Seattle Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers | 2020 MLS Match Preview

Dylan Butler

2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 20
Seattle Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers
CenturyLink Field – Seattle
October 22 – 10:30 PM ET

TV: FS1, FOX Deportes

STREAMING: MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada

The Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers renew their intense rivalry when the Cascadia foes square off at CenturyLink Field Thursday night. As if added motivation was needed, first place in the Western Conference is on the line in this fourth matchup this season with both teams level at 31 points.

The Sounders (9W-4L-4D) are coming off a 0-0 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes and although its back-to-back games without a win, they have just one loss in their last five games. The Timbers (9W-5L-4D) conceded a late equalizer to settle for a 1-1 draw against LAFC at Providence Park. Also winless in their last two, Portland have lost just once in their last eight.

Both teams have taken three points on the road from their rival this season in the first two encounters while Yimmi Chara scored the lone goal in a 1-0 victory at Providence Park on Sept. 23 in the last showdown.

Seattle Sounders

In stark contrast to a 7-1 drubbing in the last meeting, Seattle and San Jose played to a goalless draw Sunday at Earthquakes Stadium.

Now the attention turns to a rivalry Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer said has turned into arguably the premier rivalry in MLS.

"Take the fans, put that aside. It matters to the players, it matters to the staff. It matters to the two organizations," Schmetzer said in a video conference call Wednesday. "[Timbers coach] Gio [Savarese] is a nice a guy, I keep telling you guys, he's a really nice guy, great coach. He is. But don't think that the handshakes are very easy after we lose. Or don't think him having to come across to me after we beat them 3-0 down there -- don't think that was easy for him, because it's not.

"And the players on the field measure themselves against each other all the time in this rivalry. You can go back to the Zach Scotts, the Taylor Grahams, the Roger Levesques, the battles we've had in the USL days, you can fast-forward it to Gonzo [Pineda], Djimi [Traore], [Clint] Dempsey -- all of the great players that the Seattle Sounders franchise has had on their roster over the years, I'd be willing to bet if you asked them, they'd say the rivalry is a big deal."

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Joevin Jones (M) - right high ankle sprain
- OUT: Brad Smith (D) - right hamstring strain
- OUT: Trey Muse (GK) - concussion
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Joao Paulo (M)
International duty: None

Portland Timbers

Jeremy Ebobisse struck early in the second half, but 16-year-old Christian Torres scored late for LAFC to keep the Timbers from claiming sole possession of first place. Ebobisse left the match, adding an apparent injury to the insult of two dropped points.

Speaking on his call with the media this week, Saverese also said he still feels the intensity and energy that come with these games.

"Yes, it is a rivalry match and the mentality and the feeling is always the same: As soon as we step on the field we know we're playing Seattle and we want to beat them," Savarese said. "We want to make our fans proud wherever they're watching the match, and we're going to go against our rivals to make sure we try to get three points. These matches are always difficult. They have been playing well, they're always very competitive, we always try to be very competitive against them. I think inside the field nothing changes. Of course it's not the same either way when we go there and they have their fans or when they're here and we have our fans. I think that part you miss. But I think what happens inside the field, that competitive level, the competition, the willingness to beat your rival is always going to be there in our mind going into this match."

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Dairon Asprilla (M) - left knee injury
- OUT: Blake Bodily (M) - right thigh injury
- OUT: Sebastian Blanco (M) - right ACL injury
- OUT: Julio Cascante (D) - left ankle injury
- QUESTIONABLE: Jeremy Ebobisse (F) - concussion
- QUESTIONABLE: Marvin Loría (M) - abdomen injury
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: Diego Chara (M)
International duty: None