Diego Valeri is set to return for Sunday’s derby.
The Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers meet at Providence Park for a noontime showdown on Sunday. The encounter marks their first derby of 2016, and the first since Portland claimed MLS Cup 2015. In a season that has disappointed fans on both sides of the rivalry, it’s a chance for someone to kick-start their campaign with a victory in the Cascadia Cup contest.
Portland enter the match fresh off a 1-1 home draw with the Montreal Impact on Wednesday. Jack McInerney headed in a corner kick on 14’ before Ignacio Piatti equalized with a brilliant individual goal on 44’. The goal was a controversial one for Montreal’s star Argentine, as his raking of Powell’s calf on 18’ surely deserved a red card. Piatti was allowed to play on, and eventually stole a point for the Impact all by his lonesome. Caleb Porter went with a largely first string lineup, absent Diego Valeri and Diego Chara. The former will look to return from an ankle sprain this weekend while the latter sat the match out due to yellow card accumulation. The two will provide a much-needed shot of energy to the Timbers midfield, and bolsters their chances in Sunday’s match.
With 26 points from 20 games (6-6-8 in league play), the Timbers currently trail Vancouver and Kansas City by two points for the last Western Conference playoff spot. They hold a game in hand on Sporting and a win in the derby would likely vault them above the Midwest club, who are saddled with a trip to the top side in the conference on points per game, the Colorado Rapids. Portland are unbeaten in their last eight matches at 3-0-5, not having lost since May 15 (2-1 at NYCFC). They are, however, winless in their last three, having drawn each. The impending derby is a chance to punctuate a strong run of form that has seen the Timbers claw themselves within an inch of a playoff spot. In only several weeks’ time they’ll have to deal the fixture congestion presented by Champions League involvement, making every point in July a precious one. Such is the state of the Portland Timbers from the analytical side — this derby may well be one decided by emotion.
Sounders travel down I-5 for the first time since an MLS Cup made its way to Cascadia. The region’s biggest achievement has altered the balance of power within it, and Sunday is the first chance for the Timbers and their fanbase to try on the big brother role. Sigi Schmid will surely be preparing his men for a raucous crowd the likes of which Seattle may not have ever seen before. The day is a chance for Portland to celebrate the MLS Cup victory all over again, and it may prove to be more than what a young Sounders team can deal with.
Up north, there were smiles all around on Wednesday as Seattle broke a four match winless skid with a massive 5-0 victory over Shield leaders FC Dallas. Maynor Figueroa was sent off early for a handball on the line, and Clint Dempsey had Seattle ahead within five minutes. The man advantage propelled them to two more goals before half an hour had been played. Dempsey upset the masterpiece with a silly red card on 33’, and many eyes may turn to his behaviour during that play if Seattle struggle on Sunday without him. Referee Ricardo Salazar had no choice but to send the Sounders DP off after he made violent contact with the face of an opponent.
Evening things up at 10 on 10 didn’t bother Seattle. They added two more goals in the second half and cruised to their biggest home win since 2011. Schmid was able to sub off Jordan Morris, Erik Friberg, and Osvaldo Alonso to conserve their energy for the derby, and rested Tyrone Mears and Nelson Valdez to begin with. The victory moved Seattle out of the basement spot in the Western Conference (9th, 6-10-2 for 20 points) and gives them one last shot to build momentum before Garth Lagerwey & co. have to start thinking about disassembling the squad in anticipation of next season. Sounders would obviously like to take points from this derby, but they need a boost of energy from it even more so. It’ll take results in many more matches as the year goes on for Seattle to get back into playoff contention — whether it’s one point or three on Sunday, it’s the passion and momentum that Sounders really need the game.
Given that both sides played Wednesday fixtures, the lineups fielded there were the first chess moves in the build up to Sunday. With Porter playing his starters and garnering a draw and Schmid mixing in reserves and winning big, it must be said that Seattle took the upper hand in the pregame battle.
All the big names besides Dempsey should be back for the match, which also has big implications for the Cascadia Cup standings. Portland sit on three points with a game in hand leaders Vancouver, and Seattle without a point in third. A Timbers win would put them level with the Whitecaps on points and ahead on goal difference. Sounders must take points at Providence Park after failing to earn a result at home against Vancouver in their only other derby in 2016 so far, or face falling 6 points behind both of their rivals nearly halfway through the competition.
Midweek results and and fitness point Seattle’s way. The venue and the historical context sit firmly with Portland. The 93rd edition of the preeminent American soccer rivalry looks poised to be a memorable one.
PREDICTION:
Portland Timbers 3, Seattle Sounders 1
Valeri (PK) 12’
Adi (Valeri) 36’
Morris (Kovar) 62’
Melano (Chara) 75’
Sounders FC
Portland Timbers
