The Portland Timbers have ground through their first eight matches of the 2018 season, stumbling at first on the road before collecting themselves and righting the ship with three wins in a row. However, in this afternoon’s match against their most bitter rivals, the Seattle Sounders, this season is only the backdrop to a match that has been played out 99 times before.
In a rivalry match, form does not matter.
For the Timbers, today is a chance to move up above the red line and show that they are not the same ill-connected group that started the season on a five match winless streak.