Seattle Sounders-Portland Timbers Preview (10/4)
Y’all know what week it is.
The Sounders Report
On May 17th, Portland and Seattle played a very unsatisfying 1-1 draw at Providence Park. The Sounders won their next two (Dallas and San Diego home) before losing two in a row (Minnesota home and Vancouver away). Both of the wins were decided by a 1-0 scoreline, but I’d like to dig into these losses because they’re hilarious.
Minnesota came to town on Sunday Night Soccer, and the Sounders decided that it was the perfect time to protest. Prior to kickoff, the entire team took to the pitch with “Club World Cash Grab” printed on special warm-up shirts. Because the Sounders qualified for two Club World Cups by winning one tournament (nonsense), they were set to enter the first expanded edition of the tournament in the summer. Tons of prize money was available for this tournament, but players were not entitled to a huge chunk of the payout (which they definitely deserve). This frustration boiled onto the pitch, and you have to wonder if they were a little distracted for the actual game. Minnesota won 3-2 after scoring three times in seven minutes directly after halftime.
A heavily rotated Vancouver team (more than normal) defeated the Sounders 3-0 on June 8th at BC Place. This game is notable because the Sounders received two red cards in the span of 4 minutes early in the second half. They should hang a banner for that.
Finally, the Sounders got their second chance in the Club World Cup. They lost all three games (Botafogo, PSG, and Atletico Madrid). They should hang a banner for that.
When MLS play resumed on June 28th, the Sounders beat Austin 2-0. Reed Baker-Whiting got sent off in the dying moments of the game. Another home game against Columbus followed, and both teams fought to a 1-1 draw. Kalani Kossa-Rienzi got sent off in the dying moments of the game. Then the Sounders traveled to Kansas City, and did what they always do at Children’s Mercy Park: win.
However, for the fourth MLS game in a row, another Seattle player was sent off in the dying moments of the game. Nouhou was being heckled by SKC fans during a stoppage of play, and his brain decided to malfunction in the face of this taunting. He took the ball from the sideline and threw it at a fan in the stands. Now the Sounders had a streak to uphold. It was broken in their next game against Colorado, where they threw away a 3-0 lead in the 47th minute by conceding two penalties in the span of four minutes and allowing a late equalizer.
A relatively routine 3-2 win against San Jose followed, and the Sounders were suddenly unbeaten in their last 5 since their Club World Cup. That streak became 6 in another really funny game in Atlanta. Osaze De Rosario scored a potential game-winner in the 5th minute of second-half stoppage time, but Alexey Miranchuk equalized in spectacular fashion 4 minutes later. This was the final game before Leagues Cup began, and it provided a perfect opportunity for the Sounders to get back to what they do best: getting away with it.
Very few teams have scored 7 goals in a game, much less 7 goals in a single half. But that’s what the Sounders did against Cruz Azul in their first Leagues Cup game. Here’s where this gets ridiculous. Cruz Azul fired their head coach directly after winning the CONCACAF Champions’ Cup. Why would a team sack their manager after winning the biggest tournament in the region? Beats me. But they did, and their new coach traveled to Seattle and got utterly thumped by the Sounders. Two relatively easy games against Santos Laguna and Tijuana followed, and Seattle advanced from Phase One on top of the MLS table.
To continue with the “getting away with it” theme, that game against Tijuana marked the 16th game the Sounders had played since their 1-1 draw with Portland. 13 of those 16 were at Lumen Field, including all 6 non-league games (Club World Cup and Leagues Cup). For their 4th road game in their last 17, the Sounders traveled to Carson. Because the Galaxy utterly stink, they went belly-up to Seattle to the tune of 4-0 in a rematch of last year’s Western Conference Final. After that, the Sounders went to Minnesota and lost 1-0.
Then they had to switch gears back to Leagues Cup and their quarterfinal matchup against Puebla. A Danny Musovski red card (hang the banner) left the Sounders with 10 men for the final 19 minutes of game time. Neither team could find the breakthrough, but the Sounders advanced on penalty kicks. After a very easy win against SKC, Seattle prepared for a Leagues Cup semifinal in Carson. They can’t keep getting away with it.
