Kevin Kelsy helps Portland Timbers overwhelm Seattle Sounders

Kevin Kelsy scored twice and added an assist as the Portland Timbers cruised to a 5-1 victory over the Seattle Sounders on Thursday at Lumen Field, giving interim head coach Jack Cassidy a winning start after the Major League Soccer World Cup break.

Kamal Miller, Cole Bassett and Alexander Aravena also found the net for Portland, while David Da Costa contributed two assists. The Timbers improved to 5-8-2 (17 points), ending a three-match winless run that preceded the departure of head coach Phil Neville on May 25.

Seattle, which dropped to 7-4-3 (24 points), avoided a third straight scoreless defeat when Hassani Dotson headed in a cross from Albert Rusnak in the 87th minute.

Portland led 1-0 at halftime before taking control with three goals in a seven-minute stretch early in the second half.

Miller doubled the lead in the 56th minute after Brandon Bye headed a free kick into the danger area, allowing the defender to volley the ball past goalkeeper Andrew Thomas from close range.

Four minutes later, Kelsy sparked a counterattack by sending Da Costa down the left flank. Da Costa cut inside before setting up Bassett, whose shot deflected off defender Nouhou Tolo and into the net for Portland's third goal.

Kelsy added his second goal in the 63rd minute after Thomas denied Antony Alves Santos with a diving save, but the rebound fell kindly to the forward, who finished from close range.

Substitute Alexander Aravena completed the scoring in second-half stoppage time.

Seattle thought it had opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Paul Rothrock converted a rebound after James Pantemis saved Jesus Ferreira's shot, but the goal was disallowed for offside.

Portland broke the deadlock in the 19th minute through Kelsy. Diego Chara started the counterattack before Jimer Fory carried the ball forward and delivered a cross that Kelsy headed over Thomas and under the crossbar.

The Timbers outshot the Sounders 19-12, including a 10-8 advantage in shots on target. Pantemis made six saves for Portland, while Thomas recorded five for Seattle. -Field Level Media/Reuters