The Seattle Sounders host the Portland Timbers on Wednesday in the fourth round of the 2019 U.S. Open Cup Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Wash. (TICKETS)
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on ESPN+.
2019 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 7-4-5 (26 points, 3rd West), Timbers: 4-7-2 (14 points, 12th West)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: LLLDW, Portland: LWDLW
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 4-1-0 all-time against the Timbers in the USOC, including a 2-1-0 mark on the road.
PREVIOUS USOC MEETING: The Rave Green defeated the Timbers 2-1 on June 13, 2017 at Starfire Sports. Former Homegrown winger Aaron Kovar handed Seattle an early lead against their bitter rivals in the 3rd minute, finishing off a cross from Nouhou at the back post. Portland equalized from a corner kick in the 38th minute before Zach Mathers sealed the win with a penalty kick goal 10 minutes into the second half. The match also marked Sounders Academy alum Sam Rogers’ First Team debut.
NEW DIGS: Previously played at Starfire Sports, Wednesday marks the first time the Sounders will play a USOC home match at Cheney Stadium. The Sounders’ USL affiliate, the Tacoma Defiance, plays its home matches at the ball park in the South Sound.
TROPHIES: The Sounders have won the U.S. Open Cup on four occasions (2009, 2010, 2011 and 2014), which is tied for the most among MLS teams with the Chicago Fire and Sporting Kansas City.
RED CARD WEDDING: When the Sounders hosted the Timbers in the 2015 USOC, it led to one of the most disjointed, raucous affairs in the history of the competition. Eight players received bookings, including three red cards for Seattle, as the Sounders lost 3-1. But the most memorable moment came former Sounder Clint Dempsey ripped up the referee’s notebook over a contentious call. Adding in Obafemi Martins’ injury after Seattle had exhausted all three substitutions, the Rave Green finished the match with seven players on the pitch.
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: Seattle will be missing at least 9 First Team players on Wednesday, with Gustav Svensson (Sweden), Nicolás Lodeiro (Uruguay), Raúl RuidÃaz (Peru), Cristian Roldan (United States), Jordan Morris (United States), Román Torres (Panama), Jordy Delem (Martinique), Joevin Jones (Trinidad & Tobago) and Xavier Arreaga (Ecuador) currently on international duty.
48 SECONDS: Besides the Red Card Wedding, perhaps the most iconic moment to emerge from the Sounders-Timbers rivalry is Roger Levesque’s goal away to Portland in 2009. The former Sounder scored the opener just 48 seconds into the match as Seattle went on to win 2-1. More importantly, he pulled off one of the most legendary goal celebrations in club history.
THE FUTURE IS NOW: With so many First Team players missing, several players from the Tacoma Defiance are likely to bolster the roster.
RIGHT PLACE, RIGHT TIME: Since the Sounders won’t play another MLS match until June 29, the team has the luxury of fielding a stronger roster without worrying about fixture congestion.
