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First legs are funny things. They are not games. They are merely halves. In this half of the overall game Seattle Sounders FC fall to Portland Timbers FC 2-1. In the most awful sense Portland is ahead by a goal as they head home for the Thursday night match.
There is a little bit of happiness though. Just a tiny bit.
Like most Seattle v Portland games this one was clunky and chunky. Flow is something that does not happen in this rivalry. Unlike most Sounders v Timbers games this one had one team clearly dominate measures that should mean victory.
Except for that tiny, little fact about finishing.
Seattle hasn't been good at that this year. Tonight's 20 attempts generated and only one goal are frankly pathetic. A mix of amazing finishes and wasteful chances plagues the club in 2013. It is the disease that finished them this evening.
Thirteen shots in the box and only one goal is bad. Portland only had three in the box. Two of those wound up in the net. One, was pretty brilliant. A fall away jumper in many ways.
It was not a dagger. The end is not here. Ninety minutes, maybe 30 more, are still left in the game.
Osvaldo Alonso provides hope.
There will be no Lamar Neagle (he earned a yellow). There may be a Gspurning, a Martins. There may not be a Zach Scott. Yedlin could be back.
The transports weren't sacrificed. The fleet is still here. The war can be won.