Portland short-handed for game in Seattle (Aug 27, 2017)
Portland coach Caleb Porter is looking for an "attractive" match between two teams sitting near the top of the Western Conference standings when the Timbers travel to Seattle on Sunday to play the red-hot Sounders at CenturyLink Field.
"I hope this becomes an exciting game, not a tense, nervy-type game," Porter told reporters. "I hope it becomes a great showcase of two of the biggest clubs fighting it out. I hope it's an attractive game."
The Sounders (11-7-8, 41 points) are unbeaten in their last 10 games, a run that's taken them from below the red line to first place on the Western Conference table.
The Timbers (11-9-7, 40 points) are on their heels, despite having been without some key weapons. Portland will not be at full strength. Porter ruled out defenseman Liam Ridgewell, forward Fanendo Adi and goalkeeper Jake Gleeson the game in Seattle.
"(It's) tough not to have a couple of your best players, your top guys out for this match, certainly," Porter said. "But we've been managing it and we'll continue to manage it this match."
Keeper Jeff Attinella will make his third straight start in goal for the Timbers, while Gleeson works his way back from a hamstring injury.
Portland won both of Attinella's previous starts and has won three of four overall. But the Timbers have never beaten their rivals on the road during the regular season.
The Sounders are 7-0-2 in their previous nine home matches against Portland during the regular season.
"It's always exciting to play against them," Seattle midfielder Clint Dempsey said. "It's a rivalry game so it's huge for the city. It will be a great atmosphere. And it's a game that means a lot because where we sit on the table. So, we got to make sure we get the right result and stay ahead of them."
This will be the 20th all-time meeting in the regular season between the clubs. Seattle beat Portland 1-0 at home on May 28 and got a last-second goal from Dempsey to pull out a 2-2 draw at Portland on June 25.
"It's always a big game regardless of where the standings are at," Porter said. "It means a lot to us, the players, the coaches, the club as a whole, the supporters. It's bigger than three points for sure."
