Seattle Sounders–Portland Timbers rivalry

Seattle Sounders – Portland Timbers Rivalry
City or region Pacific Northwest
First contested May 2, 1975 (POR 0–1 SEA)
Teams involved Seattle Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers
(Current teams; see Rivalry section below for other historical teams in both cities)
Number of meetings 75
Most wins Seattle (41 wins)
Most recent meeting July 10, 2011 (POR 2–3 SEA)
Next meeting TBD
All-time series 41–26–8 (Seattle)
Regular season series League: 35–23–8 (Seattle)
Open Cup: 3–1–0 (Seattle)
Postseason results 3–2–0 (Seattle)
Largest victory POR 1–6 SEA (July 3, 1985)

The Seattle–Portland rivalry is a soccer rivalry between the Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers soccer teams. The rivalry pre-dates the current teams in both cities, back to the North American Soccer League days, and has since grown into one of the largest and most bitter rivalries in American soccer.[1] The rivalry [2] has spanned across several leagues including the USL First Division, A-League, NASL, and Major League Soccer.[3] According to many players, the Seattle–Portland rivalry is one of the only true derbies that is present in American soccer.[4] Alan Hinton, a former English international and ex-Sounders coach, has compared the rivalry to those seen in the English Premier League.[5] It is largely considered by a majority of fans across the American soccer community to be the most intense rivalry in the United States.[6][7][8]

Seattle and Portland have had rivalries based on various sports teams. A heated rivalry surrounded the Portland Buckaroos and Seattle Totems of the minor-league Western Hockey League in the 1960s.[9] Later, some fans supported the Thunderbirds or Winterhawks hockey teams. This rivalry "naturally translated into soccer" according to one fan.[10] The two cities also had a rivalry between the SuperSonics and Trail Blazers of the NBA, until the SuperSonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008.[3]

Contents

Rivalry

NASL era

The Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers first played each other on May 2, 1975; in the Timbers' inaugural game. Seattle defeated defeated Portland 1–0 in front of 8,131 at Portland Civic Stadium.[11] The victory by Seattle is often considered why the rivalry has been dominated by Seattle. The return match, played on July 26, 1975 saw Portland play spoils and defeat the hosts, Seattle 2-1, in front of a crowd of 27,310. A month later, Portland knocks Seattle out of the playoffs in front of crowd of 31,000.[12]

USL

MLS era

On July 1, 2009, Seattle eliminates Portland 2–1 before a sold out PGE Park crowd in the US Open Cup. Roger Levesque — a player Portland fans have had a particular dislike for — scored Seattle's first goal within the opening minute.[5][14] Levesque completed a goal celebration, in which he stood still at the top of the Timbers penalty area while Nate Jaqua pretended to chop him down like a tree, ending with Levesque falling flat on his back.[15]

A cold and rainy night on March 11, 2010, Portland defeats Seattle 1–0 in a preseason community shield charity match. The crowd of 18,606 in attendance that night at Qwest Field, is one of the largest crowds to attend a preseason game between two U.S. teams in American soccer history.

In hoping to stoke the rivalry for the future 2011 Major League Soccer season — when the Timbers would be joining the Sounders in MLS — Portland unveil a billboard displaying a Timbers crest and the words Portland, Oregon and Soccer City USA less than a mile from Qwest Field in Seattle.[16] The billboard was broadcast to a nationwide audience on ESPN2 during halftime of the Sounders home match versus Real Salt Lake that evening.[17]

In March 2011, the Timbers defeated the Sounders 2-0 in the Preseason Cascadia Summit, a round robin game event involving the two teams and their Canadian rival, the Vancouver Whitecaps. In their first match as both MLS sides, and the first time since 1982 the two played in top division American soccer the Timbers and the Sounders battle to a draw at a rain soaked Qwest Field in front of 36,593 in the highly anticipated MLS debut of the three way Cascadia Derby. This was a stadium record crowd to see a regular season MLS match, and included more than 500 traveling Portland fans. The return match, on July 10, 2011 saw Seattle earn a 3–2 road victory.

