PORTLAND, OR – MAY 13: Portland Timbers 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders On May 13, 2018, at Providence Park Portland, OR (Photo by Diego Diaz/ProstAmerika).

The Cascadia Derbies between the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders are always a highlight of the Major League Soccer season. With Rivalry Week in the works, this match headlines this weekend in MLS. As this match had its historic connotations, these two clubs played their 100^th match. Therefore, Rose City recorded a scorching 80 degrees temperature. Still the match was on, with two squads ready to a fight to the end. As you recall in this rivalry, whenever these two squads meet, we are brace to a contested affair.

Still it did not come easy for the Portland Timbers playing against a suddenly revived Seattle squad. After their midweek, win against the defending champions Toronto FC. Both squads had their momentum within their initial elevens. Despite the Timbers coning with a three match winning streak. Today’s match was not going to be a walk in the park. For Savarese experiencing his first ever Derby, he knew the strategies to put in the field had to be difference makers.

For the Sounders manager Brian Schmetzer seeing the Timbers offensive might. He sent a very conservative 5-4-1 with a lone Clint Dempsey heading his attack. For the home side, manager Giovanni Savarese used his trademark 4-3-2-1 formation. That at the end gave him another successful afternoon. However this match was anything but easy for the local side.

From the get go Seattle displayed a much conservative game defensively. This is despite Mother Nature delivering a hot day which is considered a rarity in this time in the Pacific Northwest. In addition, the visitors not giving the locals any open opportunities on net. The Portland Timbers via its Andean duo of Sebastian Blanco and Diego Valeri, along with Fanendo Adi were of course looking for any open opportunities. But the first half-ended with a stalemate of 0-0.

However, it was in the 86th minute when Sebastian Blanco was to become the hero of this match. For manager Giovanni Savaresehe made moves like a Chessmaster would these paid off. Samuel Armenteros coming as a substitute made the difference as his game is becoming too valuable and  too opportune lately. In back-to-back games two weeks ago against the San Jose Earthquakes and this past weekend against the Sounders his play created the game-winning goal. In Sunday’s match his assist led to Blanco’s game winning goal in the 86 minute.

For the Portland Timbers (4, 3, 2, 14 points), they recorded their fourth consecutive win For Giovanni Savarese in his post-match conferences he lauded very highly his squad developments in each match. As he stands out his group discipline hard work is delivering positive results.

PORTLAND, OR – MAY 13: Portland Timbers 1-0 victory over the Seattle Sounders On May 13, 2018, at Providence Park Portland, OR (Photo by Diego Diaz/ProstAmerika).