Sounders Aim to Stave Off Playoff-Hungry Timbers in Heated PNW Clash
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Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris winds up for a shot during a MLS match against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash. (Mike Fiechtner / Sounders FC Communications) [/caption]
There aren't many rivalries in North American soccer with a more storied history than that of the Seattle Sounders and the Portland Timbers.
The Pacific Northwest's MLS representatives have been duking it out since the days of the North American Soccer League, where the Sounders started out in 1974, and the two franchises have had a competitive all-time series since.
Seattle leads the series 67-57-19 (Portland leads 19-16-11 since 2011), with the latest regular-season installation set for this Saturday at Lumen Field in the Emerald City. The Sounders (12-9-10) sit at fifth in the MLS' Western Conference while the Timbers (11-10-11) have held strong at seventh, just two points behind Seattle with three matches to play before the postseason.
While neither team has a real chance to claim a top-four seed and the first-round homefield advantage that comes with it thanks to rough September forms, there’s plenty to play for. A clinched Seattle side will be looking to stay in the fifth spot as the season wanes, while Portland can clinch a playoff berth with a win or draw and leapfrog its bitter rival if it pulls all three points.
Neither squad has been in the best form as of late, but that won't matter when these two go at it on Saturday night.
Previous Matchup
The Sounders and Timbers last met at Providence Park in Portland on May 17 in a 1-1 draw.
It was a disappointing result for head coach Brian Schmetzer's Sounders, who had six shots on target to just one for Portland in a 1.0-0.6 expected-goal advantage. Keep that trend in mind, as the Timbers have made a habit of keeping their opponents at or below their xG mark.
Albert Rusnák netted the first goal of the match in the 30th minute for Seattle as the Sounders launched a perfect ball from their own third to attack the Timbers before they could set up.
Santiago Moreno responded just six minutes later as he went unmarked on a cross into the box. It was the only shot on target for Portland that afternoon.
“There’s no such thing as a moral victory … I believe we outplayed (Portland) for large parts of the game,” Schmetzer said after the result. “They were trying to get out with a draw.”
Portland Overview (DDLWD)
The Timbers aren't in their best shape, but they've managed to stay in the playoff picture by scrounging results together. Portland won just two games across August and September and is coming off two straight draws en route to a seventh-seed spot.
As I mentioned earlier, this is a Portland team accustomed to opportunities and preventing scores when they come.
The Timbers' 49.1 xG against is the 10th-highest mark in MLS, but they've only let 42 goals in. Their +7.1 xG allowed minus goals allowed is the fourth-best mark in the league, and they've done it with sound defensive principles.
The Timbers clear the ball at the fourth-best clip in MLS (864 clearances) and are generally just a resilient squad under skipper Phil Neville. Keeper James Pantemis has been a brick wall in the net, as his 78.7% save rate across 18 starts is second-best among qualifying keepers. David Ayala has been a solid presence in the midfield, as his 42 ball-carrier tackles are top-five in MLS.
But Portland could be in for a tough day if it can't keep the Sounders off the board, as this is a Timbers offense that lacks an identity.
The Timbers have managed just 37 goals in 32 matches — a bottom-seven figure in MLS — in comparison to Seattle's 52 in 31. Their leading scorer, Antony, has seven goals on the season but has just one goal since early in the summer. Another expected scorer for Portland in Felipe Mora (five goals) has been on a similar cold streak as the Timbers have managed 10 goals in their last 10 fixtures. When accounting for the fact that All-Star David Da Costa, who plays the 10 and leads Portland with six assists, hasn't found an assist since early August, there are real problems with that offense.
But there is plenty of motivation for the Timbers, as they can clinch a playoff spot and jump over Seattle with a win. Perhaps the biggest source of willpower? Avoiding finishing in eighth and ninth and having to play a Wild Card match.
Standings are on everyone’s mind heading into this classic derby.
"The most important part is getting a win and moving up in the table, not letting them jump us in the table,” Sounders all-time leading scorer Jordan Morris, who has been a part of this rivalry for nine seasons, said after training on Wednesday. “You hear the messaging from the coaches, from the players, guys that have been around it, that this game is going to have a little bit more bite and you gotta be ready right from the opening whistle.”
