While perhaps already being the most prominent rivalry in the league, the Timbers are the 2015 MLS champions, and the Sounders are 2016’s defending titleholders. Portland was the host for the matchup, and the game kicked off on a steamy evening made hotter by the turf playing field.
Play started out even keeled leaving both teams unable to sustain momentum for very long. The Timbers created the first chance of the game in the form of a counter attack from a Sounders corner kick. The attack was halted by Sounders goalkeeper Stefen Frei who came to greet Nigerian striker, Fernando Adi’s shot point blank.