MATCH INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, May 27, 2017
Kickoff: 12 noon (Pacific)
Location: CenturyLink Field (Seattle, Wash.)
Forecast: Sunny, 67 degrees
Referee: Mark Geiger
Assistant Referees: Jeremy Hanson, Mike Rottersman Fourth Official: Allen Chapman
National TV: FOX
Talent: John Strong (play-by-play), Alexi Lalas (analyst), Katie Witham (sideline reporter)
English Radio: 750 The Game (KXTG 750 AM, 102.9 FM)
Talent: Jake Zivin (play-by-play), Ross Smith (analyst), Fletcher Johnson (host)
Spanish Radio: La GranD (KGGD 93.5 FM, 1150 AM)
Talent: Josue del Castillo (play-by-play), Oscar Ramos (analyst)
MATCH PREVIEW
The Portland Timbers will hit the road for a second consecutive week, traveling to face Cascadia-rival Seattle Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on Saturday, May 27. Beginning at 12 noon (Pacific), Saturday’s match will be broadcast live on FOX with local radio broadcasts on on 750 AM/102.9 FM The Game (English) and La GranD 1150 AM/93.5 FM (Spanish). Dating back to 1975, Portland and Seattle have played 95 matches against each other across all competitions, with the Timbers producing a 35-48-12 record during that stretch, including four wins in the last six matches between the two teams. Seattle enters Saturday’s match coming off a 1-0 win against Real Salt Lake on May 20, snapping a four-game winless streak. Forward Clint Dempsey leads the team in goals (4).
LAST MATCH RECAP
After playing a man down for more than 70 minutes, the Portland Timbers fell 4-1 to the Montreal Impact in front of 19,138 at Stade Saputo on May 20.
LAST TIME VS. SEATTLE
The Portland Timbers scored four first-half goals against Seattle Sounders FC on Aug. 28, 2016, defeating their Cascadia rivals 4-2 before a sold-out crowd of 21,144 fans at Providence Park.
ALL-TIME SERIES NOTES
One of North American soccer’s longest and most heated rivalries, the Pacific Northwest derby between the Timbers and Sounders dates back to the 1975 North American Soccer League (NASL) season, Portland’s first year as a professional club. Saturday’s match marks the 96th all-time meeting between the clubs. The Timbers have registered an overall record of 35-48-12 all-time against Seattle and a record of 8-9-4 during the MLS era, in all competitions. More recently, since the 2013 season, the Timbers have produced a 7-7-2 record against Seattle across all competitions, winning four of the last six matches between the two teams.
SCOUTING SEATTLE
Seattle enters Saturday’s match coming off a 1-0 win against Real Salt Lake on May 20, snapping a four-game winless streak. At CenturyLink Field, Seattle has produced a 2-1-2 home record to start the season, recording a 1-1-1 record in its last three home games played. Forward Clint Dempsey leads the team in goals (4) so far this season.
