Sounders at Portland Timbers - Gamethread

No fancy matchups. No tactics. Today is simple. Win. Win by reverting to tactics that worked up until a couple weeks ago? Sure. Win by shifting the system just weeks before the MLS Cup Playoffs start? Sure.

Erase the memories of Vancouver and Colorado.

Replace them with a 90 minute performance that reminds the league that Seattle Sounders FC is still an MLS Cup candidate.

Sigi Schmid said that a hot start would be more important than usual. There is some good news around that. Seattle is both more active in the first 30 minutes (that's the highlighted periods) than Portland and traditionally gains a lead then. The club must be wary just out of half time and the final 15 minutes though.

TV: ESPN (Healey/Twellman/Lalas)
Radio: 97.3 KIRO FM Seattle (Fletcher/Keller)

Referee: Hilario Grajeda - MLS Career: 96 games; FC/gm: 24.2; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 16; pens: 14
AR1 (bench): Corey Rockwell; AR2 (opposite): Greg Barkey; 4th: Ricardo Salazar

Disabled List: SEA: Josh Ford | PDX: Mikael Silvestre (season-ending injury); Ryan Miller (season-ending injury); Brent Richards (season-ending injury)

Suspended: SEA: Zach Scott
Suspended next yellow card: SEA: Leo Gonzalez, Djimi Traore| PDX: Pa Modou Kah, Andrew Jean-Baptiste, Ben Zemanski
Suspended next two yellow cards: Osvaldo Alonso, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Adam Moffat, Brad Evans | PDX: Diego Chara, Will Johnson, Rodney Wallace

International Absences: Brad Evans, Eddie Johnson (USA) | PDX: Ryan Johnson, Alvas Powell (Jamaica); Rodney Wallace (Costa Rica)

How We're Watching
Scarf: 2011 You Will Hear Us
Kit: You Will Hear Us
Where I'm Watching: Jeld-Wen Away GA

Nos Audietis In Somniis | Nos Audietis In Altum
YOU WILL HEAR US