Seattle Sounders – Portland Timbers rivalry
Encyclopedia
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. The rivalry has spanned across several leagues including the USL First Division
, A-League
, NASL
, and Major League Soccer
. According to many players, the Seattle–Portland rivalry is one of the only true derbies
that is present in American soccer. Alan Hinton
, a former English international and ex-Sounders coach, has compared the rivalry to those seen in the English Premier League. It is largely considered by a majority of fans across the American soccer community to be the most intense rivalry in the United States.
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. Later, some fans supported the Thunderbirds
or Winterhawks hockey teams. This rivalry "naturally translated into soccer" according to one fan. 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.
. Roger Levesque
— a player Portland fans have had a particular dislike for — scored Seattle's first goal within the opening minute. 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.
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. The billboard was broadcast to a nationwide audience on ESPN2
during halftime of the Sounders home match versus Real Salt Lake
that evening.
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.
, 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. 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.
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.
During the offseason while the two teams are not playing, the rivalry between the supporters continues through internet blogs and forums
.
, 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
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."
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".
, 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. 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."
Sports rivalry
A sports rivalry is intense competition between athletic teams or athletes. This pressure of competition is felt by players, coaches, and management, but is perhaps felt strongest by the fans. The intensity of the rivalry varies from a friendly competition on one end to serious violence on the...
between the Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
and Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers
Portland Timbers may refer to any of four distinct professional soccer teams:*Portland Timbers, a Major League Soccer expansion team that began playing in 2011....
soccer teams. The rivalry pre-dates the current teams in both cities, back to the North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
days, and has since grown into one of the largest and most bitter rivalries in American soccer. The rivalry has spanned across several leagues including the USL First Division
USL First Division
The United Soccer Leagues First Division was a professional men's soccer league in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico....
, A-League
A-League (1995–2004)
The A-League was a professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. The A-League emerged out of the restructured American Professional Soccer League in 1995 and operated until 2004, after which it was re-branded the USL First Division...
, NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
, and Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
. According to many players, the Seattle–Portland rivalry is one of the only true derbies
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
that is present in American soccer. Alan Hinton
Alan Hinton
Alan Thomas Hinton is an English former footballer who most notably played for Derby County and Nottingham Forest in the 1960s...
, a former English international and ex-Sounders coach, has compared the rivalry to those seen in the English Premier League. It is largely considered by a majority of fans across the American soccer community to be the most intense rivalry in the United States.
Seattle and Portland have had rivalries based on various sports teams. A heated rivalry surrounded the Portland Buckaroos
Portland Buckaroos
The Portland Buckaroos was the name of several professional ice hockey teams based in Portland, Oregon.-PCHL/NWHL era :The first incarnation of Portland Buckaroos played their home games at the Portland Ice Arena. The Buckaroos initially played in the four-team Pacific Coast Hockey League from...
and Seattle Totems
Seattle Totems
The Seattle Totems were a professional ice hockey franchise in Seattle, Washington. They were a member of various minor professional and semi-professional leagues between 1945 and 1975. They played their home games in the Mercer Arena and later at the Seattle Center Coliseum...
of the minor-league Western Hockey League in the 1960s. Later, some fans supported the Thunderbirds
Seattle Thunderbirds
The Seattle Thunderbirds are a junior ice hockey team based in Kent, a suburb of Seattle, Washington. They are part of the U.S. Division of the Western Hockey League, and play in the ShoWare Center...
or Winterhawks hockey teams. This rivalry "naturally translated into soccer" according to one fan. The two cities also had a rivalry between the SuperSonics
Seattle SuperSonics
The Seattle SuperSonics were an American professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington that played in the Pacific and Northwest Divisions of the National Basketball Association from 1967 until 2008. Following the 2007–08 season, the team relocated to Oklahoma City, and now plays as...
and Trail Blazers
Portland Trail Blazers
The Portland Trail Blazers, commonly known as the Blazers, are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The Trail Blazers originally played their home games in the...
of the NBA
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, until the SuperSonics relocated
Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma City
The Seattle SuperSonics relocation to Oklahoma City was a successful effort by the ownership group of the Seattle SuperSonics to move the team to Oklahoma City...
to Oklahoma City in 2008.
