Welcome back to your Stumptown Footy prediction thread! It’s rivalry time! Last week, the Portland Timbers went on the road to earn their third-straight draw and extend their unbeaten streak to nine games in league play. Of the draws in 2018, this was the best, since it was away to the Supporter’s Shield leading Atlanta United. The Timbers put in the first goal when Larry’s Mabiala followed up a Samuel Armenteros deflection that was saved by Atlanta keeper Brad Guzan. Unfortunately, the Timbers were never going to hold Atlanta scoreless at the Benz, and the home side broke through during a scramble in the Timbers box. The final score would remain 1-1, despite several other chances left wanting for both sides. Since it’s already game-day and just four hours from kick-off as I type, you’ll have to wait until next week for updated standings! As you may already be aware, this weekend it’s time for the second Portland-Seattle matchup of the year; and the first to count towards Cascadia Cup standings. (Thanks unbalanced schedule!) PTFC has climbed the standings to fifth in the west (fourth on points per game) thanks to their unbeaten run, and will be looking to earn another win after three draws in a row. Seattle, meanwhile, just need a win as they languish at 10th in the west with less than one point per game. Part of Seattle’s trouble has been their inability to get and stay healthy, but they’ll have something close to a first-choice lineup for this match. Will that be enough for them to get a result, or can the Timbers get their first win at Century Link in league play? Total Cards O/U: 5.5 The Scoring Format: Correct score: 5 points Correct result (draw/win/loss): 3 points Each clean sheet: 2 points Each goal-scorer: 1 point Each FK/PK/assist/lack of assist: 1 point Goal/assist bonus: 1 point Player with the first yellow card of the match: 1 point Each player with a red card: 1 point (Can not earn points for predicting 0 red cards, but you may predict up to 3 players with a red.) earn points for predicting 0 red cards, but you may predict up to 3 players with a red.) Over/under on total cards: 1 point Most outrageous(ly accurate) prediction: 2 points Some ground rules and explanations/clarifications (the fine print): You may amend your prediction at any point up to kick off to account for game day 18 announcements. I recommend at least getting an initial prediction sooner, just in case you forget to come back in that hour or two before the game. Keep your scoreline predictions realistic. Basically, if you’re predicting lots of goals all the time to just earn points on goals and assists and ignoring the score, I feel that goes against the spirit of this thread. This hasn’t been at all a problem in the last two years, so let’s keep it that way! The goal/assist bonus is an additional point if you correctly get the correct scorer and assistant on the same goal. (e.g., if Nagbe scores, assisted by Valeri, and you predicted that exact combination you get a total of three points - 1 goal, 1 assist, 1 bonus. However, if you predicted Nagbe scores assisted by Adi and Adi scores assisted by Valeri, you would get two points from the Nagbe/Valeri prediction - 1 goal, 1 assist) Please be clear whether you think a goal will be unassisted, assisted, or from a PK/FK. Unassisted = no assist, run of play; Assisted = player who got the assist; PK/FK = directly from a free kick. For the purposes of this thread, a PK counts as a FK, and a FK as a PK. If you just leave the assist section blank, I will assume you’re declining to make an assist prediction. Even though a player can be awarded a secondary assist by OPTA, I will award a maximum of one assist point per goal. But that point can come from either the primary or secondary assist in the box score. However, please keep your predictions to one assist per goal. For the over/under on cards, a second yellow leading to a red counts as two cards, not three. You may predict more than one red card if you’re expecting a chippy match, but only up to three total. For the most outrageous(ly accurate) prediction, I will be trying to toe a line between completely absurd and mundane in my choices. As I see it, the goal here is to add even more fun without going too over-the-top ridiculous. So, in my mind, the best predictions will be something that could conceivably happen, but don’t happen often, like amusing coaching spats or goals that bounce off the crossbar, then off the keeper’s back, and then in. Things like that. If you’re looking for where I set the over/under on total cards, check the end of the preview paragraph after the standings. Format: In the comment title, post your predicted score with the winners, eg: 4-2 Timbers In the body of your comment, start with the goals and assists, like so: Nagbe (Valeri) Valeri (Free kick) Adi (PK) Blanco (Unassisted) Beckham (Free kick) Donovan (Beckham) Next, choose your first yellow card, and that means picking only one person. First yellow to Nigel De Jong Then reds, if any. (NOTE: no points awarded for correctly calling a red-card-free match, so take a guess.) Nigel De Jong gets a red card for stomping Blanco. Clearly note whether you’re predicting over or under on total cards. Don’t leave me to try and figure it out! And lastly, make your fun prediction. Nigel de Jong tries to stomp Nagbe’s ankle again, but this time, Nagbe avoids the tackle. Being angry Nagbe for the first time in three years, he kicks the ball straight into NDJ’s groin. Camera pans to a trademark Chara smile. As always, any questions about anything?<doc-sep>The 2018 Cascadia Cup starts with the Portland Timbers coming to Seattle to face the Sounders. Portland enters the match with a 10-game unbeaten run. Seattle Sounders have yet to lose at home to the Timbers in the MLS regular season and are 7-0-3 +11 against their southern rivals. Seattle will need a dominate day. They are only 3-8-3 on the season and have described the match as a must win. With two of their three keepers in concussion protocol and a difference-making right back limited to injury, the burden for victory will lie on Chad Marshall, Cristian Roldan and the attacking band. Clint Dempsey in particular has dominated the Timbers. If there is a game for Dempsey’s star to burn brightly again this is the one. Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension Seattle: Handwalla Bwana and Jordan Morris are out due to injury. Calle Brown (concussion), Felix Chenkam (right hamstring strain), Stefan Frei (concussion), Kelvin Leerdam (right hamstring strain) and Harry Shipp (right ankle sprain) are all questionable. There is potential that Seattle must sign an emergency keeper for the day. Timbers: No players are out. Liam Ridgewell (right thigh), Kendall McIntosh (left thigh), Fanendo Adi (left thigh), Roy Miller (left achilles tendon), and Sebastián Blanco (right thigh) are all questionable. Gustav Svensson is the only player remaining away on international duty as Sweden is still at the World Cup. Osvaldo Alonso, Nouhou and Larrys Mabiala will be suspended for accumulation with their next yellow card. Cristian Roldan, Jordy Delem, Diego Chara and Sebastian Blanco are two yellows from accumulation. Ismail Elfath is the center referee. His video assistant is Edvin Jurisevic. nos audietis in somniis | nos audietis in alto you will hear us in your sleep | you will hear us from the deep this is our Sound Keys to the Game: Open the field Expect the counter Ride the early emotions Find a hero How I'm watching Outfit: Together Scarf: You will hear us Where: Sec 214 How to Watch Match date/time: 1:30 PM, June 30, 2018 Venue: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, Washington, Heart of Cascadia Online Streaming: FoxSportsGO and YouTubeTV (Seattle & Spokane) National TV: FOX 13/113 (Followill, Barton, Slaton) Local English Radio: 950 KJR-AM Seattle (Johnson, Keller) Local Spanish Radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Rodriguez, Maqueda, Patia) International TV Asia: BeIN Sports (ASIA) | Australia: BeIN Sports (AUS) | Europe: Eurosport | India: DSports / ATR Media | Middle East & North Africa: Abu Dhabi Sports | New Zealand: TVNZ | Singapore: Starhub | Sub-Saharan Africa: FOX Africa | Taiwan: Sportscast | United Kingdom: Sky Sports Lineups Here is your @Delta Starting XI for #SEAvPOR (4-2-3-1): Meredith McCrary Kim Marshall Francis Alonso - (C) C. Roldan Lodeiro Dempsey Rodríguez Bruin — Sounders Matchday (@LIVESounders) June 30, 2018 SUBS: Lubin* Nouhou Delem A. Roldan Shipp Wolff Eikrem Neagle *Lubin acquired on Saturday on loan from Phoenix Rising FC — Sounders Matchday (@LIVESounders) June 30, 2018 Updates Sounders sign Phoenix Rising goalkeeper Zac Lubin on loan. Stefan Frei went down with a head injury last week against Chicago Fire. NEWS | Sounders FC acquires Phoenix Rising FC goalkeeper Zac Lubin on loan. ➡️ https://t.co/1TTicVuPdL pic.twitter.com/U0uAdzbk1r — Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) June 30, 2018 Bryan Meredith showing that he does, indeed, know what he’s doing out there. BRYAN MEREDITH pic.twitter.com/ljNPiGiHEJ — Sounder At Heart (@sounderatheart) June 30, 2018 GOAL 48’: Portland scores first as Mabiala nods in Valeri’s corner. GOAL 51’: Sounders score to make it 1-1. Victor Rodriguez from Nico Lodeiro. What a pass from Nico. pic.twitter.com/oTWFYwxcQi — Sounder At Heart (@sounderatheart) June 30, 2018 GOAL 57’: Samuel Arementeros makes it 2-1 just minutes after the Rodriguez goal. GOAL 68’: Chad Marshall heads home a corner kick from Nicolas Lodeiro to make it 2-2. GOAL 74’: Timbers go ahead again with another Mabiala header from a corner kick. 3-2. DOUBLE SUB 80’: Harry Shipp for Jordan McCrary, Nouhou for Waylon Francis. This is Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers; watch with us<doc-sep>
The Portland Timbers are on the road again, this time headed north into the hostile Land of Grunge to take on the Seattle Sounders in the first official Cascadia Cup match of 2018. The Timbers remain unbeaten in 9 league matches — 11 matches in all competitions — while the Sounders are also enjoying one of their best runs of form this year, having strung together a 1-1-1 record over their last three games. As the old adage goes, however, form goes out the window in a derby and with both teams having plenty to play for, today’s match should be hotly contested as always. In addition to keeping their unbeaten streak alive, the Timbers need to get back to winning ways. While their three draws in the last three games have represented acceptable results, the dropped points at home against the LA Galaxy and Sporting Kansas City have seen the Timbers fall back into the pack in the Western Conference. A win at Seattle could move the Timbers back into striking distance of LAFC in the third place position and allow them to keep pace with the top of the table in the West. For the Sounders, however, a result against the Timbers could mean more than the potential for a move up the standings; it would be a declaration that the Washingtonians are not dead yet. The Sounders have made a habit of dragging themselves back from the brink in each of their last two years and there are few matches that can turn the tide of a season like a match against a team that you really, truly do not like. Previews Storylines: “A team that depends on Will Bruin and Clint Dempsey, though things will be changing for the Sounders once the transfer window opens. It’s been announced that they have signed Raul Ruidiaz, who will play in the number nine and wear that same number. But right now, they have to make due with what they’ve got, and that ain’t much.” And make sure to stop by the Rose City Forecast to make your match-day predictions. Match Information Watch it on: FOX Where: CenturyLink Field in Seattle, WA When: Saturday, June 30th at 1:30 p.m. PT Portland Timbers: 6-3-5, 5th place in the Western Conference, drew 1-1 at Atlanta United Seattle Sounders: 3-8-3, 10th place in the Western Conference, drew 1-1 vs. Chicago Fire