal this season. Bye collected his second
assist and Lassiter his first.
Bassett found the net for the second time four minutes later with assists from
David Da Coste --- his fifth --- and Kelsy --- his fourth.
Kelsy scored his sixth goal --- unassisted --- in the 63rd minute to make it
4-0.
Seattle avoided a shutout when defender Hassani Dotson scored in the 87th off a
pass from Albert Rusnk. It was Dotson's first goal of the campaign and
Rusnk's fifth assist.
Rookie Alexander Aravena scored his first goal in the eighth minute of stoppage
time to set the final margin. Da Costa added another assist and Felipe Mora
picked up his first.
James Pantemis saved six shots for Portland.
Andrew Thomas finished with five saves for Seattle. Thomas had three saves and
Pantemis two in the first half.
Up next
Portland: Hosts FC Dallas on Wednesday.
Seattle: At Austin FC on Wednesday.
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer
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