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. 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.- June 30, 1979, Seattle defeats Portland 5–1 in the KingdomeKingdomeThe Kingdome was a multi-purpose stadium located in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood. Owned and operated by King County, the Kingdome opened in 1976 and was best known as the home stadium of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League , the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball , and the...
in front of a season high 34,000 spectators. Derek Smethurst scores a hat trick for the Sounders.
- In the final NASLNorth American Soccer LeagueNorth American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
meeting, Seattle beats Portland 1–0 on August 22, 1982.
USL
- In front of nearly 12,300 fans, Portland defeats Seattle 2–0 at PGE Park on May 11, 2001, as the Timbers and Sounders rivalry resumes in the A-LeagueA-League (1995–2004)The A-League was a professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. The A-League emerged out of the restructured American Professional Soccer League in 1995 and operated until 2004, after which it was re-branded the USL First Division...
.
- July 21, 2001, Current U.S. National TeamUnited States men's national soccer teamThe United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
player, Brian ChingBrian ChingBrian Ching is an American professional soccer forward currently playing for the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
, would score the only goal in 1–0 Sounders victory over the Timbers, as over 11,000 would be in attendance in Portland.
- Portland defeats Seattle 2–0 on opening day at PGE Park on May 1, 2004, as the inaugural Cascadia CupCascadia CupThe Cascadia Cup is the name of the trophy created in 2004 by supporters of the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which is awarded each season to the best soccer team in the Pacific Northwest. The Timbers, Sounders, and Whitecaps have roots dating to the days of the...
makes its debut.
- September 18, 2005, Seattle knocks Portland out of the playoffs for a second straight year, as Sounders defeat the Timbers 2–0 in Seattle.
- In Seattle, Sounders defeats the Timbers 3–1 on July 22, 2006, in a hotly contested match that accumulated eight yellow cards, and one red.
- May 10, 2008, in front of over 10,000 at Qwest Field, Seattle and Portland play to a 0–0 draw in the final match the two teams would play each other in Seattle in the USL-1.
- August 7, 2008, the Timbers and Sounders play each other for a final time in the Division 2 league, USL-1. Seattle defeats Portland 1–0 on the historic night, in front of a rambunctious 12,332 fans. The high intensity match also includea a total of six cards handed out, and one ejection.
MLS era
On July 1, 2009, Seattle eliminates Portland 2–1 before a sold out PGE Park crowd in the US Open Cup2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup
The 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 96th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early September.The tournament proper features teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid...
. Roger Levesque
Roger Levesque
Roger Levesque is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
— a player Portland fans have had a particular dislike for — scored Seattle's first goal within the opening minute. Levesque completed a goal celebration
Goal celebration
In football, a goal celebration is the practice of celebrating the scoring of a goal. The celebration may be performed by the goalscorer , his or her teammates, the manager or coaching staff and/or the supporters of the team...
, in which he stood still at the top of the Timbers penalty area while Nate Jaqua
Nate Jaqua
Jonathan "Nate" Jaqua is an American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-High School:...
pretended to chop him down like a tree, ending with Levesque falling flat on his back.
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
2011 Major League Soccer season
The 2011 Major League Soccer season was the 99th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 33rd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 16th season of Major League Soccer. The season marked the arrival of two new league clubs, Portland Timbers and Vancouver...
— when the Timbers would be joining the Sounders in MLS — Portland unveil a billboard
Billboard
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
displaying a Timbers crest and the words Portland, Oregon and Soccer City USA less than a mile from Qwest Field in Seattle. The billboard was broadcast to a nationwide audience on ESPN2
ESPN2
ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
during halftime of the Sounders home match versus Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake
Real Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
that evening.
