The Seattle Sounders square off against their chief rival Portland Timbers for the only meeting at CenturyLink Field this season. Here’s a breakdown of everything you need to know about the game.
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is Sunday, August 21 at 6:30 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field.
WHERE TO WATCH: The game will be telecast on FS1. Check out a full list of Sounders FC Pub Partners here.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The game will be aired on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM with a pregame show beginning at 6:00 p.m. PT and El Rey 1360AM in Spanish.
RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders (8-12-3, 27 pts., 9th in Western Conference), Timbers (8-9-8, 32 pts., 6th in Western Conference).
ALL-TIME HISTORY: In this deep and illustrious rivalry, the Sounders own a 47-34-12 all-time record dating back to the first time the sides met in 1975. The Sounders are 7-4-4 against their neighbors to the south in MLS play.
LAST TIME AROUND: A new Designated Player, a new head coach, a new formation and a new lease on life. Forget what you thought you knew about Seattle vs. Portland in 2016. This is a different Sounders team than the one that fell 3-1 in the Rose City just one month ago.
RAVE GREEN ROLLING: Since the arrival of DP midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro, the Sounders have been reborn. After a 6-12-2 start to the season, the Sounders are on a 2-0-1 run and are finally looking like a playoff contender. The Rave Green have also doubled their scoring, averaging just one goal per game in the first 20 games to two goals in the last three games. The Timbers, meanwhile, are 1-2-0 in their last three and holding onto the last playoff spot in the Western Conference.
LODEIRO VS VALERI: For the first time in 2016, the Sounders have an answer for Diego Valeri. Lodeiro has been exceptional since the day he walked into training in late July and has been to the Sounders what Valeri is to the Timbers. Valeri is having a sensational year for the Timbers, with 10 goals and five assists. If the first three games of Lodeiro’s MLS career is any indication, he is poised to have a better debut than even Valeri, and arguably one of the best debut seasons in MLS history. In Valeri’s first three starts he tallied one goal, no assists and the Timbers went 0-1-2. In Lodeiro’s first three starts, he has one goal and three assists, and the Sounders are 2-0-1 with him on the field.
INJURY UPDATE: Román Torres is looking closer to his return after battling back from an ACL tear last September. Interim head coach Brian Schmetzer has been tight-lipped about the return of the Panamanian international and his appearance this Sunday is still unclear. On the Portland side, defender Nat Borchers is out for the year with a ruptured Achilles tendon. There is also a slew of Timbers in the questionable category featuring Zarek Valentin, Ben Zemanski, Darren Mattocks and Liam Ridgewell.
TIMBERS TO NOTE: Forward Fanendo Adi is having another Golden Boot contending season, with 11 goals in 24 appearances, just four goals behind leader Sebastian Giovinco of Toronto FC. Goalkeeper Jake Gleeson has officially won the starting spot over Adam Kwarasey who was sold to Norwegian club Rosenborg BK in mid-July. Gleeson is currently third in total saves in MLS.
BACK-TO-BACK: Well, almost. After facing off on Sunday, the Sounders travel down to Houston on Wednesday and then back up to play Portland again the following Sunday. It’s safe to say that Sunday’s results will still be fresh in the minds of players and fans alike in these two soccer giants’ second match in just one week.
