​Seattle Sounders v Portland Timbers: Neville treating derby as start of postseason

Phil Neville is treating the Portland Timbers’ Decision-Day derby against the Seattle Sounders as the first test of the postseason, as they gear up for the MLS Cup Playoffs.

The Timbers have already secured a wild-card playoff place ahead of their final regular-season match, though they could yet leapfrog the Vancouver Whitecaps to finish eighth in the Western Conference.

After missing the playoffs in back-to-back campaigns, Portland are already focused on enjoying a deep run this term, with Neville seeing Saturday’s match as a dress rehearsal.

“We’re in the part of the season where you have to earn your money,” Neville said. “You have to produce, you have to deliver.

“I’m excited and so are the players, so is everyone at the club. It starts on Saturday with a game against our biggest rivals, we’re playing for the Cascadia Cup.

“We know that the highest we can get is eighth and we’ve got to rely on other results, but we’re just going up there with the focus to get the three points and bring the cup home.”

The Sounders, meanwhile, enter the final matchday flying high in the West, hoping to fend off Real Salt Lake to retain the third seed.

“The players are feeling good,” said head coach Brian Schmetzer ahead of Saturday’s game. “Everybody’s playing well and everybody’s training hard. The guys are ready.

“I think everybody’s pitched in. I think it’s probably one of the tighter knit groups I’ve had.”

Goalkeeper Stefan Frei added: “There’s a lot to play for.

“When you’re playing a rival, there’s also a trophy on the line as well, so we’re excited to host them, and hopefully use it as a good exercise for what’s to come.”

What the scarf says pic.twitter.com/f1583dXzGE

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) October 18, 2024

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak

Rusnak is the first player in the Sounders’ MLS history to record 10 goals and 15 assists in a single regular season. Rusnak is one assist away from equalling Seattle’s single-season record of 16, set by Nicolas Lodeiro in 2018.

Portland Timbers – Evander

Evander’s 32 goal contributions this season equals Diego Valeri’s 2017 campaign for the most in a single season in Portland history.

With 15 goals and 17 assists, Evander is one of six players in MLS history to record at least 15 goals and 15 assists in a season, including one of two (also Lionel Messi) this year.

MATCH PREDICTION – SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN

This will be the first ever meeting between the Sounders and Timbers on the final day of the MLS regular season.

Portland are unbeaten in eight straight visits to Seattle (five wins, three draws) in all competitions, the longest unbeaten run by any club at Seattle in the Sounders’ MLS era (since 2009). However, they face a daunting task here.

The Sounders have won 11 of their last 14 regular-season matches (one draw, two losses) including the last three in a row. Seattle’s 34 points over their last 14 games are the second-most they have 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%