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
Cascadia Cup
The Cascadia Cup is the name of the trophy created in 2004 by supporters of the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which is awarded each season to the best soccer team in the Pacific Northwest. The Timbers, Sounders, and Whitecaps have roots dating to the days of the...
. 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 ArmyTimbers Army
The Timbers Army is an independent supporters group of Portland Timbers, a football club in Major League Soccer—the top tier of the United States soccer pyramid. Its members are known for their loud, enthusiastic support and the raucous atmosphere they create at Timbers games...
, and Seattle Sounders by the Emerald City Supporters
Emerald City Supporters
Emerald City Supporters is an independent supporters' group for Major League Soccer's Seattle Sounders FC.-History and name:Emerald City Supporters was founded in 2005 by the supporters of the now defunct Seattle Sounders soccer team that played in the United Soccer Leagues First Division...
. The spirited groups have always showed a deep amount of resentment toward each other throughout the years. 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.
On March 20, 2009, at the Portland MLS expansion rally, League Commissioner Don Garber
Don Garber
Donald Garber is the commissioner of Major League Soccer, CEO of Soccer United Marketing, and a member of the United States Soccer Federation board of directors. Garber has spent his entire career in the sports industry, working in a variety of capacities in marketing, television and league...
mentioned how great of a region the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
is for soccer, and gave an example by the success of the new MLS team Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
. 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.
During the offseason while the two teams are not playing, the rivalry between the supporters continues through internet blogs and forums
Internet forum
An Internet forum, or message board, is an online discussion site where people can hold conversations in the form of posted messages. They differ from chat rooms in that messages are at least temporarily archived...
.
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 ThompsonScot Thompson
Scot Thompson is an American soccer player who currently play for Portland Timbers U23's in the USL Premier Development League....
, and Sounders striker, Roger Levesque
Roger Levesque
Roger Levesque is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
. Levesque, now with MLS's Seattle Sounders
Seattle Sounders FC
Seattle Sounders FC is an American professional soccer club based in Seattle, Washington. The club competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. Sounders FC was established in November 2007 as a MLS expansion team, making it the 15th team in...
, 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
Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar
Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar is a Mexican footballer who most recently played for the Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division.Alcaraz-Cuellar initially began playing soccer with the San Diego Flash in 2001...
to Seattle in 2007. That same season, Seattle star Andrew Gregor
Andrew Gregor
Andrew Gregor is a retired American soccer midfielder who played professionally in Major League Soccer, the USL First Division, the USL Premier Development League and Major Indoor Soccer League....
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."
NASL and USL matches between the teams were intense and more physical than other teams in the leagues. Sigi Schmid
Sigi Schmid
Siegfried "Sigi" Schmid is a German-American soccer coach. Born in Tübingen, West Germany, he moved to the United States with his family when he was a child. He played college soccer from 1972 to 1975 at the University of California, Los Angeles , where he was a starting midfielder in each...
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".
