Ship's Log, May 16: Get used to disappointment

The Seattle Sounders are almost certainly going to dominate possession in Portland's defensive third. You should expect that field tilt. It may not mean anything.

The Timbers are a team that doesn't like possession, but they do generate shots. It's a good offense, even after losing an MVP-caliber player. When they do have possession it is deep (5th in the league in actions within their defensive third, no real difference home/road). Which Seattle should like as the Sounders are sixth in the league in actions in their attacking third (again no significant difference home/road).

Here's where you are likely to be disappointed.

Portland gives up a lot of shots and actions deep, but they don't give up goals. Their clearance and block numbers are ridiculous. For example, defender Finn Surman averages 7.6 clearances a game. That's basically as many as the two highest regular Sounders defenders combined (Yeimar and Nouhou). He blocks just under a shot a game with four other Portland regulars over 0.5 blocks. Seattle has two healthy players over that mark.

What does it mean when clearances and blocks are so high?

Lots of false hope.

You will see Seattle players (I'd put money on Albert and Pedro especially) taking low percentage shots from long distance. You will be excited. These shots, schrosses and crosses will bounce off legs and chests, resulting in no change to the boxscore.

That's rough territory to be in, knowing that both teams will be playing well – they're too good offenses with two good defenses. But the approach Portland takes as they play deep and defend deep is to allow their backline to be battered.

Batter it Seattle must, because as Nemick says, "Remember this: try."

One ball slipping through blows up the whole plan.

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Catching up on Sounder at Heart

Here's what you missed on the site this week.

I added standings back into the Log now that they're a decent representation of quality.

Sounders

Next match: Saturday, May 17 at Portland | 6:30 pm PT | FS1 / MLS Season Pass

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Reign

Next match: Friday, May 16 at Racing Louisville | 4:30 pm PT | NWSL+

Defiance

Next match: Sunday, May 18 at Portland Timbers 2 | 7:30 pm PT | MLS Season Pass

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Looking back at the news

Everything else you need to know

The most important note on the Savy King incident is that she received fast treatment and later had surgery. But there remain a lot of questions. The NWSL PA is asking for new protocols after the game was played. The NWSL admits the protocols in place failed to address several concerns.

FIFA wrapped up the most recent World Congress in Paraguay. Candidates weren't happy with Gianni Infantino prioritizing Donald Trump over the Congress, so they walked out when he showed up late. The next FIFA World Congress is in Vancouver, B.C. just prior to the Men's World Cup 2026. Washington's legislature promised $20 million to upgrade Lumen Field (operated by billionaire Jody Allen who is a partial owner of the Sounders). The bill also grants monies to other fields around the state as well as over a half-billion for the State Patrol to work on border security. Governor Ferguson has until Tuesday to sign the bill.

Manchester discovered PTJ's love of scuba.

Sam Meza is one of the young NWSLers forging a path that was closed for so long. No longer is the path to the top of the women's game defined by travel soccer-college-draft.

That new Kezar-based SF pro soccer team is already marred by scandal – the owner is a donor to the mayor.