Another routine dispatching of the Galaxy followed, and suddenly the Sounders were in the Leagues Cup Final. Because they finished on top of the Phase One table, they were able to host Inter Miami. That semifinal took place on a Wednesday, with the final set to occur on the following Sunday. Miami had to travel across the entire country on short rest to play a cup final on the shoddy Lumen Field turf. They can’t keep getting away with it.
Miami finished this game with zero shots on target, including several humongous chances that were completely biffed. Seattle won the final 3-0, and became the first team to “complete” the MLS trophy cabinet. However, no trophy cabinet can be complete without a MLS is Back title, and the Sounders will never get one of those.
However, the Sounders (12-10-9, 46 points, 5W/14S) haven’t won a single game since lifting the Leagues Cup trophy. A 2-2 draw against the Galaxy (delivered by a Miki Yamane equalizer in the 87th minute) preceded Miami’s 3-1 revenge in Fort Lauderdale. But the Sounders decided to innovate again by deciding to give up a late winner in their next game. Myrto Uzuni’s 90+6’ gut-punch in Austin gave three crucial points to the Broccolis. The 69th minute isn’t technically “late” in the game, but that’s when Mathias Laborda scored for Vancouver last weekend to formally give the Cascadia Cup to the Whitecaps (congratulations to them).
But if you’re judging this team based on their roster build, this season has worked out exactly as expected. The Sounders didn’t need a ton of reinforcements in the summer, but they certainly needed to strengthen one position: central midfield. To be more specific, Seattle needed another 6. Joao Paulo has completely regressed, forcing Cristian Roldan to start every game that he possibly could. With the rest of Seattle’s non-Paulo midfield options profiling as 8s, the Sounders couldn’t afford to enter the final stretch of the season without a capable backup for their most important player. During the summer, the only verifiable rumors linked them to FC Utrecht striker Noah Ohio. With Jordan Morris missing significant time during the season, Musovski has been the primary starter at striker. However, De Rosario’s emergence as another (potential) starting-quality forward meant that any Ohio deal would be rather redundant. So the Sounders finished the summer window without making a signing for the fourth straight season.
This roster was built for the middle of the year. Despite a serious case of the injury bug, Seattle’s depth has ensured the team’s competitiveness throughout the long summer months. However, those players who have played significant minutes are now feeling the strain of the extra Club World Cup and Leagues Cup matches. To their credit, this roster did bring another trophy to the disgusting city up north. But with time ticking down in the regular season, and a slew of key contributors either exhausted or working their way back to full fitness, Seattle’s mid-season run might represent the ceiling for this group.
SEA Injury Report & Projected Starting XI
Kent hasn’t played since Phase One of Leagues Cup. Yeimar and Roldan got hurt last weekend against Vancouver, and the Colombian’s injury is serious enough to miss several weeks. Roldan is questionable, but I expect him to be in the matchday squad. Baker-Whiting and Vargas are at the U20 World Cup.
This week’s edition of Ol’ Reliable features Kim Kee-Hee in place of the injured Yeimar. Kossa-Rienzi (who has a very helpful nickname of KKR) is a pretty natural replacement for a hobbled Alex Roldan. The rest of the defensive unit picks itself, even though there is a low drone from a section of the Sounders’ fanbase that wants Andrew Thomas to be the starting goalkeeper going forward. It appears that Seattle fans have finally recognized the Truth Nuke: Frei is a pumpkin. Brunell is the most natural pick to partner the elder (and exhausted) Roldan. De la Vega has finally been productive, and it’s come from the left side. However, to no one's surprise, he hasn’t seen the field in a month due to injury (he did make the bench for their last two games but was an unused substitute in both). Rothrock is *technically* the best player available for the right wing, but Brian Schmetzer likes it when his right winger plays in the channel. Rothrock’s strengths are out wide. Jesus Ferreira is another option for the right wing role. Rusnak is a Sharpie. Morris has been slowly building match fitness since the international break. Last weekend was his first start since July 19th.
In a side note, the Sounders will probably be wearing their third jerseys. Here’s what they look like.
The home kit is a pair of pajamas, and the away kit is a blanket. Most people don’t keep a Dixie cup on their bedside table, but I guess Seattleites do. They’ve managed to create a perfect environment to go to sleep. You really have to hand it to them. On matchdays, Sounders fans get to wake up, keep their pajamas on, and wander down to Lumen where they can go to sleep again. Outstanding work.
