(10) Portland Timbers (5,6,8, 23 points) vs (7) Seattle Sounders (8,7,2, 26 points)
Saturday July 9, 2022, KO 1:30 PM PST/ 4:30 PM EST
Lumen Field, Seattle, Washington
Portland Timbers Briefly
What a turnaround or better call this Portland Timbers renewed. After an epic comeback against Nashville on the road, this team is looking like a total contender for the remainder of the season.
Still, this team with a healthy squad is looking very innovative and with a lot of fights after being down on the scoreboard in their last game, they managed to a comeback and shared points in the end.
With several players making a stand and looking to be noticed by manager Giovanni Savarese, we see a fully recovered Eryk Williamson making a statement and getting some European suitors looking at his services.
Another player is Jaroslaw Niezgoda so far tallying a mark of six goals and three of these in the second half helping his team move up the standings in the Western Conference, in addition to Bill Tuiloma returning against Seattle.
As the defensive game is really playing a good game and despite those early goals in the last game, the defensive backfield still needs to step up its game for the better, alongside not allowing teams to display their offensive game so freely.
Goalkeeper Aljaz Ivacic has shown off a lot of security under the arches and showing signs of not letting go of his starting position as he’s the number one starting option for Gio!
Hopefully, Diego Chara will be back, and the rest of the squad will be ready and healthy for one of the most important games in every season the Timbers play against their arch-rivals, the Sounders, and looking this year to seize the Cascadia Cup.
The offensive game has to decipher the defensive game Seattle will put against the Timbers as Yimmi Chara, Santiago Moreno, and Sebastian Blanco have to break the defensive game and make the most of scoring opportunities.
Once again, the ultimate of duels to be played in Seattle and in Lumen Field where the atmosphere goes from 0 to loudest in every minute played whenever these two titans play, as this rivalry has gained a lot of momentum.
My question is as both sides going with an undefeated mark, how will the Portland game be defined and what strategy will Gio implement against the Sounders, conservative or aggressive?
Probable Lineup:
GK Aljaz Ivacic, Josecarlos Van Rankin, Zac McGraw, Bill Tuiloma, Claudio Bravo; Diego Chara, Eryk Williamson; Santiago Moreno, Yimmi Chara, Sebastian Blanco; Jaroslaw Niezgoda
Seattle Sounders Briefly
What a season the Sounders and manager Brian Schmetzer are having by being the first MLS side to ever win the CONCACAF Champions Cup by defeating Mexican powerhouse Pumas UNAM!
After a slow start in the league, the Sounders have bounced back and are currently in seventh place, occupying the last spot in the Western Conference for the postseason, but time is in favor of the Rave Greens.
This team has won it all and when they represent CONCACAF in the World Club Cup, this will be a major feat if they win that competition adding another major trophy in their existence and maybe going for more.
If one game is important for the Sounders, it is the Cascadian rivalries. Last week, as its manager put on the field several reserve players, the experiment work wonders for Schmetzer against Toronto as well for Gio in Nashville.
Manager Schmetzer will have its best front men in Nicolas Lodeiro, Cristian Roldan, Jordan Morris, and Albert Rusnak which was considered one of the best moves in the season by the Rave Greens, in addition to its defensive backfield considered among one of the best in MLS.
The question is who will win this affair as a tie is considered for both sides as an oxymoron, two streaking teams, and one that can come up as a victor in this edition of the Cascadia Derby?
Probable Lineup:
GK Stefan Frei, Alex Roldan, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Kelyn Rowe, Albert Rusnak; Cristian Roldan, Nicolas Lodeiro, Jordan Morris; Will Bruin
Meetings
08/29/2021 Seattle Sounders 0-2 Portland Timbers
08/15/2021 Portland Timbers 2-6 Seattle Sounders
05/09/2021 Portland Timbers 1-2 Seattle Sounders
Forecast
Another Rivalry Week match of epic proportions by these two sides, I won’t dare to pick up a favorite!
Portland Timbers
Seattle Sounders FC
