It was just over a week and a half ago that the Seattle Sounders torpedoed their season with an absolute meltdown against the Portland Timbers in the US Open Cup. You remember, right? Until that day, the Sounders were rolling. They were the best team in the league by a long, long way.
But since that Open Cup match, Seattle has lost two games in a row and hasn’t scored a single goal. Obafemi Martins is hurt, Clint Dempsey has disgraced himself and incurred suspensions that will total nine or more games across competitions, and the Sounders are for the moment, somehow, plucky underdogs with a reputation to salvage.
Enter the derby match this weekend at Providence Park, where the Timbers, beneficiaries of that instantly legendary Sounders meltdown, will try to net their landmark win of 2015. Add in a heat advisory and the possibility of in-game water breaks—even the Timbers Army is begging you to hydrate and stay semi-sober, and the Timbers are instituting special measures to help out—and we’re set for another classic in the great American soccer rivalry.
The History
There is so much of it, dating back to 1975, but there’s no question that one of the most memorable games just took place at Starfire two weeks ago. That match and its fallout has been covered in detail, and while the Sounders’ animosity from that night won’t carry over to this match on Sunday, Seattle will come in with a point to prove.
But the Timbers shouldn’t forget that they have something to prove as well. In MLS play, Portland hasn’t beat Seattle in four tries since 2012. That streak has included three losses, one of which came earlier this season in April at CenturyLink Field.
The Timbers were thoroughly embarrassed at home against Seattle last year, giving up eight goals in two games. Portland’s problems in this derby of late have added to the little-brother barb that has followed the Timbers in this rivalry for years.
The bottom line is this: There are more good rivalries than ever before in MLS, but this one is still the creme de la creme. Another classic on Sunday, in some extraordinary circumstances, will make everyone remember that. Look for a terrific tifo as well.
The Tactics
Both of these teams had a rough time in midweek games. The Sounders went East to play one of the worst teams in the league in Philadelphia, and lost 1-0. The Timbers traveled to Southern California to play LA, one of the best teams in the league, and were thrashed 5-0.
Liam Ridgewell stupidly got a red card against the Galaxy and will be suspended for Portland. This, of all games, will be the first MLS match Ridgewell hasn’t started for the Timbers since his first game in Portland last July. Norberto Paparatto will replace him. The big Argentine center-back has been solid in sparse work this year, and the Timbers are confident enough in his ability.
Will Johnson’s return next to Diego Chara in central midfield will be a huge boost for Portland, while with Dairon Asprilla still out with an ankle injury, Rodney Wallace, who’s been better of late, will start again. Diego Valeri will also make his first start of the season at Providence Park. At forward, Fanendo Adi’s ability to lock horns with Seattle’s big center-backs worked well in Tukwila as Brad Evans got sent off. Expect him to get the nod over Maxi Urruti, especially with Urruti’s running-mate Gaston Fernandez on the bench.
Seattle are obviously without Dempsey and Martins, but Evans is also an injury concern. He should be back, if he’s not, noted Seattle-Timbers character Zach Scott will partner the excellent Chad Marshall in central defense. Osvaldo Alonso will be back in central midfield, and he’ll presumably be tasked once again with taking cheap shots at Darlington Nagbe.
Chad Barrett is fit again, but he’ll most likely come off the bench with Lamar Neagle up top and a youngster wide opposite Andy Rose. The question is, can Seattle generate any real offense? They haven’t in their first two matches sans Dempsey and Martins.
The Timbers should come out and dominate. The only real questions marks are whether Adi will bring his best stuff for the first time since the Spring, and whether the Timbers can feel comfortable enough playing out of defense with Paparatto and Powell. Ridgewell is the team’s best distributor out of the back, so the Timbers will have to compensate there if they want possession. Will there be any lingering effects from the midweek loss? It’s doubtful, but something to monitor.
The Lineup
12 – Kwarasey
2 – Powell
23 – Paparatto
7 – Borchers
19 – Villafaña
21 – Chara
4 – W. Johnson (C)
22 – Wallace
6 – Nagbe
8 – Valeri
9 – Adi
The Pick
The heat does funny things to people. I’d expect plenty of chippiness early, both from the players and from the crowd, and a mental war of sorts late if the game is close when exhaustion has set in. In the end though, I don’t think Seattle will be able to overcome the fact that this is the weakest team it has ever fielded in MLS against the Timbers. It will be Portland’s day with a 2-0 win.
Can’t wait to get me some of that refreshing restroom water!
“But the Timbers shouldn’t forget that they have something to prove as well. In MLS play, Portland hasn’t beat Seattle in four tries since 2012.”
Wrong year. Portland beat Seattle three times in the span of three weeks in late 2013.