Seattle Updates (DLLDW)
The Sounders are coming off a gritty 2-2 draw with Vancouver, in which Seattle lost two huge backline pieces in Yeimar and Alex Roldan to injury.
After Tuesday's training, Schmetzer clarified that Yeimar will miss four weeks with a hamstring strain while A. Roldan will have a chance to make it back for the Portland game as he moves past a hip injury. Those aren't the best updates for a backline that has kept Seattle afloat as of late, but there are things to be happy about on the offensive end.
Jordan Morris is back in shape at the nine and started against Vancouver, while Pedro de la Vega is in line to receive minutes on the left wing as he battles knee tendonitis that's held him out since the Leagues Cup. Rusnák has completely recovered from his hamstring injury at the 10 with a goal and an assist against the Whitecaps. The Slovak playmaker is in line to be a factor yet again in this rematch.
But if Seattle's offense is going to generate enough chances to break through Portland's stingy defense, xG will be the name of the game.
Leading scorer Danny Musovski will need to keep the pressure on as a starter or a sub, as his 0.78 non-penalty xG per 90 minutes leads MLS by a decent margin. If Portland goes back to the five-man backline it used in its draw against Vancouver last week, Schmetzer may look to go with a mixture of Morris and Musovski or bring on Osaze De Rosario for a dual-striker look to break the Timbers’ ranks.
One thing about the Sounders that has killed them recently? Costly turnovers.
In practically every game since the Leagues Cup final, Seattle has given the ball away in their own half, allowing their opponent to score in transition. Young Snyder Brunell, in for an international-duty-occupied Obed Vargas in the midfield alongside a gassed Cristian Roldan, looked great in the draw against Vancouver last Saturday. But the Kirkland product had that one crucial turnover that turned a potential win into a split result — a moment his teammates and coaches are confident he will learn from.
With Vargas, Yeimar and possibly A. Roldan missing on Saturday, it will be up to depth pieces like Brunell, Kim Kee-Hee and Kalani Kossa-Rienzi alongside experienced starters like Jackson Ragen and Nouhou to pick up the slack. C. Roldan never got that break he wanted after Leagues Cup, and he's been the hardest player to rotate due to his monster ability to control the midfield, but his wear is showing as the games only get harder.
The upcoming derby with Portland will be a reality check for the Sounders, as the types of mistakes that have haunted them could prove fatal in the postseason. They could certainly be the difference in a rivalry game with massive playoff implications.
Defensively, the Sounders have been rock solid outside of their turnovers leading to quick strikes. The Sounders have allowed 43 goals in 31 fixtures, whereas Portland has let in 42 goals in 32 games played. The difference? Portland has faced 157 shots on target to Seattle's 136.
Once again, generating constant pressure and a high xG figure against Pantemis will be the name of the game if Seattle is going to score the two goals it will likely need to ensure a win over a middling Portland attack.
The Verdict: Work If You Want to Win
"You always look where you're going to play Portland at home, what part of the year, how they're doing, what they're doing. It's a big one."
That was Schmetzer's sentiment on preparing for this game year-round, to give you an idea of how the Rave Green view this rivalry. To be clear, if you ask Schmetzer questions about most other opponents, you'll typically get a short response along the lines of "it's about us," or “we control what we can control.”
Schmetzer's seen it all; he's a Seattle original who was around for the dawn of this rivalry, and he's here decades later leading his squad back into the fray. You know each team's form and how each can win this game, but it won't mean much when that ball is kicked off on Saturday evening.
These rivalry games are won in the physical plays and duels, and Seattle will be missing a beast in that regard as Yeimar recovers. Still, expect another strong showing from Brunell and C. Roldan in the midfield, while Kim Kee-Hee will likely be under a microscope in replacing Yeimar.
Seattle's offense found something last week, and it will need to be opportunistic in pushing through a Timbers squad that has held its opponents well below their xG marks. Expect Portland to block shots and nullify promising chances from a healthier Seattle attack, as it'll be up to high-work-rate guys like Paul Rothrock and Musovski to keep the energy up to avoid a repeat of the low-scoring draw these two teams had last time around.
If Portland can limit the Sounders to 1.0 xG or lower, it can certainly make it out of Seattle with a draw, but it'd take a hearty offensive showing (and/or another big Seattle mistake) to snag a win on the road. The Sounders will have another chance for their first win since Aug. 31, but they will need to work for it.
