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Despite the unbalanced nature of the 2012 Cascadia Cup, the three biggest supporters groups of the Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps elected to have each game count equally toward the trophy.
Various options had been discussed, such as counting just one home game for each team or weighting road results differently, but there was apparently near universal support to make the competition's rules as straight forward as possible. In a poll of ECS members, 88 percent supported having every game count equally toward the Cascadia Cup.
That said, the joint release did note frustration that the six games were not scheduled in as equitable a way as possible.
"It’s unfortunate that the league didn’t work out a balanced schedule for the Cascadia teams," says Garrett Dittfurth of the Timbers Army. "We think the league should fix this for next season so that no team has an unfair advantage in Cup matches."
In the event that there is a tie in total points earned, goal-difference in games between the tied teams would be the first tiebreaker, followed by total goals scored. If the teams are still tied, the same criteria would be applied to all Cup games. It is worth noting that at no point does road performance come into the tiebreaker scenario.
"Cascadia is home to the oldest and strongest rivalry in North American soccer, and the value that the supporters put on the Cascadia Cup reflects that," says Greg Mockos of the Emerald City Supporters. "The league should pay attention."
Full schedule after the jump
2012 Cascadia Cup schedule
May 19: Vancouver Whitecaps v. Seattle Sounders
May 25: Portland Timbers v. Vancouver Whitecaps
June 24: Portland Timbers v. Seattle Sounders
August 18: Seattle Sounders v. Vancouver Whitecaps
August 25: Portland Timbers v. Vancouver Whitecaps
September 15: Portland Timbers v. Seattle Sounders
September 29: Vancouver Whitecaps v. Seattle Sounders
October 7: Seattle Sounders v. Portland Timbers
October 20: Vancouver Whitecaps v. Portland Timbers