The Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers will face off for the second time this MLS season on Sunday, August 21st. Seattle has been much improved since the last time these two teams meet on July 17th. Overall, the Sounders are 2-1-1 (W-L-T) in MLS play since that last meeting and are unbeaten in their last three after the firing of Sigi Schmid and the acquisition of Nicolás Lodeiro.
The Timbers, meanwhile, are 1-3-0 in their last four and have struggled to find consistency at all most every level of the field. They have been shutout in two of their last three games and are coming off of a 2-0 defeat at the hands of D.C. United. Portland has lost center back Nat Borchers for the season back on July 24th and their other center back, Liam Ridgeway, has missed time as well due to injuries but played last week in the Nation’s capital.
Lodeiro sparks Seattle’s attack
Since Lodeiro arrived in Seattle ahead of their game against the LA Galaxy on July 31st, the Sounders attack has been quite dangerous. As mentioned in this article from Benjamin Baer on mlssoccer.com, the Sounders expected goals numbers have risen over the last three weeks. The Sounders have still failed to capitalize on numerous scoring opportunities but they have gotten better and the attack doesn’t look as anemic as it did the previous 24 games.
Portland suffering road woes
Last week’s 2-0 defeat on the road was the Timbers fourth straight shutout when playing away from Providence Park. The Timbers are hoping to end that streak but keep in mind that Portland has never won in Seattle in MLS regular season history (4-0-2) but they were able to win in Seattle during the 2013 MLS Playoffs when it mattered the most. Overall, Portland is 0-6-6 on the road this season and hope to add a one to the win column.
Portland needs to contain Lodeiro
As mentioned above, Lodeiro has been huge for Seattle. Portland will need to contain him at all costs. Real Salt Lake tried to contain him in Seattle’s 2-1 victory last week but all that did was open up other opportunities for Seattle’s other playmakers. Two weeks ago, Lodeiro and rookie Jordan Morris sparked Seattle in their 3-1 win over Orlando City when Clint Dempsey recorded his second hat-trick with the Sounders. Don’t be surprised if Portland packs the middle and forces Lodeiro and the Sounders to play on the wings.
Seattle must contain Diego Valeri
As always, as Diego Valeri goes, the Timbers go. Seattle will need to do a better job of containing Valeri then they did the last time these two teams faced off. Portland constantly hit Seattle on the counter-attack and the Sounders will need to be cautious in moving too far forward up the field. Time after time, Portland sat back and beat the Sounders back up the field with their speed. In the process, Valeri scored a brace in their 3-1 victory.
What to expect
In rivalries games, it’s not easy to predict what can and will happen but you can expect Seattle to come out in their 4-2-3-1 formation with Morris being the lone forward. It has worked wonders for Seattle since they abandoned the 4-3-3 formation that Sigi Schmid used the first 24 games of the season.
Portland will more than likely use the recipe they used against the Sounders back in mid-July, sit back and hit them on the counter. Seattle’s five midfielders, Osvaldo Alonso, Cristian Roldan, Lodeiro, Dempsey, and Andreas Ivanschitz will need to make sure that they don’t get caught too far up field.
Prediction
Who knows what will really happen in this game. Seattle has been the better team of the two teams these last few weeks and yours truly doesn’t expect that to change. Portland will end their road scoring woes with a goal from Fanendo Adi but the Sounders will pull it out in the end. With the win, the Sounders will pull within two points of their Cascadia rivals.