The Seattle Sounders are heading to Oregon on Sunday to take on Cascadia rivals the Portland Timbers. Here is everything you need to know about the match:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m. PT at Providence Park in Portland. NOTE: Kickoff was originally scheduled for 1 p.m. but was moved to 7:30 due to extreme heat.
WHERE TO WATCH: The game will be televised on ESPN2. NOTE: The game was originally scheduled to air on ESPN but was moved to ESPN2 following the time change.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The game will air on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360AM.
2017 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 5-7-5 (20 points, 8th place West), Timbers: 7-7-3 (24 points, 3rd place West).
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 9-5-4 all time in regular-season play against the Timbers, including a 2-5-2 mark on the road.
RECENT MEETINGS: The Sounders defeated the Timbers in their first regular-season meeting on May 27 at CenturyLink Field behind an early goal from Cristian Roldan. Seattle also knocked out Portland from the U.S. Open Cup on June 13 with a 2-1 win at Starfire Sports.
TIMBER TROUBLES: After coming out of the gates strong, Portland is just 2-6-2 in its last 10 matches across all competitions, the worst record in the Western Conference in that span. The Timbers fell 3-2 midweek at Minnesota United.
BLANCO, MILLER OUT: Sebastian Blanco was ejected and Roy Miller received his fifth yellow card of the season against Minnesota on Wednesday, which means each is suspended for Sunday’s match against the Sounders.
DANGEROUS DUO: Timbers midfielder Diego Valeri scored his ninth goal of the season on Wednesday and is tied for fourth in MLS. He and forward Fanendo Adi have 17 combined goals, the most of any Western Conference teammates.
NOUHOU STARTS: Nineteen-year-old Sounders defender Nouhou made his first MLS start in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw with Orlando City SC. He filled in admirably for Joevin Jones, who began on the bench and entered in the second half as a substitute.
NEW GOALSCORING LEADER: Will Bruin scored his fifth goal of the season on Wednesday and is now the Sounders’ leading goalscorer. He is averaging 0.72 goals per 90 minutes, one of the top rates in MLS.
LATE-GAME FRUSTRATION: Orlando City’s Scott Sutter scored on the final touch of the match on Wednesday to equalize, sending the visitors back to Florida with a point. Seattle rued its missed opportunities and inability to capture all three points.
SHUTOUT STREAK SNAPPED: Sutter’s goal snapped a 427-minute home shutout streak dating back to Jozy Altidore’s penalty kick in the first half against Toronto FC on May 6. It was the longest home shutout streak in Seattle’s MLS history.
