Everything you need to know ahead of the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinal series between Seattle and Portland.
Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers
MLS Cup Playoffs; Western Conference Semifinals
November 7, 2013, 8 pm PT; JELD-WEN Field
TV/Radio: NBC Sports Network; 97.3 FM
Aggregate Score: Portland holds a 2-1 lead in the series after the first leg on Saturday in Seattle. There is no away goals tiebreaker. If the score is tied after the second leg, the aggregate-goal series will go to two 15-minute overtime periods. If the score remains tied, it will go to a shootout.
Portland’s Record: The Timbers finished first in the Western Conference and third overall at 14-5-15 (57 points).
Head-To-Head: This season, the Sounders and Timbers played to an even 1-1-1 regular season record, with both teams allowing two goals in the series.
All-Time Series: In MLS regular season play, Seattle is 3-3-3 all-time against the Timbers. Dating back to 1975 in the North American Soccer League and including games across the WSL, USL and U.S. Open Cup along with MLS, Seattle holds a 42-30-11 edge.
Injury Report: Sounders FC – OUT: GK Josh Ford (R patella fracture); M Steve Zakuani (adductor). QUESTIONABLE: D Zach Scott (ribs); F Obafemi Martins (groin); D DeAndre Yedlin (R ankle sprain). Timbers – OUT: D David Horst (L knee sprain); D Ryan Miller (L tibia stress fracture); F Brent Richards (ACL surgery); D Mikael Silvestre (ACL surgery); D Dylan Tucker-Gangnes (concussion). QUESTIONABLE: F Maximiliano Urruti (L hamstring strain).
Key Player: Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts came up big for the Timbers in some key moments in the first leg, finishing the match with four saves, including one in the final seconds of the match to seal the 2-1 victory. He has a lot of range and can be a tough beat, but Seattle has been able to get past him before and will need to solve him again in order to advance.
Projected Lineup: GK: Donovan Ricketts (32 GS, 13-5-14, 14 SO, 0.97 GAA); D Jack Jewsbury (26 GP, 0 G, 1 A); D Mamadou Danso (16 GP, 0 G, 1 A); D Pa Modou Kah (20 GP, 0 G, 0 A); D Michael Harrington (33 GP, 0 G, 1 A); M Diego Chara (31 GP, 0 G, 3 A), M Will Johnson (28 GP, 9 G, 5 A), M Diego Valeri (31 GP, 10 G, 13 A); F Darlington Nagbe (34 GP, 9 G, 4 A); F Ryan Johnson (29 GP, 9 G, 1 A); F Rodney Wallace (27 GP, 7 G, 6 A). Others: M Kalif Alhassan (30 GP, 3 G, 3 A); F Jose Valencia (21 GP, 1 G, 3 A); F Maximiliano Urruti (5 GP, 1 G, 0 A); F Frederic Piquionne (21 GP, 3 G, 3 A); D Alvas Powell (5 GP, 0 G, 0 A).
Notes: Sounders FC will be playing without forward Lamar Neagle, who received yellow cards in each of the first two playoff matches for the Sounders, drawing a one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation. … Six current Sounders FC players have appeared in an MLS Cup Final. … Portland’s back four of Jewsbury, Danso, Kah and Harrington have started the last seven matches, going 5-0-2 with just three goals allowed. … Dating back to the 2011 playoffs, Sounders FC has outscored its opponents 7-1 in knockout games, winning all four matches along the way.