Supporter groups

A bitter rivalry between the two team's supporter groups exists. The Portland Timbers are supported by the Timbers Army, and Seattle Sounders by the Emerald City Supporters. The spirited groups have always showed a deep amount of resentment toward each other throughout the years.[10][18] With the close proximity of the two cities, traveling fans of both sides witness hostile environments while visiting the opposing stadium. A rare moment of violence broke out in March 2010 after a preseason Timbers win in Seattle, when three Sounders fans assaulted a Timbers fan, choking and dragging him with his team scarf.[19]

On March 20, 2009, at the Portland MLS expansion rally, League Commissioner Don Garber mentioned how great of a region the Pacific Northwest is for soccer, and gave an example by the success of the new MLS team Seattle Sounders. However, his comment was met with heavy boos, and jeers coming from the Timbers Army surrounding him. Portland mayor, Sam Adams, then offered a challenge to the Seattle mayor, for when the Timbers and Sounders meet in 2011.[20]

During the offseason while the two teams are not playing, the rivalry between the supporters continues through internet blogs and forums.[21]

Players and transfers

A large portion of the Sounders-Timbers rivalry can be seen on the soccer pitch itself. Before Seattle made the jump to MLS, many onfield rivalries between the players existed. As the years progressed, this would only enhance the level of competition, and intensify the matches. An example of this was the notable rivalry between Timbers defender Scot Thompson, and Sounders striker, Roger Levesque. Levesque, now with MLS's Seattle Sounders, has played in Seattle for several years, while Thompson has played in Portland since 2004.

Another reason the rivalry intensified was the transfer of star players between the two teams. While many players transferred to the other rival city from when the Timbers resumed play in 2001, the most memorable was the signing of Portland's all time assist leader, and fan favorite Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar[22] to Seattle in 2007. That same season, Seattle star Andrew Gregor signed with Portland, thus creating tensions on the field, as the players became familiar with each other. While playing for the Sounders in 2003, Gregor had said "A lot of the guys, we know each other from years back, and we don't get along and stuff. It's always exciting."[3]

NASL and USL matches between the teams were intense and more physical than other teams in the leagues. Sigi Schmid has said that Seattle, Portland, and Vancouver playing in the same league again will be "something that's going to be one of the key features of MLS".[5]

Seattle, then Portland

Name Pos Seattle Portland
Career Apps Goals Career Apps Goals
Roger Goldingay FW 1974 1975–76 15 0
Hank Liotart MF 1974–76 45 2 1976–77 28 2
David Butler FW 1974–78 97 34 1979 20 6
John Bain MF 1983 24 2 1989–90
Peter Hattrup FW 1984–89 1990
Daryl Green DF 1986–89 1990
Billy Crook DF 1988 1990
Ian MacLean DF 1989 1 1 1990
Scott Benedetti FW 1990 2001–05 96 6
Chugger Adair FW 1997 19 5 2002 20 2
Greg Howes MF 2000 27 17 2001–02 40 12
Darren Sawatzky FW 2000 28 16 2001 22 5
Rees Bettinger FW 2001 23 5 2002 5 0
Andrew Gregor MF 2002 46 16 2004 13 2
Alex Bengard MF 2003 23 3 2004 24 5
Andrew Gregor MF 2005–06 39 8 2007–08 37 8
Stephen Keel DF 2006 10 1 2009–10 52 1
Kevin Forrest FW 2008–09 9 0 2009 10 0

Portland, then Seattle

Name Pos Portland Seattle
Career Apps Goals Career Apps Goals
John Bain MF 1978–82 148 45 1983 24 2
David Butler FW 1979 20 6 1983 1 0
Grant Gibbs DF 1985–87 1988–90
Todd Strobeck GK 1985–90 1993–95
Brent Goulet FW 1986–87 9 1987 5 2
Scott Benedetti FW 1986–89 1990
Joey Leonetti FW 1988 1996
Dick McCormick MF 1988–90 1994–96 52 6
Kasey Keller GK 1989 10 0 2009–11 93 0
Garrett Smith DF 1989 1990
Wade Webber DF 1989 1990
Billy Crook DF 1990 1994–96
Peter Hattrup FW 1990 1994–95
Shawn Medved FW 1990 10 1994–95 7
Darren Sawatzky FW 2001 22 5 2002–04 67 22
Greg Howes MF 2001–02 40 12 2007 21 5
Jake Sagare MF 2002–04 72 5 2005–06 29 0
Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar MF 2002–06 131 10 2007–08 41 3
Andrew Gregor MF 2004 13 2 2005–06 39 8