Seattle, then Portland
| Name | Pos | Seattle | Portland | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | Apps | Goals | Career | Apps | Goals | ||
 Roger Goldingay |
FW | 1974 | 1975–76 | 15 | 0 | ||
| Hank Liotart Hank Liotart Hank Liotart is a Dutch-American former soccer player. Liotart played one season in the National Professional Soccer League, eight in the North American Soccer League and at least one in Major Indoor Soccer League. He also played eight years in the Netherlands. Finally, Liotart earned four caps... |
MF | 1974–76 | 45 | 2 | 1976–77 | 28 | 2 |
 David ButlerDavid Butler (footballer born 1953) David Butler is an English former football striker who played professionally in England, the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.... |
FW | 1974–78 | 97 | 34 | 1979 | 20 | 6 |
 John BainJohn Bain John Bain is a retired Scottish-U.S. soccer midfielder who currently coaches youth soccer in the U.S. Bain began his professional career in England before moving to the United States in 1978. Over his twenty year playing career, Bain played for numerous leagues and teams, both indoors and out... |
MF | 1983 | 24 | 2 | 1989–90 | ||
| Peter Hattrup Peter Hattrup Peter Hattrup is a retired U.S. soccer player and current youth soccer coach.-Youth and college:Hattrup was a four-year starter as a star player for the Seattle Preparatory School boys' soccer team. He graduated in 1982 and entered Seattle Pacific University.Hattrup was a scoring sensation for... |
FW | 1984–89 | 1990 | ||||
| Daryl Green Daryl Green Daryl Green is a retired U.S. soccer player who coaches youth soccer. He played four seasons in the Western Soccer Alliance, one in the American Professional Soccer League and two in Major Indoor Soccer League-Youth:... |
DF | 1986–89 | 1990 | ||||
| Billy Crook |
DF | 1988 | 1990 | ||||
| Ian MacLean Ian MacLean (soccer) Ian MacLean is a former footballer.-Club career:MacLean played for Seattle Storm, Portland Timbers, Bristol Rovers, Cardiff City and Rotherham United.-International career:... |
DF | 1989 | 1 | 1 | 1990 | ||
| Scott Benedetti Scott Benedetti Scott “Benny” Benedetti is a retired American soccer player. He began his professional career with the semi-professional F.C. Portland in 1986 and ended it with the U.S. second division club Portland Timbers in 2005. While he spent most of his career in the lower U.S... |
FW | 1990 | 2001–05 | 96 | 6 | ||
| Chugger Adair |
FW | 1997 | 19 | 5 | 2002 | 20 | 2 |
| Greg Howes Greg Howes Greg Howes is an American soccer player, currently player-coach for Tacoma Tide in the USL Premier Development League.-Career:... |
MF | 2000 | 27 | 17 | 2001–02 | 40 | 12 |
| Darren Sawatzky Darren Sawatzky Darren Sawatzky was a U.S. soccer player who spent four seasons in Major League Soccer. He also played one season in Major Indoor Soccer League, one in USISL and five in the United Soccer Leagues... |
FW | 2000 | 28 | 16 | 2001 | 22 | 5 |
| Rees Bettinger |
FW | 2001 | 23 | 5 | 2002 | 5 | 0 |
| Andrew Gregor Andrew Gregor Andrew Gregor is a retired American soccer midfielder who played professionally in Major League Soccer, the USL First Division, the USL Premier Development League and Major Indoor Soccer League.... |
MF | 2002 | 46 | 16 | 2004 | 13 | 2 |
| Alex Bengard Alex Bengard Alex Bengard is a retired American soccer player.-College:Bengard played one year of college soccer at Mt. San Antonio College before transferring to California State University, Dominguez Hills... |
MF | 2003 | 23 | 3 | 2004 | 24 | 5 |
| Andrew Gregor Andrew Gregor Andrew Gregor is a retired American soccer midfielder who played professionally in Major League Soccer, the USL First Division, the USL Premier Development League and Major Indoor Soccer League.... |
MF | 2005–06 | 39 | 8 | 2007–08 | 37 | 8 |
| Stephen Keel Stephen Keel Stephen Keel is an American soccer player who plays for New York Red Bulls in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:... |
DF | 2006 | 10 | 1 | 2009–10 | 52 | 1 |
| Kevin Forrest Kevin Forrest Kevin Forrest is an American soccer player, currently playing for Washington Crossfire in the USL Premier Development League.-Youth and College:... |
FW | 2008–09 | 9 | 0 | 2009 | 10 | 0 |
Portland, then Seattle
