FULL TIME: Playing their third game in a little more than the week, the Seattle Sounders couldn’t quite finish out the week on a positive note. Despite some resolute defending, the Sounders finally buckled in the 87th minute when Sebastian Blanco got a clean look on goal and easily beat Stefan Frei from about 10 yards out.

Timbers 1, Sounders 0: Sebastian Blanco finally broke the deadlock, taking a pass from Samuel Armenteros and beating Stefan Frei with a slight chip in the 87th minute. The Sounders’ best chance to break up the opportunity was Gustav Svensson, but he appeared to mis-time his tackle and whiffed on the pass, giving Blanco a clean path to goal.

HALFTIME: Although the first half was pretty wide open, the two teams only combined for seven shots and neither goalkeeper was really tested. The Sounders’ best chance came on a counter-attack that started when Jordy Delem put Magnus Wolff Eikrem into space. But with Clint Dempsey double-marked while making a hard run in the center of goal, Wolff cut it back to an on-rushing Nouhou. It was the kind of opportunity Joevin Jones thrived under, but Nouhou first took a touch to settle himself and then fired a shot just wide.

TIFO: Although the Timbers Army didn’t unveil a big display for the 100th meeting between these teams, ECS brought their own.

For the non-nautical types among you, those are signal flags.

LINEUPS: Clint Dempsey returns to the Seattle Sounders’ starting lineup, but in a bit of a surprise role. Will Bruin’s injury at Toronto FC may be a bit more serious than initially indicated, and he was left off the gameday roster. Dempsey will start in his place, ostensibly as the team’s lone forward in a 5-4-1 setup.

Osvaldo Alonso (strained quad) and Nicolas Lodeiro (broken foot) also were left off the gameday roster. The midfield will be comprised of Alex Roldan, Magnus Wolff Eikrem, Jordy Delem and Cristian Roldan. The five-man backline will be comprised of Nouhou, Gustav Svensson, Chad Marshall, Kim Kee-Hee and Kelvin Leerdam.

As long as there has been a Portland Timbers they have been the chief rival of the Seattle Sounders. Sadly, there hasn’t been a Portland Timbers as long or as often as there have been Seattle Sounders. Sounders are older, have fewer gaps in their professional history, more major trophies, more minor trophies, more frequently have winning seasons, more frequently make the playoffs, have more people attend matches, make more money — basically by any judgment this should hardly be a rivalry at all. One team dominates on every measure.

Sunday’s match is the 100th meeting between the two sides. Seattle has 50 wins, Portland merely 35. With Clint Dempsey on the field the Sounders are even more dominant — 6-1-3 thanks in large part to his 9 goals in 10 games. Already a legend in Rave Green, this match offers Dempsey the opportunity to be a living myth.

Seattle is wounded, lacking their star HGP forward, a DP creator, a TAM creator, and a TAM centerback. But they are on a decent streak, going 2-1-2 +2 in their last five, though Portland has won their last three and are undefeated in four.

All the records, the past 99 matches, or the two teams’ other performances this year will not matter. This is the biggest rivalry in American soccer. We will watch it together.

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Seattle: Jordan Morris (right ACL tear), Victor Rodríguez (right knee sprain) and Roman Torres (right hamstring strain are all out. Nicolas Lodeiro (toe fracture) is still questionable.

Timbers: Roy Miller (left achilles tendon), Jeremy Ebobisse (right thigh) and Kendall McIntosh (right thigh) are listed as out. Vytas (right thigh), Bill Tuiloma (right knee) and David Guzmán (right knee) are all listed as questionable.

Osvaldo Alonso and Diego Chara are each about two yellows away from suspension due to accumulation.

Robert Sibiga is the center referee. His video assistant is Jorge Gonzalez. The fourth official is Daniel Radford.

nos audietis in somniis | nos audietis in alto

you will hear us in your sleep | you will hear us from the deep

this is our Sound

Keys to the Game:

• Attack weak joins, generally on the left.
• Don’t lose Diego Valeri.
• Sebastian Blanco is good this year.
• Find a balance in attack, formation.

How I'm watching

Outfit: North America will hear us

Scarf: History.Heritage.Tradition.

Where: Berliner Pub, Renton, Ahead of the curve

North America will hear us

• $1

Available in multiple styles, cuts and colors.

• $1 at Web Community Tees

How to Watch

Match date/time: 1:00 PM, May 13, 2018

Venue: Providence Park, Portland, Oregon, lesser Cascadia

Online Streaming: Watch ESPN, YouTube TV

National TV: ESPN (Healey, Twellman, Salazar)

Local Radio: 950 KJR-AM Seattle (Johnson, Keller)

Local Spanish Radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Rodriguez, Maqueda, Patia)

International TV

Asia: beIN Sports (Asia) | Australia: beIN Sports (Australia) | Europe: Eurosport | Middle East & North Africa: Abu Dhabi Sports | Singapore: Starhub | Sub-Saharan Africa: FOX Africa | Taiwan: Sportscast | United Kingdom: Sky Sports

Lineups

Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.

This is Seattle Sounders at Portland Timbers; watch with us.