Cups

Between 2004 and 2008, the USL Seattle Sounders, Portland Timbers, and Vancouver Whitecaps competed for the supporter created Cascadia Cup, to be awarded to the club who finished with the best record in each season series between the three teams. The Cascadia Cup was created to celebrate the strong rivalries between each of the three clubs. Seattle won the Cascadia Cup twice in this five year period while Portland never won. Seattle was not involved in the 2009 or 2010 competitions, both of which were won by Portland. While both Seattle and Portland consider Vancouver to be a rival, both of the U.S. fanbases consider their rivalries with Vancouver more cordial than with one another.[5] In a 2011 story on the rivalry by Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl, one Timbers Army member said about Vancouver fans, "It's hard to dislike them because they're so nice," and an Emerald City Supporters member added, "They're like the nice cousin that's never going to offend anyone at a party."[23]

Results

      Sounders Win       Timbers Win       Draw

Footnotes

[24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] [34] [35]

Rivalry Memorable Moments

References

  1. ^ "Timbers, Sounders kick off Cascadia rivalry". MLSSoccer.com. March 4, 2011. http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/timbers-sounders-kick-cascadia-rivalry. Retrieved April 13, 2011. 
  2. ^ "Sounders FC get a rival – Portland awarded MLS franchise". KOMO News. 2009-03-20. http://www.komonews.com/sports/41582562.html. Retrieved 2009-04-11. 
  3. ^ a b c Romero, José (2003-08-08). "206 vs. 503: Soccer rivalry still simmers". The Seattle Times. http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20030808&slug=sounders08. Retrieved 2009-04-11. 
  4. ^ Winner, Andrew (2009-06-30). "Seattle-Portland rivalry remains intense". MLSnet.com News. http://web.mlsnet.com/news/mls_news.jsp?ymd=20090630&content_id=5617052&vkey=news_mls&fext=.jsp. Retrieved 2009-07-09. 
  5. ^ a b c d e Joshua, Mayers (2010-03-10). "Sounders FC vs. Portland matchup touches a fierce rivalry". The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sounders/2011312364_sounders11.html. Retrieved 2010-03-11. 
  6. ^ "Great Soccer Rivalries You Might Not Know About". Sportage. July 12, 2009. http://sportige.com/great-soccer-rivalries/. Retrieved April 13, 2011. 
  7. ^ Sparks, Adam (March 5, 2011). "Portland Timbers Kick Off MLS Rivalry by Blanking Seattle Sounders FC". Yahoo! Sports. http://sports.yahoo.com/mls/news?slug=ycn-8002534. Retrieved April 13, 2011. 
  8. ^ Davis, Jason (July 1, 2009). "Portland-Seattle Provides Unique Showcase". Match Fit USA. http://www.matchfitusa.com/2009/07/portland-seattle-provides-unique.html. Retrieved April 13, 2011. 
  9. ^ http://o.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/stevekelley/2015040388_kelley13.html
  10. ^ a b "A Guide to hating the Portland Timbers". Seattlest. May 4, 2007. http://seattlest.com/2007/05/04/a_guide_to_hating_the_portland_timbers.php. Retrieved 2009-04-16. 
  11. ^ a b http://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/soccer/story/796531.html
  12. ^ a b "A NASL Rivalry, Portland vs. Seattle". NASL Marketing, Inc.. 1977. http://soundercentral.com/museum/1977updates/Soccer%20Bowl%201977/seattle_portland_1977.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-12. 
  13. ^ a b Schick, Tony (2008-08-11). "Final Timbers-Sounders league match gets all fouled up". Portland Tribune. http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=121817501316511200. Retrieved 2009-04-17. 
  14. ^ a b http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2009/06/timberssounders_matchup_a_figh.html
  15. ^ a b Vondersmith, Jason (July 1, 2009). "Nemesis Levesque's early goal sparks Seattle in 2-1 win over Portland". Portland Tribune. http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=124651321242093100. Retrieved May 31, 2011. 
  16. ^ a b Arnold, Geoffrey C. (2010-09-09). "Timbers raise stakes in rivalry with Seattle". The Oregonian (Portland). http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2010/09/timbers_raise_stakes_in_rivalr.html. Retrieved 2010-09-10. 
  17. ^ a b "Seattle Sounders FC vs. Real Salt Lake". MLS Primetime Thursday. ESPN2. 2010-09-09.
