RECAP | Timbers triumph 2-1 over Seattle Sounders FC

Kevin Kelsy, Brandon Bye both score to extend Timbers unbeaten streak to four games

PORTLAND, Ore. – After going down a goal, Kevin Kelsy scored a first-half equalizer before Brandon Bye won the game in the 82nd minute with a strike as the Portland Timbers defeated Seattle Sounders FC 2-1 Saturday night at Providence Park.

The win moved Portland up to eighth place in the Western Conference, extended the Timbers unbeaten streak to four matches and gave Seattle a club-record sixth loss in a row.

Recent Form

Tonight’s result extended Portland’s unbeaten streak to a fourth straight match (3-0-1) since returning from the midseason break. Notably, the Timbers have outscored their opponents 11-5 over that span. It marks Portland’s longest undefeated stretch of this season, and longest unbeaten streak since March 16-April 27, 2025 (4-0-3). Tonight’s result also marked the first season sweep of Seattle since the 2022 campaign (2-0-0). Additionally, it comes as the third comeback result since returning to play on July 16 and second come-from-behind victory.

Kelsy and Bye Fuel the Comeback

Kevin Kelsy scored his club-leading ninth goal of the campaign, notably doing so in a third-straight appearance. The 22-year-old has notched four goals and an assist over his last three games. Kelsy has a total of 13 goal contributions (9G, 4A) in 2026, a career-best since arriving in MLS in 2024. Of note, all nine of his goals have come in his last 11 appearances for the Green and Gold. Brandon Bye recorded his first-ever goal for the Green and Gold to bring his goal contributions on the season to three. It comes as his first score since Sept. 28, 2024, when he played for New England.

Interim Jack Cassidy talks about the win: "We nded up coming out on top"

Goal-Scoring Plays

SEA – Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, 27th minute: Following a clearance in the box, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi took a first-time left footed shot from outside the box into the lower near post.

POR – Kevin Kelsy, 42nd minute: Kristoffer Velde sent a cross into the box that deflected to the far post, where an on-running Kevin Kelsy pushed across the goal line with his thigh from close range.

POR – Brandon Bye (David Da Costa, Cole Bassett), 82nd minute: After receiving a pass from David Da Costa near the semi-circle, Brandon Bye unleashed a right-footed low shot through traffic, burying it into the far post.

Notes

• The Timbers (7-8-3, 24pts) have leaped Seattle in the Western Conference standings into eighth place following tonight’s victory. 
• Portland remains undefeated since the return from the June break at 3-0-1.
• The Timbers have outscored their opponents 11-5 over that span.
• The four-game unbeaten run is the longest for Portland since registering a seven-game undefeated streak from March 16-April 27, 2025.
• Tonight’s result marked the first season sweep (2-0-0, 7GF, 2GA) of the Sounders since the 2022 MLS campaign (2-0-0, 5GF, 1GA).
• The Timbers have now registered five comeback results this season (3-0-2), including three-straight (2-0-1) since July 22. 
• Kevin Kelsy scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season.
• Kelsy has scored in a third straight appearance for Portland, netting four goals over that stretch.
• Kelsy now has 13 total goal contributions in 2026 with nine goals and four assists, a career-best in MLS.
• Notably, Kelsy has scored all nine of his goals on the season in his last 11 appearances.
• Brandon Bye recorded his first goal for the Timbers with his game-winning strike.
• It’s Bye’s first goal since Sept. 28, 2024, when he was a member of the New England Revolution.
• It marks Bye’s third goal contribution on the season (1G, 2A).
• David Da Costa recorded his team-leading seventh assist of the campaign.
• Notably it is Da Costa’s fourth assist in his last five matches.
• Cole Bassett registered his fourth assist in Green and Gold and second in his last four appearances.

Next Game

The Timbers will pause regular season play to host the first of three Leagues Cup matches on Thursday, Aug. 6, against Club Puebla. Kickoff from Providence Park is set for 7:30pm PT on Apple TV in English and Spanish with local radio broadcasts on 105.1 FM/1080 AM The Fan (English) and La GranD 93.5 FM/1150AM (Spanish).

Portland Timbers (7-8-3, 24pts) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (7-7-3, 24pts)

August 1, 2026 – Providence Park (Portland, Ore.)

Scoring Summary:
SEA: Kossa-Rienzi, 27
POR: Kelsy, 41
POR: Bye (Da Costa, Bassett), 82

Misconduct Summary:
SEA: Kingston (caution), 25
POR: K. Miller (caution), 30
POR: Kelsy (caution), 45+5
SEA: Gomez (caution), 71

Lineups:
POR: GK Pantemis, D Bye, D Surman, D K. Miller, D Fory, M Chara ©, M Bassett (Caicedo, 88), M Da Costa, F Lassiter (Antony, 65), F Velde (Fernandez, 90+4), F Kelsy (Smith, 88)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Muse, D Bonetig, D Jura, M E. Miller, M Ortiz

TOTAL SHOTS: 13 (Kelsy, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Velde, 2); FOULS: 6 (six players tied, 1); OFFSIDES: 0; CORNER KICKS: 4; SAVES: 2

SEA: GK Thomas, D Kim (Roldan, 73), D Hawkins, D Nouhou, D Arriola (Kossa-Rienzi, 7), Lopez, 84), M Rusnak ©, M Brunell, M Kingston (Gomez, 46), M Ferreira, M Rothrock, F De Rosario (Musovski, 73)

Substitutes Not Used: GK Frei, D Sailor, D Lopez, D O’Neill

TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Rusnák, 4); SHOTS ON GOAL: 3 (three players tied, 1); FOULS: 10 (Rothrock, 4); OFFSIDES:3; CORNER KICKS: 5; SAVES: 3

Referee: Joe Dickerson
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Hanson, Logan Brown
Fourth Official: Lorenzo Hernandez
VAR: Carol Anne Chenard
Attendance: 24,686

All statistics contained in this box score are unofficial.