We're at halftime at CenturyLink Field, and it's fair to say that the Portland Timbers are the happier side. They've had better chances than the Seattle Sounders, and one would have to imagine that they're more comfortable with a draw as well, especially considering the energy coming from almost 70,000 fans celebrating Clint Dempsey's home debut.
Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers: Halftime score
Portland should really have taken the lead in the 15th minute, and it took a phenomenal screwup from Ryan Johnson to prevent the visitors from scoring. Diego Valeri cut through the Sounders' back line with an inch-perfect through ball that seemed as though it would naturally take Johnson around Michael Gspurning -- instead the striker dribbled straight into the relieved Seattle goalkeeper.
With ten minutes before the break, Valeri nearly made the breakthrough himself. Confusion in the Sounders’ defence left the ball free just outside the box, and the midfielder rattled a 25-yard effort of the angle of post and bar. Ryan Johnson nodded the rebound tamely wide.
That was the best chance of the half, which ended 0-0. Dempsey hasn’t quite been sharp enough to make the difference so far -- can the USA captain make an impact in the second half?
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