The Timbers Report
Nothing gets the juices flowing like a trip up north. The Portland Timbers (11-11-10, 44 points, 7W/16S) need all the juice they can get.
These Timbers have a frustrating habit of dropping points from winning positions. However, I’m not concerned with that record right now. Seattle games exist in a vacuum. Unless these two teams are in the playoffs (where the Timbers have dispatched the Sounders in both meetings), all previous records and form go out the window. For the Timbers, who desperately need juice, they can use this game as a springboard. They’ve done it before, after all.
Last year’s 1-1 draw secured the Cascadia Cup, but the Timbers didn’t exactly play a “good game.” Two meetings in 2023 ended in ties, although the second was much more memorable. Portland used that second game (the Leo Chu Game) as a mini-springboard to kick off a 4-game winning streak. 2021’s 2-0 win was a catalyst for their run to MLS Cup.
There’s a certain streak I’m sure y’all would love some words about. I’ll get to that later. This is a game where the result matters the most. Take last year’s Cascadia Cup decider as an example. Portland did not have any semblance of control in the game, yet walked out with a 1-1 draw behind a heroic Finn Surman debut, multiple big saves from James Pantemis, and Antony scoring the Timbers’ best (and only big) chance of the night. Even when Seattle went down to 10 men (boring and completely uncreative) the Sounders still had complete control. But, in the end, it didn’t even matter. One team was handing out carnations to their fans and the other was lifting a trophy on the field of their rivals.
The Timbers will be hoping to replicate the same conditions as last year, with the visitors celebrating with the traveling fans. But only one result can produce that outcome: a win. Vancouver already celebrated with the Cascadia Cup at Lumen last week. So tomorrow’s game is a complete rarity in this rivalry: a game with nothing but bragging rights on the table. Sure, there are implications for the Western Conference standings. But I’d like to apply a counterargument: who cares about the standings? Just beat the Sounders.
Supporters’ Player of the Year
Two players are in the lead for this honor: David Ayala and Finn Surman. Either of them would be worthy winners, and I had the opportunity to speak to both of them this week ahead of this game.
It has almost been a full calendar year since Surman made his first start for the Timbers. That start came in Seattle, and it was an outstanding introduction to the newest member of the team. On Tuesday, I caught up with Surman and asked to reflect on the past year since his debut in Lumen. Here’s what he had to say:
“It feels like it’s gone by really fast. I waited a while to get a chance to play for the club and having a debut in Seattle was really special for me. I got a lot of trust put in me and I think it was big for me to see it at the club. I think that Seattle game gave me the personal belief that I could perform in this league, at this club. It left me with a very good thought in my mind during the offseason. I went away and did my work in the offseason and I knew the whole time I knew I could do this. So I believed in myself the whole offseason. And it was just about hitting the ground running when I came back. I’ve always thought that I could compete here and do it. And I think this year I’ve been decent, can be better. I think I can be a lot better actually, but it’s just one of those things each week, week by week, try and improve and work with Ridgy and Phil and the staff to get better and keep going from there. It’s been fast this year. That’s the best way to describe it.”
I like his decision to describe the past year as “fast.” Because, if you’ve been watching him all year, it’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of his play. Surman’s outstanding speed is the key to the rest of his game. I’m a voter for the MLS End-Of-Season Awards, and I’ll be putting Surman in my Best XI. But what does that mean for his Supporters’ Player of the Year candidacy?
It’s time to look at Ayala for a moment. In my mind, he’s the only other player that has a serious case for this award. Some people will probably say Pantemis, and there might be a fringe group of Fory fans in the ranks. But for the most part, it’s a two-horse race. I’ve already voted, and my vote went to Ayala.
Do I need to bust out charts, graphs, stats, or even game film to justify this? No. It’s a “heart” award. My head said Surman, but my heart said Ayala. Simple as that.
Tree Questions With David Ayala
This segment used to be called “Three Questions” but I had to embrace the bit.
Q: Two years ago, in the 4-1 victory against the Sounders, you got your first taste of this rivalry. How have your thoughts on this rivalry changed since that time now that you’re a key starter for the Timbers?
A: It is a bit of a different feeling this time. Back then I was trying to win a starting spot and also recovering from an injury. Today I do feel like I’m more important to the team. It makes me happy when I think about it that way and it helps me play with more confidence. I’ll try and put all that out on the field and have a good game against Seattle.
