The Seattle Sounders are visiting the rival Portland Timbers on Saturday in their first of three meetings this season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT at Providence Park in Portland, Ore.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be available on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 93.3 KJR FM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360AM.Â
2023 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 5-1-1 (16 points, 1st West), Timbers: 1-4-2 (5 points, 12th West)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: WWWDL, Portland: LDDLL
HIGH-OCTANE OFFENSE: The Sounders enter Matchday 8 with 15 goals scored, which is tied for second in MLS. Only Columbus Crew SC has scored more (17).
SHUT-DOWN DEFENSE: Seattle, which owns the best goal differential in MLS, is also tied for the second-fewest goals allowed, having conceded just three times in seven matches. Only Nashville SC has allowed fewer (two).
MORRIS LEADING THE PACK: Sounders forward Jordan Morris, who like teammate Cristian Roldan was called into the United States for the inaugural Continental Clásico against Mexico next Wednesday, continues to lead the MLS Golden Boot race. Morris has eight goals through seven matches, two better than anyone else in MLS.
ATENCIO ANSWERS: With Sounders midfielder João Paulo sidelined as a precaution with hamstring tightness, Head Coach Brian Schmetzer turned to 21-year-old Homegrown Josh Atencio for a monumental Western Conference clash with St. Louis CITY SC last week. Atencio stepped up in a big way, unleashing a screamer for his first MLS goal and MLS Goal of the Matchday, as well as putting in a great two-way shift to earn MLS Team of the Matchday honors.
Every Match. Every Screen.
Watch PORvSEA at 7:30 p.m. PT on April 15 on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
INJURY WOES: Timbers midfielder Eryk Williamson will miss the remainder of 2023 after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee. Portland has also been without key contributors Blanco, Yimmi Chara and Felipe Mora for most, if not all, of the season so far. Club-record signing Evander recently returned after missing a month with an injury as well.
WINLESS RUT: After opening the 2023 season with a home victory over Sporting Kansas City, Portland has gone winless in its last six matches. The Timbers have been outscored 12-5 in that stretch.
SCORING BY COMMITTEE: Of the six goals that Portland has scored this year, all six have come from different players.
LACK OF CHANCES:Â The Timbers enter Matchday 8 with just 55 total shots on the season, which is last in MLS. Their 34 total Key Passes is also last, and their 22 total corner kicks is third-fewest.
