Major League Soccer’s biggest rivalry resumes on Sunday, with the Seattle Sounders hosting the Portland Timbers for the first time this season. Their Cascadia Cup derbies were some of the best games in the league last season, and with the attacking talent each team has, this year should be no different.
Sounders vs. Timbers live stream: Time, TV schedule and how to watch MLS online
Welcome back, Cascadia Cup derbies.
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Seattle’s forward combo was so good last year that both Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey were in the MVP race, and it’s looking just as good this year. Martins is tied for fourth in the league with four goals, while Dempsey is tied for third with three assists, despite missing multiple games due to injury. Portland don’t have anyone quite on that level, but Darlington Nagbe and Fanendo Adi are both off to solid starts this season, with three goals and three assists between them.
The Western Conference was the better of the two before this season, but it’s become even stronger this year, with Sporting Kansas City and Houston Dynamo coming in while Chivas USA departed. Even with six teams making the playoffs, it’s very likely that a good one misses out, and the Timbers will have to continue to weather an injury storm if they want to avoid being that team. They’ve done well so far, grabbing the fifth-most points per game in the conference. Seattle is a bit better, with the third-best return.
The Portland Timbers continue to be the team most decimated by injuries. Stars Will Johnson and Diego Valeri will be back soon, but are still out for this game. Portland's midfield depth has been decimated, too, with Ben Zemanski, Michael Nanchoff and Rodney Wallace all missing out. The Seattle Sounders are much better off, with only backup defender Damion Lowe missing.
Match date/time: Sunday, 9:30 p.m. ET, 6:30 p.m. local
Venue: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington
TV: FOX Sports 1 (U.S. - English), FOX Deportes (U.S. - Spanish)
Online: FOX Sports Go (U.S.), MLS Live (Canada)
Listings via LiveSoccerTV.
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