It’s the first of the biggest games of the year. The Portland Timbers travel north to face the Seattle Sounders in primetime on Sunday night, off the back of several indifferent performances yielding vastly different results.
In many ways, this game feels like the end of the early-season road. By next weekend, both Diego Valeri and Will Johnson could be available for selection as the calendar turns to May and all of MLS settles in for the long-haul. But tomorrow, it’s the Sounders. And when it’s the Sounders, nothing else matters.
The History
It’s the greatest rivalry in American soccer. Portland and Seattle met for the first time in the old NASL in 1975, and across multiple leagues, generations, and iterations, they’ll play on Sunday night for the 89th time.
These teams meet — at least — three times a season now, and the first game is often the least memorable. The weather is dreary, tensions haven’t had time to rise, story-lines and real, honest dislike to boil. Last year was something of an exception, when the two teams played to a thrilling, frustrating, memorable 4-4 draw in Portland. The Timbers got two sensational goals from birthday-boy Diego Chara, only to throw throw three points away by conceding twice in the final ten minutes.
This will be the only Timbers-Sounders game under the lights this year, and first time the two sides have played in MLS on FOX Sports 1. Former Timbers Army supporter John Strong will be on the call from CenturyLink Field, which will not be opened to its full capacity.
This series was extremely lopsided in favor of the Sounders last year, and played without the animosity of 2013. If the Timbers can be competitive with Seattle, that animosity should return.
The Tactics
The most notable development in the lead-in to this game was the suspension of Seattle center-back — and reigning MLS Defender of the Year — Chad Marshall for a foul committed in last week’s Sounders win at Colorado.
Without Marshall, Seattle have to plug in long-time club servant Zach Scott next to captain Brad Evans, who is a natural midfielder just converting to the position this year. That will be a situation that Fanendo Adi will want to exploit, and, considering the injury to Rodney Wallace, could tempt Caleb Porter to play Maxi Urruti again in a 4-4-2.
If that’s not the direction Porter chooses to go — and it’s a long-shot considering Urruti and Adi play together like Nancy Kerrigan and Toyna Harding — Ishmael Yartey could make his second consecutive start in the familiar 4-5-1. There aren’t many other options. Jack Jewsbury will start again next to Diego Chara in the center of the park.
The real question for Timbers fans is whether Diego Valeri makes the eighteen. On one hand, it seems foolish to risk Valeri on Seattle’s dreadful turf after a single week of training, on the other hand, Valeri is back to full strength and the Timbers are struggling to fill their substitute bench anyway with all their injuries. Even if you see Valeri’s name amongst the subs, there’s no guarantee he’ll play.
It will be interesting to see how Porter approaches this game. There is now precedent for the Timbers to go cautious and direct, and this team, still not at full-strength is a clear underdog. Not only is Seattle the defending Supporters’ Shield champs, Portland has never won a regular-season game at CenturyLink.
The Lineup
12 – Kwarasey
2 – Powell
24 – Ridgewell (C)
7 – Borchers
19 – Villafaña
13 – Jewsbury
21 – Chara
11 – Asprilla
6 – Nagbe
18 – Yartey
9 – Adi
The Pick
Although Seattle’s makeshift defense is a major question mark, history, talent, and early-season form says Sounders. With their midfield returning to health, Obafemi Martins in scintillating form, and Clint Dempsey returning to health, the Sounders win 2-0.
