The sky is falling: Sounders drop sixth straight

Things have gone from bad to worse … to worst for the Seattle Sounders. For the first time in over 50 years of existence, the Rave Green have lost six straight in regulation, two of which have come against their arch-rivals.

Despite the Sounders scoring first and holding their first lead in seven matches, Portland rode a first-half equalizer and dominant second half to a come-from-behind victory at Providence Park.

Portland are now above Seattle in the standings for the first time in 2026, as the Sounders drop into the final playoff spot at 9th in the Western Conference.

There were bright spots for Seattle, as the injury-riddled squad played a solid first half, taking the lead through Kalani Kossa-Rienzi — who was forced into action after Paul Arriola suffered an injury in the 4th minute — and enjoying moments of real attacking intent.

However, there just wasn’t enough juice in the legs of a depleted Sounders squad. A late first-half Kevin Kelsy equalizer neutralized Seattle's first 45, and the Sounders played almost the entire second half on the back foot before conceding a Brandon Bye winner with 10 minutes left to play.

Seattle finished with more shots and were within 0.50 expected goals of Portland, but the Timbers enjoyed more possession, better possession, and more quality chances. Seattle created the majority of their chances and their lone goal in a 10-minute period towards the middle of the first half, and spent the rest of the match chasing.

This was perhaps the best performance, and certainly the best first-half performance the Sounders have posted since the return from the World Cup break. Brian Schmetzer said post-match: "Going into halftime leading 1–0 would have been fair." Sadly, first halves rarely win soccer matches, and despite a gutsy effort from what Schmetzer called a "mixed" group of starters, subs and prospects, the Sounders were unable to end their historic run of poor form.

Lineups

Kim Kee-hee made just his second start/appereance of the season, with Yeimar recently sidelined with injury and Jackson Ragen serving the red-card suspension.

Peter Kingston made his third MLS start, and his first in midfield. The 24-year-old's previous appearances have mostly come as a fullback.

Brian Schmetzer made three personnel changes from the 1-0 loss to Philadelphia: Paul Arriola moved to right back from right wing, replacing Kalani Kossa-Rienzi. Jesus Ferreira took Arriola's spot at right wing. Kim Kee-Hee replaced Antino Lopez at center back, and Peter Kingston replaced Hassani Dotson in the midfield.

Stuart Hawkins made his third consecutive start at center back after a mid-season call-up from the Tacoma Defiance.

The Sounders entered the match without a single true midfielder on the bench, and the only highly experienced MLS midfielder in the squad was Albert Rusnak.

Osaze De Rosario made his second straight start. De Rosario has played 134 minutes since the return from the break, registering three shots, none on goal, and 0.21 total XG.

Five total changes were made from the 11 that lost 5-1 to Portland in Seattle, with Nouhou being the only defender to start both games for the Sounders.

Portland came out in a 4-1-4-1, a change from the 4-3-3 used in Seattle.

There was only one change to Portland's 11 from their 5-1 win over the Sounders, with Kristoffer Velde taking over for Antony on the right wing.

Key moments

5'- Keeping with the cruel theme of the previous weeks, just five minutes into the match, Paul Arriola was stopped in his tracks with a non-contact calf injury, prompting Kalani Kossa-Rienzi to take his place. The injury list for the Sounders stretches to six important rotational/starting players.

15'- The Timbers' first shot of the game came off a right-wing cross that found the head of Kelsey, whose flicked attempt was deflected a foot wide of the far post by his marker Stuart Hawkins.

27′- GOAL!! The Sounders’ first shot of the night found the twine, and it was the unplanned early sub Kalani Kossa-Rienzi who delivered a lovely strike. An Albert Rusnák cross was cleared by Portland but only to the top of the box, where an onrushing Kossa-Rienzi smashed in a low finish for his second goal of 2026

31'- Another great delivery from Rusnák forced a scramble and strong punch from Portland goalkeeper James Pantemis, backpedaling to beat Osaze De Rosario to the ball and force a corner

33'- Immediately following the corner kick, a pair of blocked shots ended with a Nouhou header from 18 yards out over a crowd of bodies, which Pantemis was just able to paw wide. The Sounders would provide four more shots in the stretch of pressure, all of which were blocked in and around the edge of the six-yard box

41′- Goal. Portland were able to stem the tide and equalize after a string of Sounders attacks. A perfectly placed curling cross from Kristoffer Velde found its way to the back post, where Kevin Kelsy directed it in after a slight deflection to dispatch his third goal against the Sounders in two weeks. Shouts for offside and handball from Seattle were not granted after a brief VAR check.

