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Sounders-Timbers preview

Sunday's match between Seattle Sounders FC and Portland Timbers features a reversal of fortunes since the longtime Cascadia rivals battled just over month ago in Portland.

That 3-1 win by the Portland on July 17 marked the end of the tenure of Seattle manager Sigi Schmid, the only coach the Sounders had on the bench in their history. It also was the last match the Sounders lost -- Seattle has a three-game unbeaten streak with interim head coach Brian Schmetzer as the man in charge.

The latest surge still has the Sounders (8-12-3, 27 points) in ninth place in the MLS's Western Conference and five points outside the sixth and final playoff spot with 11 matches to play.

That final spot is held by Portland (8-9-8, 32 points) despite the fact that the Timbers lost for the third time in their last four matches when they fell 2-0 at D.C. United on Aug. 13. It was the fourth consecutive shutout suffered on the road by Portland and could be a harbinger of what's to come on Sunday.

The Timbers have never won in Seattle in regular-season league play but did win there in the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2013. The Sounders FC hold a 4-0-2 league record in non-playoff games at CenturyLink Field.

Seattle's recent unbeaten streak can partially be attributed to the play of Nicolas Lodeiro, a Uruguayan international who was recently signed by the Sounders FC as a Designated Player. In his three games with Seattle, Lodeiro has goal and three assists and has reignited the scoring prowess of the Sounders FC's attacking duo: Jordan Morris (one goal, two assists since Lodeiro's arrival) and Clint Dempsey (three goals, one assist since Lodeiro's arrival).

Seattle comes into the match full of confidence following a 2-1 home win against Real Salt Lake on Aug. 14. A Sounders FC victory against Portland on Sunday would cut the Timbers' lead on Seattle to just two points.

"I'd like to hope it's a good soccer match -- I know Portland likes to play and we like to play and it's going to come out fast," Schmetzer said of his first Cascadia Cup match as head coach. "We have to have another great team defensive performance. Everybody has to play defense."

One of North American soccer's longest and most heated rivalries, the Pacific Northwest derby between the Timbers and Sounders FC dates back to the 1975 North American Soccer League (NASL) season, Portland's first year as a professional club. The Timbers have registered an overall record of 34-47-12 all-time against Seattle and a mark of 7-8-4 during the MLS era, in all competitions.

Sunday's match is the second of three regular-season meetings scheduled between the rivals this season. Portland won the first battle when Diego Valeri scored two goals, Fanendo Adi added a third and Lucas Melano had two assists for the Timbers.

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