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 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<doc-sep>The Sounders’ first Cascadia Cup matchup of the season (the previous Sounders/Timbers matchup, a 1-0 Portland win, did not factor in the Cup) had plenty of buildup, mainly due to the elaborate and humorous “Seattle loves Portland (Maine)” campaign. But regional pride is probably less important in this match than it has been as of late, considering how far down the table Seattle is. The match was largely an even one, but the Sounders never had the lead and they failed to find a third equalizer in a 3-2 defeat to Portland. Amidst the hype surrounding new Sounders signing Raul Ruidiaz, Seattle had a slightly banged up squad going into the match. The most notable change was at goalkeeper, as both Stefan Frei and third-string goalkeeper Calle Brown were in concussion protocol. Bryan Meredith got the starting nod, his first in MLS since 2012, and the Sounders were forced to sign Phoenix United goalkeeper Zac Lubin on loan to back up Meredith. The match kicked off in its usual feisty manner — Diego Valeri kicked Victor Rodriguez in the face within the first five minutes, and Kim Kee-hee brought down a Portland attacker and managed to escape with just a foul. Seattle had a few solid chances in the opening 20 minutes, but couldn’t manage to get that final finish. The Timbers’ first real chance on goal happened in the 21st minute, when a 2-v-2 resulted in Meredith pushing the ball out for a corner. The resulting Portland corner saw Larrys Mabiala get a free header at point-blank range, but Meredith showed his quality with a brilliant one-handed reaction save to deny him. After a pretty bare stretch in which neither team did much in the final third, each side had an extended spell of attacking possession to end the half. The Timbers came close as the Sounders failed to clear the ball a few times in a row, and then the Sounders had their own string of solid chances to end the half, but they also couldn’t find the net. The 0-0 halftime score was more than fitting for what was a very even 45 minutes of soccer. The second half kicked off with a bang as the Sounders came flying towards the Brougham End, earning a free kick just outside the box. Nicolas Lodeiro fired the kick towards the far post and Rodriguez produced a great header that was saved from close range by Jeff Attinella, but he fumbled it almost into the path of another Sounder. Despite the good start, the Sounders let the Timbers shift the game in their favor almost immediately. Portland earned a corner kick quickly afterwards, and Mabiala nodded in the set piece from Valeri in the 48th minute. The score didn’t last long, however, as the Sounders charged back up the pitch yet again. Lodeiro weaved his way between defenders before curling a beautiful ball in towards the far post for Rodriguez, who smashed it in with a diving header to even the scoreline at 1-1 in the 51st minute. The end-to-end battle continued, as a weird miscommunication between Will Bruin and Clint Dempsey turned the ball over in midfield, leading to a quick Timbers counter. Meredith and the Seattle defense couldn’t keep up, and Samuel Armenteros fired Portland ahead yet again in the 57th minute. The Sounders reeled from the Timbers goal for a few minutes, but they finally sorted themselves out and created a spell of attacking possession that led to a corner kick. Chad Marshall blasted the Lodeiro corner kick into the back of the net to once again draw the match level in the 68th minute. AGAIN, that scoreline didn’t last long. Portland went ahead for the third time in this match, with yet another Larrys Mabiala header from a corner kick in the 74th minute. Head coach Brian Schmetzer made his first substitutions of the match in the 80th minute, bringing on Nouhou for Waylon Francis and Harry Shipp for Jordan McCrary. Cristian Roldan dropped back to right back as Shipp took a more advanced position on the left. The Sounders pushed in the dying minutes of the game, trying to find their third equalizer of the day. But the Timbers held on as referee Ismail Elfath started handing out yellow cards that he seemed to forget he had in the first half. Either way, the home side was tired and out of ideas, and they couldn’t manage to find the net again.<doc-sep>Your Seattle Sounders lost to their Cascadia rivals, the Portland Timbers, at home on Saturday. Rate them in a performance that, while entertaining, did not help their meager hopes of making the playoffs. Note: Some readers are experiencing rendering issues with the form on this page, especially on iOS devices. Here is a direct link to the form; we hope this allows everyone to submit a response. Here’s the scale: (Substitutes can be left blank if the player did not play enough to judge) 1 - not a pro (USL/NASL/MLS) quality performance 4 - average USL starter 6 - average MLS starter 9 - MLS All Star 10 - MLS MVP-quality performance<doc-sep>
The Road So Far The Timbers now sit at 11 games unbeaten through all competitions (nine in MLS). Last week the Timbers pulled off a draw in one of the hardest places to play in MLS, Atlanta United’s Mercedes Benz stadium. The Timbers lone goal in that 1-1 draw was scored by the head of Larrys Mabiala. The Sounders are coming off a draw with the Chicago Fire and are now 1-3-1 in their last five matches, and only 2-3-2 in the friendly confines of CenturyLink Field. The last time the Sounders won was back on June 9th. This Time It Counts The Timbers have already faced the Sounders once this year, a 1-0 win at Providence Park. Unfortunately. because of an unbalanced schedule (thanks LAFC) that win didn’t go towards the Cascadia Cup standings. Three points would be a great start to the Cascadia competition. The MLS Timbers haven’t (historically) been very good when it comes to playing at Centurylink Field. Three points would also move the Timbers up a spot from 5th to 4th. The Timbers need to take advantage of Seattle’s lackluster performances, because right now they are only averaging 0.86 points per match. Chalkboard Ah yes, the Seattle Sounders. 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. I’d suspect a 4-2-3-1 with Will Bruin playing up top and Dempsey playing just underneath. As of this writing, it’s unclear if goalkeeper Stefan Frei will start between the sticks as he was last noted as entering the league's concussion protocol. So it could be either Brian Meredith or Calle Brown getting the nod. They’ve been starting Cristian Roldan at right back which obviously isn’t his natural position, he’s a midfielder by trade. So the Timbers would be smart to attack down the right side and put as much pressure on Roldan as humanly possible. The Sounders as a whole are old, slow, and pretty predictable, though they have a couple guys with some wheels but not enough to make a difference. They like to attack down the left side with left back Nouhou overlapping and getting involved in the attack; along with Rodriguez, they do pose a threat down that side. Alvas Powell will for sure have his hands full. I’m not going to even try and guess what formation that Giovanni Savarese will come out with. Look at last weekend. Three at the back? Alright then. Though I do have a feeling he’ll slip back into the 4-3-2-1, and it being a slower Sounders side I’d start Samuel Armenteros over Fanendo Adi, as Armenteros is a bit speedier than Adi. It should be mentioned that Liam Ridgewell is healthy, but I don’t see him starting. King Of Clubs After this, the Timbers return home to face San Jose before going back out on the road to face LAFC twice at Banc of California stadium. Once in MLS play, and for then the quarter final of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. But first, the Seattle Sounders stand in the way of another three points in the climb up the table. Right now the Timbers are in fifth, averaging 1.64 points per game; if you went by PPG, they would be in fourth instead of fifth. Hey, a spot closer to the top is a spot closer to getting that number one seed in the playoffs. The Sounders, on the other hand, aren’t that good and every match is becoming a ‘need to win’ situation or their season could quite well go in the tank. If they can hang on a bit, that new number nine from Liga MX might be enough to spark a fire. A spark they’re going to need sooner than later. I’m happy we don’t have to face him this weekend. The next time the Sounders and Timbers clash it will be at the end of September at Providence Park.