45+8'- The final action of a 53-minute first half was Albert Rusnak mishitting a bouncing first-time effort into the side netting from ten yards out, sending the game to the break at 1-1.

Halftime- Another young prospect, Sebastian Gomez, came in to replace Peter Kingston at half.

49'- Portland needed another quality save to retain their lead early in the second half, with a Seattle ball over the top being met by a side-footed Jesus Ferreira volley. The shot was on net but slapped wide by a sprawling Pantemis.

65'- Nouhou uncorked perhaps the best hit shot of his Sounders career on a half-volley, but whistled a rocket of a strike just wide of the far post from the edge of the box.

73'- Looking for a catalyst, Brian Schmetzer's bench reinforcements were Alex Roldan and Danny Musovski. Musovski replaced Osaze De Rosario at striker, while Roldan slotted into center back in the stead of Kim Kee-Hee.

82'- After dominating for much of the second half, Portland were rewarded with their first lead in the final 10 minutes. With Seattle's formation dropping deeper and deeper into their defensive third, David Da Costa was able to calmly slide a ball across the top of the area to Brandon Bye, who was given more than enough space to lash a low driven shot past Andrew Thomas to make it 2-1.

84'- With only a centerback remaining on the bench, the only reactive sub Brian Schmetzer could make was center back Antino Lopez for Kalani Kossa-Rienzi.

90+5' - Seattle had one last chance to spoil the party, winning an attacking third free-kick deep into stoppage time. Seattle sent Andrew Thomas forward for the set-piece, but Albert Rusnak's delivery was underhit, and that would be all she wrote.

Quick thoughts

Reinforcements needed: Pressure continues to mount on the Sounders front office to find an answer at the number nine position. The two central strikers to see the pitch, Osaze De Rosario and Danny Musovski, combined for 3o total touches, just four touches in the box, one shot and 0.09 total XG. Musovski was unable to muster a shot after being brought on in the 73rd, registering a total of just five touches.

Young players hold strong: Fans can look at a bright spot in the play of a pair of young midfielders in Snyder Brunell and Peter Kingston. Kingston made his first midfield start of his MLS career, looking hungry and energized if not a bit unpolished before being subbed at halftime with what Schmetzer called a "dead leg". Brunell continues to impress in the middle of the park, and the teenager put in another solid 90-minute shift tonight, his fourth full-90 of the MLS season and second in a row. Schmetzer said post-match the pair played "As good as Designated Players."

No relief: Without a true impact sub available, Seattle looked flat and defensive for the final 30 minutes of the game, an unfortunate but unsurprising result of the current injury crisis. Needing a spark in the second half, Brian Schmetzer had a bench made up of five defenders, a goalkeeper, and two attackers. Those attackers were 20-year-old 2026 debutant Sebastian Gomez and Danny Musovski, who has scored only one goal in nearly 700 minutes this season.

Notable quote

"I don't know if I'll ever panic unless I'm in an airplane that's crashing... Panic stations? No, not even close."

-Brian Schmetzer

Player spotlight

Portland would have had two or three goals in the second half if not for the shift of Nouhou, who played hero on a myriad of defensive duels, recovery runs, and clearances. The Sounders defensive stalwart completed over 80% of his passes, won the majority of his duels, and kept a dangerous wide attack from Portland as silent as he could in a rough second 45.

Albert Rusnak also delivered the kind of creativity in the first half that the Sounders have been desperately needing from their captain. Rusnak put in dangerous crosses from both wings and deep in the midfield to constantly test the Portland back line.