It’s MLS Rivalry Week™. And, this time it features two of Seattle Sounders greatest rivals — the Vancouver Whitecaps (Wed. Aug. 23 at 7 PM on JOEtv) and the Portland Timbers (Sun. Aug 27 at 6:30 PM on FS1). This isn’t just a Heineken sponsored rivalry. This is the Cascadia Cup.
This is Clint Dempsey, Fredy Montero, Eddie Johnson, Fanendo Adi, Diego Valeri, Kekutah Manneh, Camilo Sanvezzo and Fredy Montero now in white and blue. Montero leads the 2017 Cascadia Cup Golden Boot race with three goals. No one else has more than one.
The Cascadia Cup is on the line. If Seattle sweeps the trivalry they take the Cup that was is of, for and by the supporters.
Winning the Cascadia Cup with a match remaining between Portland and Vancouver would also put the Sounders in a strong position in the Western Conference. Already hotter than hot, pulling of such an achievement would nearly cement their playoff spot, likely keep their brethren in competing for the knockout rounds, and put pressure on NYCFC and the Fire for the best regular season record, non TFC edition.
First up is a road game against the holders of the Cascadia Cup, hosts of our own former king. They are a broken team, with broken dreams. Their two biggest rivals met in MLS Cup 2016. Little indicates that Vancouver will be the third Cascadia team to take the grandest of titles in our league.
The granddaddy is next. Portland took MLS Cup first. They smashed Seattle’s dreams on the way to their 2015 magic. They will always be first among their Pacific Northwest peers, even if their collection of trophies is small, and lonely.
Bonfires are built. Legends emerge.
And roses wilt
Seattle vs. PortlandClint Dempsey: a thorn in the Rose City. The rivalry comes to Seattle on August 27. One goal. Beat Portland.
Posted by Seattle Sounders FC on Thursday, August 17, 2017