Perlaza, Cooper guide Portland past Seattle

TUKWILA, Wash.— If Friday night was any indication, the Cascadia rivalry is going to be fun.

ThePortland TimbersandSeattle Soundersrenewed their rivalry at the MLS level for the first time Friday night in a preseason friendly, and it was Timbers who emerged victorious, with Jorge Perlaza’s goal the difference in the 2-0 victory in front of 3,100 fans at Starfire Sports Stadium.

Kenny Cooperadded another tally in second-half stoppage time to seal the result in front of a raucous crowd of both team’s supporters.

Playing in cold, wet weather befitting the Pacific Northwest, Seattle fielded what most consider will be their opening day starting XI. DefenderJhon Kennedy Hurtado’s inclusion in the starting unit could be taken as proof he is fully recovered from a torn ACL last season.

Craig Mitchelldyer/Portland Timbers

Portland’s lineup had a few more question marks. Entering their first season, the Timbers gave the captain’s armband to new acquisitionJack Jewsbury, while unsigned trialist Perlaza partnered with Cooper up top.

Seattle’s Ozzie Alonso added the first bit of spice into the rivalry, spiking Jewsbury in the fifth minute to earn a yellow card.

But it wasSal Zizzo, who spent part of last season withChivas USA, who created the first goal. His crafty interchange with Steve Purdy led to a Zizzo cross and a Cooper shot.Kasey Kellermade the initial save, but Perlaza was stalking the box and poked in the rebound.

The unsigned Colombian could have made it two, but he mishit a shot off a Purdy cross in the 29th minute.

Seattle had a few chances of their own in the first half. Uruguayan midfielderÁlvaro Fernández attempted to level terms for Seattle in the 33rd, but his header was off target.

With neither side making any changes for the second half, Seattle emerged as the early aggressors, withSteve Zakuanicombining nicely withBlaise Nkufoand Alonso buzzing the crossbar seconds later.

Seattle’s best chance to equalize came off the feet of Fernández, who missed a sitter after some excellent buildup play from Zakuani.

Both teams made a handful of substitutions as the match moved into its final stages, but it was Cooper, who went all 90 minutes, that tallied the final goal on a blast from short range to assure the win.

With the victory, Portland improved their preseason record to 2-0-4, while Seattle dropped to 4-3-2.

The Timbers next take the field against theVancouver Whitecapson Saturday at 7 pm ET (streamed live atwww.portlandtimbers.com), while the Sounders have a day off before wrapping up the Cascadia Summit on Sunday at 6 pm ET against Vancouver (streamed live onwww.soundersfc.com).

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