Clint Dempsey's second-half goal has given the Seattle Sounders a narrow 1-0 win at home to the Portland Timbers.

The hosts had the better of a cagey first half, and went close to scoring through Marco Pappa and Lamar Neagle, while Dairon Asprilla went close with a header for Portland.

The Timbers grew in confidence after the break, and Jack Jewsbury set up Diego Chara, whose goalbound header was kept out before Darlington Nagbe flashed an effort just wide.

However, the Sounders took the lead shortly after as Andy Rose's low effort was saved, but it fell to Dempsey and he tapped the ball in.

Four minutes later, the Timbers thought that they had equalised, but Fanendo Adi's header hit the bar instead of the back of the net, and the Sounders held on to win.