  18. ^ Romero, José Miguel (June 30, 2009). "Portland Timbers fans take rivalry with Sounders FC to another level". The Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sounders/2009399549_sounders30.html. Retrieved June 30, 2009. 
  19. ^ Clarridge, Christine (17 March 2010). "Seattle soccer hooligans choke Timbers fan with scarf". Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2011367604_seattle_soccer_hooligans_choke.html. Retrieved 12 May 2011. 
  20. ^ Ulmer, Jerry (2009-03-20). "Timbers Army enlists to cheer MLS team". The Oregonian. http://www.oregonlive.com/timbers/index.ssf/2009/03/timbers_army_enlists_to_cheer.html. Retrieved 2009-04-17. 
  21. ^ Clare, Steve (2008). "More Love Lost than Anyone Cares to Admit as Sounders, Whitecaps and Timbers Bid Adieu". Goal Seattle. http://goalseattle.com/2008/sounders%20whitecaps%20timbers.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-18. 
  22. ^ Massey, Matt (2007-04-12). "Former nemesis now a Sounder". Seattle Times. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soccer/2003663004_sounders12.html. Retrieved 2009-04-18. 
  23. ^ Wahl, Grant (May 23, 2011). "A Pacific Passion Play". Sports Illustrated. p. 3. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1186007/3/index.htm. Retrieved May 31, 2011. 
  24. ^ Clare, Steve (2008). "Seattle Sounders 2008". Prost Amerika. http://prostamerika.com/Sounders2008.html. Retrieved 2009-07-03. 
  25. ^ "US Open Cup". US Open Cup. http://www.usopencup.com/. Retrieved 2009-07-03. 
  26. ^ "Portland Timbers History". Portland Timbers. http://www.portlandtimbers.com/history/recaps/. Retrieved 2009-07-03. 
  27. ^ "Seattle Soccer Museum 1975". Goal Seattle. http://soundercentral.com/museum/1975updates/1975_sounders_stats.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-27. 
  28. ^ "Seattle Soccer Museum 1976". Goal Seattle. http://soundercentral.com/gallery/albums/NASLSeattleSoundersStats/1976_G.jpg. Retrieved 2009-07-27. 
  29. ^ "Seattle Soccer Museum 1977". Goal Seattle. http://soundercentral.com/gallery/albums/NASLSeattleSoundersStats/1977_G.jpg. Retrieved 2009-07-27. 
  30. ^ "Seattle Soccer Museum 1978". Goal Seattle. http://goalseattle.com/museum/1978updatesDec03/1978_seattle_sounders_season_res.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-27. 
  31. ^ "Seattle Soccer Museum 1979". Goal Seattle. http://goalseattle.com/museum/1979updates/1979_seattle_sounders_results.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-27. 
  32. ^ "Seattle Soccer Museum 1980". Goal Seattle. http://soundercentral.com/museum/1980%20updates/1980_sounders_season.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-27. 
  33. ^ "Seattle Soccer Museum 1981". Goal Seattle. http://goalseattle.com/museum/1981%20updates/nasl_1981.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-27. 
  34. ^ "Seattle Soccer Museum 1982". Goal Seattle. http://soundercentral.com/museum/1982%20updates/1982_seattle_sounders_nasl.htm. Retrieved 2009-07-27. 
  35. ^ a b Grygiel, Chris. "Seattle breaks rain records". Seattle-PI. http://www.seattlepi.com/local/weather/article/Seattle-breaks-rain-records-when-will-it-stop-1380528.php. 
History
Club history (1974–1983  • 1994–2008  • 2009–)  • Squad numbers  • All articles • Wikipedia book
Stadiums
Culture
Rivalries
Cascadia Cup • Heritage Cup • Portland Timbers rivalry • Head-to-head record
Key personnel

Owners: Joe Roth • Adrian Hanauer • Paul Allen • Drew Carey • Coach: Sigi Schmid • Technical Director: Chris Henderson
Major Honors (3)
U.S. Open Cup (3)

2009 • 2010 • 2011
Seasons (3)
2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012
Book
The Club
History (1975–1982 • 1985–1990 • 2001–2010 • 2011–) • Seasons • Players • All articles
Stadium
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Culture
Rivalries
Seattle Sounders–Portland Timbers rivalry • Cascadia Cup
Ring of Honor
John Bain • Clive Charles (kit number 3 retired) • Jimmy Conway • Timber Jim
Key Personnel
Owner & President: Merritt Paulson • General Manager / Technical Director: Gavin Wilkinson • Head Coach: John Spencer
Honors (7)
Playoff Final Appearances (1)
Regular Season League Champs (2)
2004 (Commissioner's Cup) • 2009 (Commissioner's Cup)
Regular Season Div./Conf. Champs (2)
1975 (Western Division) • 2004 (Western Conference)
Cascadia Cup Champions (2)
2009 • 2010