Timbers vs. Sounders match preview

Portland Timbers. Seattle Sounders. Desperate teams in the hunt for the playoffs. At Providence Park, under the lights. For the Cascadia Cup.

Really, I could the end preview there. The above statement fully encapsulates the stakes for tonight’s match. The next edition of the greatest rivalry in American soccer is not just for regional bragging rights this time: it holds important weight for two teams that find themselves mired in a battle for the final few playoff positions in the Western Conference. It is not too much of a stretch to claim that tonight is entering “must-win” territory for both teams, based on their situations.

Here’s your primer for when the Portland Timbers (7-8-12, 33…