| Name | Pos | Portland | Seattle | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | Apps | Goals | Career | Apps | Goals | ||
| John Bain John Bain John Bain is a retired Scottish-U.S. soccer midfielder who currently coaches youth soccer in the U.S. Bain began his professional career in England before moving to the United States in 1978. Over his twenty year playing career, Bain played for numerous leagues and teams, both indoors and out... |
MF | 1978–82 | 148 | 45 | 1983 | 24 | 2 |
| David Butler David Butler (footballer born 1953) David Butler is an English former football striker who played professionally in England, the North American Soccer League and Major Indoor Soccer League.... |
FW | 1979 | 20 | 6 | 1983 | 1 | 0 |
| Grant Gibbs Grant Gibbs Grant Gibbs is a former U.S. soccer defender who spent his professional career in clubs F.C. Portland, Seattle Storm and Miami Freedom.-Bio:Gibbs grew up in Federal Way, Washington where he attended Thomas Jefferson High School. After graduating from high school in 1982, Webber attended Warner... |
DF | 1985–87 | 1988–90 | ||||
| Todd Strobeck Todd Strobeck Todd Strobeck is a retired U.S. soccer goalkeeper who four seasons in the Western Soccer Alliance, one in the American Professional Soccer League, on in Major Indoor Soccer League and at least one in USISL.... |
GK | 1985–90 | 1993–95 | ||||
| Brent Goulet Brent Goulet Brent Goulet is a retired American soccer forward and later coached SV Elversberg from 2004 to 2008. He began his career in the United States before moving to England and Germany, and also earned eight caps with the U.S. national team. He was the 1987 U.S. Soccer Athlete of the Year and was a... |
FW | 1986–87 | 9 | 1987 | 5 | 2 | |
| Scott Benedetti Scott Benedetti Scott “Benny” Benedetti is a retired American soccer player. He began his professional career with the semi-professional F.C. Portland in 1986 and ended it with the U.S. second division club Portland Timbers in 2005. While he spent most of his career in the lower U.S... |
FW | 1986–89 | 1990 | ||||
| Joey Leonetti Joey Leonetti Joe "Joey" Leonetti is a former U.S. soccer player. He played for numerous soccer teams over a career which began in 1988 with F.C. Portland and ended in 1999 with the Willamette Valley Firebirds. He also earned two caps with the U.S... |
FW | 1988 | 1996 | ||||
| Dick McCormick Dick McCormick Dick McCormick is a former U.S. soccer midfielder and current youth soccer coach. McCormick had an extenisive professional career in six indoor and outdoor leagues over his fourteen year professional career. He has served as an assistant coach with the Seattle Sounders and head coach of the... |
MF | 1988–90 | 1994–96 | 52 | 6 | ||
| Kasey Keller Kasey Keller Kasey Keller is a retired American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.... |
GK | 1989 | 10 | 0 | 2009–11 | 93 | 0 |
| Garrett Smith Garrett Smith Garrett Smith is a former U.S. soccer defender who played professionally in the Western Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League, Major Indoor Soccer League and Continental Indoor Soccer League. Since 1992, he has served as an assistant coach with the University of Portland’s men’s and... |
DF | 1989 | 1990 | ||||
| Wade Webber Wade Webber Wade Webber is a retired U.S. soccer defender who spent most of his career with clubs in the Pacific Northwest. However, he did see three years in Major League Soccer with the Dallas Burn and Miami Fusion before suffering a career ending knee injury... |
DF | 1989 | 1990 | ||||
| Billy Crook |
DF | 1990 | 1994–96 | ||||
| Peter Hattrup Peter Hattrup Peter Hattrup is a retired U.S. soccer player and current youth soccer coach.-Youth and college:Hattrup was a four-year starter as a star player for the Seattle Preparatory School boys' soccer team. He graduated in 1982 and entered Seattle Pacific University.Hattrup was a scoring sensation for... |
FW | 1990 | 1994–95 | ||||
| Shawn Medved Shawn Medved Shawn Medved is a retired American soccer forward and midfielder. He coaches youth soccer.-Youth:Medved was born and grew up in Issaquah, Washington. His father, Ron Medved, was a noted American football player for the University of Washington and Philadelphia Eagles. Despite his father's success... |
