The Seattle Sounders host the Portland Timbers on Sunday in the first of two meetings between the the Cascadia rivals during the 2019 MLS regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
MATCHDAY GUIDE
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on FS1 and YouTube TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2019 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 10-5-5 (35 points, 2nd West), Timbers: 7-8-3 (24 points, 10th West)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: WWLWL, Portland: DWWLW
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 10-7-6 all-time against the Timbers during the MLS era, including a 7-1-3 mark at CenturyLink Field.
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Rave Green last faced the Timbers in a regular season fixture back in August 2018, when the Sounders picked up a 1-0 road win at Providence Park. Defender Kim Kee-hee put in a masterclass on both sides of the ball, restricting a dangerous Portland attack to hopeful shots from outside the box and helping the Sounders build possession from the back. In the 76th minute, an overlapping run down the right channel by the South Korean center back resulted in an own goal by Julio Cascante, as Seattle escaped Portland with a 1-0 win.
REVENGE GAME: A depleted Sounders FC team lost 2-1 to the Timbers in the 2019 U.S. Open Cup on June 12 and fell in penalty kicks to their bitter rival in the semifinals of the 2018 MLS Cup Playoffs.
FUTURE OF THE RIVALRY: Although they lost at Cheney Stadium in the USOC, the Sounders carved out the better chances against a first-choice Timbers lineup. Midfielder Danny Leyva, 16, earned his first start for the club in an official competition and performed admirably against the likes of Diego Chara, Diego Valeri and Sebastian Blanco.
LATE DRAMA: Across 23 regular season fixtures, the Sounders and Timbers have scored 29 goals after the 60th minute.
RED-HOT STRIKERS: Sounders forward Raúl Ruidíaz and Timbers forward Brian Fernández, both of whom signed from Liga MX clubs, have torched MLS defenses since entering the league. Ruidíaz has bagged 20 goals in 27 matches, while Fernández has scored six goals in his first seven MLS games.
CASCADIA CUP: The Sounders sit second in the Cascadia Cup standings tied on four points with the Vancouver Whitecaps, though the Sounders have a game-in-hand on their rivals to the North. A win against the Timbers would move Seattle three points clear atop the table, putting them in pole position to retain the Cup.
PROTECT THIS HOUSE: The Sounders have only lost twice at home to the Timbers in MLS regular season and postseason play since 2011. Through 10 matches in the 2019 season, the Rave Green are 8-0-2 at CenturyLink Field.
#BANTER: This rivalry has produced some pretty iconic trash-talking on social media.
TIME FOR A NEW LEGEND: Every good rivalry needs villains on each time that rile up the opposing fan base. For half a decade, that player was Clint Dempsey, who scored nine goals in nine matches against the Timbers. After his retirement in 2018, the Cascadia derby is calling out for a new heel to assume that role.
