Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers: Final score 2-0, Seattle looking like Shield favorites

The Seattle Sounders got off to a rough start on Sunday, were robbed by Donovan Ricketts on a couple of occasions and failed to take their early chances. And yet, the Portland Timbers were no match for their Cascadia rivals, who were able to coast to a 2-0 victory once they scored.

Clint Dempsey returned for Seattle in this game and scored the winner, finishing off a set piece scramble on Seattle's third shot on goal in the 70th minute. He wasn't particularly dangerous in the first half, but the Sounders -- and Dempsey in particular -- started to look excellent going forward once Obafemi Martins replaced Chad Barrett in the 51st minute.

Seattle did just that, and they looked sharp even before their substitution. Ricketts made a great stop on a header by Gonzalo Pineda in the 47th minute, uncharacteristically set up by an overlapping run and left-footed cross by Jalil Anibaba. Lamar Neagle had a nice chance of his own from the edge of the box three minutes later, but didn't hit his shot hard enough, making for an easy save.

Dempsey had a pair of chances to score just before the hour mark, but failed to take both. He had a shot parried away by Ricketts in the 55th minute, then missed what should have been a tap-in four minutes later, reacting slowly to a header by Zach Scott towards the far post that he should have been able to get to.

Photo credit: Otto Greule Jr

Portland almost scored a brilliant equalizer when substitute Gaston Fernandez struck the post from 30 yards, but they were caught admiring their own work. Less than a minute later, their defense was caught in shambles as Marco Pappa dribbled through a crowd, cut back to fool Ricketts, then passed an easy finish into the back of the net to seal Seattle's win.