Sounders oust Timbers from Cup

TUKWILA -- The Sounders' rivalry with the Portland Timbers was at full intensity Tuesday night at the Starfire Sports and Entertainment Complex, where Seattle won 2-1 in the second round of the U.S. Open Cup.

Goals by Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar and Jake Besagno secured a third-round home match for the Sounders against Chivas USA of Major League Soccer.

The first half, which featured six yellow cards and one ejection, ended 1-1.

In the second half, Greg Howes sent a high cross from the left side to the front of the net in the 70th minute, and Besagno headed it into the right corner for the game-winner.

"I've been waiting for that ball," Besagno said.

Former Sounder Andrew Gregor crossed a free kick from the left side and Justin Thompson planted a header from right in front of the net for a 1-0 Portland lead in the 19th minute.

After playing the majority of the opening half in the midfield, the Sounders managed to get a cross that bounced around in front of the Portland net. When Timbers defender Cameron Knowles and Sounders midfielder Roger Levesque jumped for the free ball, Knowles elbowed Levesque in the head, drawing a red-card ejection in the penalty box.

Alcaraz-Cuellar knocked the ensuing penalty kick past goalkeeper Josh Wicks to make it 1-1 in the 42nd minute.

"(The Timbers) came out more hungry and with more determination," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. "We shouldn't get caught up in the gamesmanship outside of the game. But this was a physical game. They will always be spirited like this."