The Seattle Sounders look to end their longstanding home struggles against the Portland Timbers when the Cascadia Cup rivals meet on Saturday night.
Seattle is 0-5-5 in its past 10 regular-season home matches against its biggest rival. The past three such meetings were ties.
Portland last lost a regular-season MLS match in Seattle in 2017. The Sounders did notch a home playoff win over the Timbers in 2018.
“I think it is the motivation we have on the field and obviously, the fans chanting in Seattle,” Timbers midfielder Diego Chara said of his side’s success. “It brings energy to us and it makes it special.”
The results don’t sit well with the Sounders, but they know the energy will again be at a fever pitch when the Timbers take the field.
“The animosity between the fans is intense,” longtime Seattle standout Jordan Morris said. “(Portland) is going to have a big (contingent) coming up here, traveling. We do the same when we go down there. You can feel it between the supporters groups.”
Ramping up the decibels is that Portland (11-10-11, 44 points) can clinch a playoff spot with a victory combined with some other results. The Timbers are tied for the sixth-most points with Austin FC.
Portland hasn’t played well of late, winning just one of its last eight MLS matches (1-3-4). The Timbers tied visiting FC Dallas 2-2 last weekend.
Portland coach Phil Neville is asking his players to dig down deep.
“It’s at the stage of the season where teams are picking up knocks and bruises, there is fatigue,” Neville said. “It’s about that mentality of, ‘How much do you want it?'”
Seattle (12-9-10, 46 points) is in fifth place in the West and already has clinched a postseason spot. However, the Sounders are 0-2-2 in MLS play since beating Inter Miami in the Leagues Cup final on Aug. 31.
The Sounders drew 2-2 against the visiting Vancouver Whitecaps last weekend. The tie allowed Vancouver to win the Cascadia Cup competition between Portland, Seattle and the Whitecaps.
Sounders forward Paul Rothrock didn’t hide how badly he wants to win on Saturday.
“I’m excited for this game. I’ve never been a big Portland fan,” Rothrock said. “These games mean a lot to me. I don’t want to use any expletives on live camera.”
The teams played to a 1-1 tie in Portland on May 17.
Danny Musovski leads Seattle with 14 goals. Antony and Kevin Kelsy share the Portland lead with seven apiece.
–Field Level Media
