The Seattle Sounders will host the Portland Timbers on Saturday (12 p.m. PT; FOX, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360AM) in their first 2017 match against their Cascadia rivals. Here are three matchups to watch:
Jones had another great game against Real Salt Lake last week, constantly getting forward into the attack and helping the Sounders keep a clean sheet. He will get his first look at Timbers new Designated Player Blanco, a skilled Argentine who pulls the strings from out wide with Deigo Valeri working beneath Fanendo Adi. Jones loves to push forward, which means Blanco will either have to be more careful with his attacking runs or track back hard defensively to help right back Alvas Powell slow down Jones.