Q: In the last Cascadia game against Vancouver, you came off the bench. What’s the difference between being in the starting lineup versus having to adjust from coming in as a substitute?
A: I have to try and get the rhythm and flow of the match, but it’s not a problem for me. I try to accommodate myself as best as I can and obviously do the best that I can while I’m in the game.
Q: This Timbers-Sounders rivalry has been exemplified by player vs. player matchups. Over the past couple of games, one of the more entertaining player vs. player matchups has been yourself vs. Seattle’s Pedro de la Vega. You two played against each other back in Argentina as well. Has that kind of intensified now that there’s a rivalry match attached to it?
A: I can’t recall if we ever played together or if I ever played against him in Argentina. I’m sure that did happen. I know he’s a great player and he’s been having a good season this year. He’s adjusted well to his team. I feel like it’s not so much a rivalry between me and him. He plays more on the wing and sometimes maybe I feel like we don’t cross paths as much. So again, I don’t really feel so much a rivalry there. But on the other end, yeah we’re Argentinian and you know we’re passionate so we’ll fight for it all until the end.
PTFC Injury Report & Projected Starting XI
This report is full of surprises. Chief among them is Pantemis’ status. Rojas’ injury wasn’t a surprise given his halftime sub last weekend, but at least he’s questionable. Same with Zuparic, McGraw, and Fory.
Crepeau hasn’t played since August 16th against Cincinnati. Well, he did start a friendly for Canada during last month’s international break. I think Fory and Zuparic will be cleared to play, but Kamal Miller could take either of their spots depending on fitness tests. Antony started at left wingback against Dallas, and it makes sense for him to repeat that role in Seattle. Mosquera loves playing against the Sounders. Chara is one start away from 400, and it would be a little weird if he didn’t start tomorrow. However, if he didn’t, I think Paredes is the natural replacement. The forward line is more confusing because neither Mora or Kevin Kelsy have distinguished themselves as the team’s first-choice striker. If Da Costa doesn’t start, I think it sends a serious message.
Tactical Preview
The Extra Touch
There are many frustrating things that the Timbers do. However, most of the big-picture attacking frustrations boil down to the details. And the detail that the Timbers struggle with most is forcing other teams out of their comfort zone.
Portland doesn’t create chaos. They make themselves easy to defend by always giving teams just enough time to recover into a settled block. In their first match against the Sounders, their lone goal was scored by unsettling Seattle’s block. And they’re often behind the 8-ball from the moment they receive a pass in the attacking third.
That’s due to their propensity to take an extra touch. Each sequence from the reception to the pass takes too long. Instead of quickly moving the ball, the Timbers do it in a leisurely fashion. I’ve pointed out previous instances where extra touches have completely closed the door on potential direct attacks. In this game, the Timbers have to be decisive. Instead of being slow and deliberate, they need to be assertive and direct.
Cutbacks
But the Timbers have been assertive and direct against the Sounders in their earlier meeting. That lone goal was created by a cutback cross and some excellent manipulation of space within the box. The Sounders usually score goals like that, so I think tomorrow’s game will come down to whoever can execute the best in those situations.
Discipline
Kristoffer Velde can start this section: “Let’s see if we can provoke it over there and spice it up a bit.”
In three of their past four meetings at Lumen Field, the referee has sent off a Sounder. I want the Timbers to embrace the Dark Arts tomorrow. Velde is certainly ready for it. Portland has done a really good job with playing a good, clean game of soccer in recent weeks (ignore last weekend’s yellow-card festival). While the Timbers will be focused on being ethical off the ball, they can absolutely bait the Sounders when they do have possession.
Matchday Info
Announcer Analytics
English: Keith Costigan & Maurice Edu
Spanish: Jorge Perez-Navarro & Marcelo Balboa
Home radio broadcast from 750 The Game: in-stadium, not available on Apple TV
Broadcast platform: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Kickoff time: 7:30 PM PST
Note for traveling fans: The Seattle Mariners have made the playoffs! Congratulations to them (non-derogatory). Their first playoff game (ALDS) is tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled at 5:38 PM (17:38 for those military time enthusiasts, yeahhhhh baby). If you’re planning on attending tomorrow’s soccer game, I suggest an early arrival.
