(AP Photo/Steve Dykes)
The game took awhile for the starting 11 to get this game in hand. The first 70 minutes was mostly just poking and prodding to see where each team was at physically and mentally. The Portland Timbers were the winners of the COVID Cup…..er Back to MLS cup and it was understood that they were ready to continue the 2020 season.
The Seattle Sounders however, had a miserable COVID Cup….er Back to MLS Cup. They looked out of sync, unable to defend or attack. But, it seems a little break may have done them some good as they took this Cascadia Cup rivalry and shoved it down the throats of the Timbers.
Raul Ruidiaz would get a brace (2 goals) with a fantastic flick off his foot on a cross off of Joevin Jones. The Timbers were not expecting the finish off a flick of the ankle from the Sounder striker.
WHAT A FINISH! 💫@RaulRuidiazM puts the @SoundersFC on top! #PORvSEA pic.twitter.com/csQbqYsokg
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) August 24, 2020
Just 10 minutes later, Ruidiaz would do it again. Off of a long bomb from goalie Stefan Frei, Ruidiaz would catch Portland napping and slap a 2nd goal of the game, crushing the spirits of Portland.
TAKE A BOW.
A massive brace for @RaulRuidiazM! 🇵🇪💥#SoundersMatchday | #PORvSEA pic.twitter.com/8CezfX20XE
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) August 24, 2020
These 3 points are huge to Seattle as they show the MLS that the MLS is Back Tournament was a nice idea but the defending champs are for real. The Timber may have won the COVID Cup, but to take a phrase from WWE’s John Cena, on this night “The Champ is Here!”
