Phil Neville is treating the Portland Timbers’ Determination-Day derby in opposition to the Seattle Sounders as the primary check of the postseason, as they gear up for the MLS Cup Playoffs.
The Timbers have already secured a wild-card playoff place forward of their last regular-season match, although they might but leapfrog the Vancouver Whitecaps to complete eighth within the Western Convention.
After lacking the playoffs in back-to-back campaigns, Portland are already targeted on having fun with a deep run this time period, with Neville seeing Saturday’s match as a costume rehearsal.
“We’re within the a part of the season the place it’s a must to earn your cash,” Neville mentioned. “It’s a must to produce, it’s a must to ship.
“I’m excited and so are the gamers, so is everybody on the membership. It begins on Saturday with a recreation in opposition to our greatest rivals, we’re taking part in for the Cascadia Cup.
“We all know that the best we will get is eighth and we’ve obtained to depend on different outcomes, however we’re simply going up there with the main target to get the three factors and convey the cup dwelling.”
The Sounders, in the meantime, enter the ultimate matchday flying excessive within the West, hoping to fend off Actual Salt Lake to retain the third seed.
“The gamers are feeling good,” mentioned head coach Brian Schmetzer forward of Saturday’s recreation. “Everyone’s taking part in effectively and all people’s coaching laborious. The blokes are prepared.
“I feel all people’s pitched in. I feel it’s most likely one of many tighter knit teams I’ve had.”
Goalkeeper Stefan Frei added: “There’s lots to play for.
“If you’re taking part in a rival, there’s additionally a trophy on the road as effectively, so we’re excited to host them, and hopefully use it as a very good train for what’s to come back.”
What the headband says pic.twitter.com/f1583dXzGE
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) October 18, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak
Rusnak is the primary participant within the Sounders’ MLS historical past to report 10 objectives and 15 assists in a single common season. Rusnak is one help away from equalling Seattle’s single-season report of 16, set by Nicolas Lodeiro in 2018.
Portland Timbers – Evander
Evander’s 32 purpose contributions this season equals Diego Valeri’s 2017 marketing campaign for probably the most in a single season in Portland historical past.
With 15 objectives and 17 assists, Evander is one among six gamers in MLS historical past to report no less than 15 objectives and 15 assists in a season, together with one among two (additionally Lionel Messi) this 12 months.
MATCH PREDICTION – SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN
This would be the first ever assembly between the Sounders and Timbers on the ultimate day of the MLS common season.
Portland are unbeaten in eight straight visits to Seattle (5 wins, three attracts) in all competitions, the longest unbeaten run by any membership at Seattle within the Sounders’ MLS period (since 2009). Nonetheless, they face a frightening process right here.
The Sounders have received 11 of their final 14 regular-season matches (one draw, two losses) together with the final three in a row. Seattle’s 34 factors over their final 14 video games are the second-most they’ve collected over a 14-game span in a single season (36 in July-October 2018).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Seattle Sounders – 49.2%
Portland Timbers – 25.2%
Draw – 25.5%
