Let’s get straight to the point: last night’s 3-0 derby victory over the Portland Timbers was absolutely wild. With so much action on the pitch, including a flurry of second half goals, it’s easy to miss some of the key narratives and tactical foundations that emerged.
With the benefit of hindsight (and limited sleep), let’s breakdown the Seattle Sounders’ thrilling victory over their bitter rival. Here’s six things you may have missed.
Raúl Ruidíaz the ultimate villain: Rivalries are only as strong as their leading figures. That rang especially true for Clint Dempsey and the Portland Timbers, as Deuce terrorized Seattle’s rivals for years with clutch goals and heroic performances, making him the ultimate heel in the Sounders-Timbers rivalry.
Raúl Ruidíaz's performance last night, which earned him MLS Player of the Week honors and a Goal of the Week nomination, may have been the passing of the torch from Dempsey to the Peruvian as the quintessential heel for Portland. Ruidíaz now boasts seven goals and two assists from his last six matches against the Timbers across the MLS regular season and playoffs.
Will Bruin the Super Sub: For the second straight game since returning from his year-long injury, striker Will Bruin provided a much-needed spark off the bench. At the MLS is Back Tournament, the Dancing Bear entered the match with Seattle down 2-0 to LAFC, and immediately pulled a goal back for the Rave Green. He even came closer to an equalizer against the run of play.
Last night, Bruin was called upon once again and he delivered. Not only did he set up the second goal with a flicked header, he also tallied on an assist on the decisive third score, dragging one of Portland’s defenders before finding an isolated Ruidíaz right in front of goal.
João Paulo unleashes Nico: For the first time in 2020, Seattle was able to slot João Paulo and Nicolás Lodeiro together in the same midfield. While he didn’t get on the scoresheet, JP’s composure in possession and elite soccer IQ brought the best out of Lodeiro.
Nominally a No. 10, Lodeiro is at his barnstorming best when he has the freedom to roam the pitch in search of dangerous pockets of space. With JP and Gustav Svensson spraying passes – and Cristian Roldan tucking inside to overload the middle – Lodeiro was able to stay higher up the pitch and play those devastating combinations that breakdown opposing defenses. As the pair continue to build chemistry, the Sounders will have the tactical flexibility to be a team that plays as the protagonist in possession and be devastating on the counter.
King Nico: Speaking of Lodeiro, Seattle’s midfield maestro registered his 50th career MLS regular season assist last night, a feat that no other player in club history has come close to achieving. Throughout the MLS era, the Sounders have been blessed with a litany of skilled playmakers. But with 50 assists and two stars to his name, Lodeiro is truly in a league of his own.
Frei shutouts against Portland: Stefan Frei was awesome in the win against Portland, producing five saves and a clean sheet. From 17 regular season matches against the Timbers, Seattle’s goalkeeper now has five shutouts, with 57 saves and a 9-5-3 record.
Three Straight Wins at Portland: For the first time in the MLS era, the Sounders have now won three straight matches at Providence Park. After a cagey 1-0 win in 2018, the Sounders pulled out a convincing 2-1 win at Portland last summer, securing the 2019 Cascadia Cup, and followed that up with another dominant display on the road last night.
