The Sounders - Timbers rivalry is like no other. Dating all the way back to 1975, the animosity between the two teams has always been prevalent. The stakes are high whenever Seattle faces Portland, and they will be heightened even more so when the teams face each other in an epic Decision Day rivalry match on Oct. 19 (6 p.m.; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV | TICKETS).
In the lead up to the Soundersā final regular season match of the year, take a look back on some of the best Cascadia rivalry moments over the years between Portland and Seattle:
Timbers inaugural match | May 2, 1975
Almost 50 years ago, the rivalry commenced between the two Pacific Northwest teams at Civic Stadium (now Providence Park) in Portland. Puddles littered the playing surface due to the heavy rain that day, but that did not stop the Sounders from giving a warm welcome to the new NASL team. The Timbersā inaugural match finished in a 1-0 defeat to Seattle, with former midfielder Jimmy Gabriel scoring from the penalty spot. It was a match that laid the foundation for five decades of bitter battles.
Sounders overpower Timbers at Kingdome | June 30, 1979
The Soundersā 5-1 win over the Portland Timbers in 1979 is one of the more emphatic victories within the Pacific Northwest rivalry to this day. The atmosphere was electric as 34,000 fans filled the Kingdome for what would end up being a dominant night for the home side. While the Timbers managed to secure a goal, it was not enough to stop the bulldozing Sounders offense. Derek Smethurst recorded the clubās second-ever hat trick while John Ryan secured two more goals in penalty opportunities. Four of Seattleās five goals came during the second half of match play.
Roger Levesque elimination round | Sept. 18, 2005
The Portland Timbers were arguably one of the best teams in the USL in 2005. The Sounders put an end to their season with a two-game, 3-0 aggregate victory in postseason play, making the result that much more satisfying. Forward Roger Levesque made was instrumental across both matches, finding the back of the net just two minutes into the first leg while tallying a brace in the second, to push the Timbers out of the USL playoffs for the second year in a row. Seattle went on to win their first USL title a few matches later.
The infamous chop celebration | July 2, 2009
Roger Levesque continued his villainous arc against the Timbers in 2009, when his header into the back of the net eliminated the Timbers from the U.S. Open Cup. With less than a minute into the match, Levesque performed a diving header off a cross from Sanna Nyassi. As if the Sounders taking the lead 48 seconds into the match wasnāt enough to cause shockwaves in Portland, the forward proceeded to incorporate a cheeky celebration with his goal, which entailed a choreographed tree-chopping routine with fellow teammate Nate Jaqua.
Dempsey home debut | Aug. 3, 2013
Clint Dempsey had already played a couple road matches with the Sounders, but his home debut was scheduled to be against the Portland Timbers. It was laid out perfectly, given his status as one of the best-ever American players and someone who would later be instrumental role in several other Soundersā victories over the Timbers. In front of a sold-out crowd of 67,385 fans, Dempsey and the Sounders finished the night on top with a 1-0 victory over their Cascadia Rivals behind a lone goal from Eddie Johnson in the 60th minute. While he did not produce the game-winning goal, Dempseyās competitiveness and undeniable talent on the pitch left fans on the edge of their seats.
6-2 Blowout | Aug. 15, 2021
Aug. 15 was a dĆ©jĆ vu moment from the Soundersā four-goal victory at the Kingdome in 1979. Except this time, the team thumped the Timbers in Portland. Away matches are always difficult, especially when it is against a longtime rival. The Sounders flipped that narrative, with a brace from Fredy Montero and RaĆŗl RuidĆaz, and two more goals from Jimmy Medranda and Nicolas Benezet. Seattle raced out of the gates to take a 2-0 lead before the Timbers drew level on the brank of halftime. The Rave Greenās attack came to life with a four-goal outburst for one of the most comprehensive victories in the history of the rivalry.