Referee Report
Rubiel Vazquez’s 2025 stats: 22 games, 23.82 fouls/game, 0.45 penalties/game, 3.73 yellows/game, 0.05 reds/game
Last Timbers game officiated: August 17, 2025 vs. CIN 3-2 L
Series History
Historical record (all-time): 47-19-57
Historical record since 2011: 19-11-16, +2 goal differential
Road record: 7-8-8, -2 goal differential
Current streak: 3 unbeaten
Current road streak: 12 unbeaten
Days since Portland lost in Seattle: 3,053 days
Table Time
The Timbers can leapfrog Seattle and (potentially) Austin with a win tomorrow. However, if they lose, they can’t drop out of 7th place. It feels like I’ve been saying that for a month.
Final Whistle
As I prepare for another journey to a city that I despise, I’m aware of the occasion that the city of Seattle is beyond excited for.
The Seattle Mariners are un-hateable. It’s impossible to dislike them. In the past 25 years, they’ve only made it to the postseason three times. Each time has been unique. In 2001, the Mariners won 116 games; tying the record for most wins in MLB history. However, their run ended in the ALCS to a team that checked all the “team of destiny” boxes until Luis Gonzalez stepped up to the plate in Game 7 of the World Series. 2022’s run ended in the ALDS to the Houston Astros. But Cal Raleigh’s walk-off home run in late September was the moment that returned playoff baseball to Seattle. It’s one of the defining moments in American sports in this decade. An entire city exploded in ecstasy when that ball landed in T-Mobile Park’s right field bleachers. Three years later, Raleigh hit 60 home runs and should run away with the AL MVP trophy to carry the Mariners to another playoff berth.
This has left the Sounders in a particular bind. As a city that has firmly tried to define themselves as a soccer hotbed, it appears that the citizens of Seattle only come out in droves for two things: their football team and their baseball team. There are Seattle fans that just read that last line and are immediately screaming about their attendance for the Leagues Cup Final, but I’m pretty certain that the opposing team (led by their global superstar) brought those fans to the stadium more than the team that calls Seattle their home. Tomorrow, those Seattleites have a serious choice to make: a playoff baseball game or the soccer rivalry that has existed before the Mariners were founded.
Those Mariners are rare among professional sports teams. Not only do they carry the hopes of a city on their shoulders, the entire region of the Pacific Northwest is rooting for them. Very few teams capture the imagination and hopes of an entire region. But the Mariners are an exception. Although there will be a good crowd inside Lumen Field tomorrow filled with people who despise one of the teams on the pitch, both sets of fans will be rooting for the home team across the street.
The majority of fans inside Lumen Field, however, will be rooting for those Seattle Sounders. They will be desperately hoping to see something that they haven’t seen in 3,053 days: a Timbers defeat in the cavernous stadium they call home. They’re begging for their stupid flamethrower poles to light up multiple times throughout the duration of tomorrow’s game, and the ability to finally claim bragging rights at home against their biggest rivals. And somehow, they’re pulling out all the stops to do so.
It would’ve been too easy for the Sounders to unveil their Leagues Cup banner against the Timbers tomorrow. However, because Seattle is trying to learn from previous mistakes, they’ve opted to drop their banner against RSL the following week. Good teams don’t make the same mistake twice, apparently. Except when it comes to red cards, I suppose.
In order to get to the center of the Earth, one must drill a total of 7,926 miles into the heart of the planet. The Sounders are on a quest to get there and innovate like no other team has innovated before. After last year’s draw on Decision Day, the Sounders had traveled 34% of the distance (measured by the time between their last home wins against Portland). As of today, they’ve added another 4 percent. In their quest to find the ultimate bonfire, they have to keep drilling. It’s a quest that none of them want to participate in. But Schmetzer is in the drivers’ seat of the rig, and each passing day brings them closer and closer. Stopping at 38% is such an ugly way to end it. There’s another streak that bears mentioning here, but I’m already poking the superstition bear. I’m not going to bring up their all-time scoring leader’s goalless streak, which has stretched back to the Obama administration. That’s simply unfair. But he is blazing the trail for the rest of the group, so you have to hand it to him.
The Timbers have to do their part to help the Sounders on their journey. As both fanbases unite to cheer on the team across the street, the teams must unite and make sure that the Sounders make the journey of a lifetime. Gut the Fish. Detonate the Whale. Beat Seattle. The climb continues.
