Never before in the 10-year MLS history of the Seattle Sounders-Portland Timbers rivalry has one team won all of the matches. After winning the first two games in Portland, the Sounders have a chance to do just that on Sunday.

They’ll be facing a team that seems to be heading in the opposite direction. While the Sounders are riding a three-game winning streak — all of which came on the road — the Timbers are on a three-game winless run and have just five points in their past seven games.

As if the Sounders needed any added motivation, they’ll be playing in front of their biggest crowd of the season. Pregame estimates suggest there should be well over 40,000 in attendance for the second game in this doubleheader, with OL Reign-Portland Thorns kicking off about 3.5 hours earlier.

The Sounders should also be a little closer to full-strength as Nouhou is expected to at least make the gameday roster after playing 30 minutes in the MLS All-Star Game on Wednesday.

Notes

• Not counting the so-called “Alliance era” of the rivalry, you’d need to go all the way back to 1976 to find the only time that one of these teams swept the season series. The Sounders won both meetings that year.
• As good as the Sounders have been on the road, they’re pretty much middling at home; their 1.73 PPG is 14th best in MLS. They’re also riding a three-game home winless streak, which is tied for the longest of the Brian Schmetzer-era.
• The Timbers, however, have been atrocious away from Providence Park. Their five points are less than everyone but the Chicago Fire and their 24 goals allowed is more than everyone but Toronto FC.
• Although the Sounders stopped their home losing streak against the Timbers when they salvaged a point in their meeting on Oct. 22, 2020, they’ve still not beaten their southern rivals at Lumen Field since 2017.
• Schmetzer’s subs lead MLS with eight goals scored. Raúl Ruidíaz, Fredy Montero and Jimmy Medranda each have two off the bench.
• The Timbers have allowed a league-high 17 set-piece goals this season. That’s five more than anyone else (the Fire have allowed 12). The Sounders’, though, have given up a higher percentage of their goals off set-pieces (47.1%-43.6%).

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Seattle

OUT: Delem (R ACL Tear); Morris (L ACL tear)

QUESTIONABLE: Frei (L knee sprain / blood clot)

Portland

OUT: Ismaila Jome (left achilles tendon surgery), Andy Polo (season ending right quad and knee surgery), Jeff Attinella (season ending right rectus femoris surgery)

QUESTIONABLE: Claudio Bravo (right leg injury)

Officials

REFEREE: Alan Kelly. AR1 (bench): Logan Brown; AR2 (opposite): Michael Barwegen; 4th: Nima Saghafi; VAR: Timothy Ford; AVAR: Joshua Patlak

How to Watch

Match date/kickoff time: Sunday, 7:38 PM PT

Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle

Online Streaming: Fubo TV (affiliate link)

National English TV: ESPN (Twellman, Champion)

Local Radio: 950 KJR-AM Seattle (Costigan, Zakuani)

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

National Spanish TV: ESPN Deportes

International TV

China: CSM
Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain: DAZN (Europe)
India: Discovery Europsport
Latin America (ex. Brazil): ESPN
Latin America Netherlands: ESPN Netheralands
Southeast Asia & Oceania: beIN Sports
Sub-Saharan Africa: ESPN
Africa Sweden: C More
UK & Ireland: Free Sports

Lineups

Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.

This is Seattle Sounders vs. Timbers; watch with us

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