FW | 1990 | 10 | 1994–95 | 7 | ||
| Darren Sawatzky Darren Sawatzky Darren Sawatzky was a U.S. soccer player who spent four seasons in Major League Soccer. He also played one season in Major Indoor Soccer League, one in USISL and five in the United Soccer Leagues... |
FW | 2001 | 22 | 5 | 2002–04 | 67 | 22 |
| Greg Howes Greg Howes Greg Howes is an American soccer player, currently player-coach for Tacoma Tide in the USL Premier Development League.-Career:... |
MF | 2001–02 | 40 | 12 | 2007 | 21 | 5 |
| Jake Sagare Jake Sagare Jake Sagare is an American soccer player currently playing for Yakima Reds in the USL Premier Development League.-College and Amateur:... |
MF | 2002–04 | 72 | 5 | 2005–06 | 29 | 0 |
 Hugo Alcaraz-CuellarHugo Alcaraz-Cuellar Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar is a Mexican footballer who most recently played for the Seattle Sounders of the USL First Division.Alcaraz-Cuellar initially began playing soccer with the San Diego Flash in 2001... |
MF | 2002–06 | 131 | 10 | 2007–08 | 41 | 3 |
| Andrew Gregor Andrew Gregor Andrew Gregor is a retired American soccer midfielder who played professionally in Major League Soccer, the USL First Division, the USL Premier Development League and Major Indoor Soccer League.... |
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 CupCascadia Cup
The Cascadia Cup is the name of the trophy created in 2004 by supporters of the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which is awarded each season to the best soccer team in the Pacific Northwest. The Timbers, Sounders, and Whitecaps have roots dating to the days of the...
, 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. In a 2011 story on the rivalry by Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
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."
Results
Rivalry Memorable Moments
- At Civic Stadium, Seattle beats Portland 1–0 in the Timbers' inaugural game on May 2, 1975.
- On July 26, 1975, in front of 27,310, Portland beats the home team Seattle 2–1. A month later, Portland knocks Seattle out of the playoffs in front of crowd of 31,000.
- June 30, 1979, Seattle defeats Portland 5–1 in the KingdomeKingdomeThe Kingdome was a multi-purpose stadium located in Seattle's SoDo neighborhood. Owned and operated by King County, the Kingdome opened in 1976 and was best known as the home stadium of the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League , the Seattle Mariners of Major League Baseball , and the...
in front of a season high 34,000 spectators. Derek Smethurst scores a hat trick for the Sounders.
- In the final NASLNorth American Soccer LeagueNorth American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
meeting, Seattle beats Portland 1–0 on August 22, 1982.
- In front of nearly 12,300 fans, Portland defeats Seattle 2–0 at PGE Park on May 11, 2001, as the Timbers and Sounders rivalry resumes in the A-LeagueA-League (1995–2004)The A-League was a professional men's soccer league which featured teams from both the United States and Canada. The A-League emerged out of the restructured American Professional Soccer League in 1995 and operated until 2004, after which it was re-branded the USL First Division...
.
- July 21, 2001, Current U.S. National TeamUnited States men's national soccer teamThe United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
player, Brian ChingBrian ChingBrian Ching is an American professional soccer forward currently playing for the Montreal Impact of Major League Soccer.-Youth and College:...
, would score the only goal in 1–0 Sounders victory over the Timbers, as over 11,000 would be in attendance in Portland.
- Portland defeats Seattle 2–0 on opening day at PGE Park on May 1, 2004, as the inaugural Cascadia CupCascadia CupThe Cascadia Cup is the name of the trophy created in 2004 by supporters of the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which is awarded each season to the best soccer team in the Pacific Northwest. The Timbers, Sounders, and Whitecaps have roots dating to the days of the...
makes its debut.
- September 18, 2005, Seattle knocks Portland out of the playoffs for a second straight year, as Sounders defeat the Timbers 2–0 in Seattle.
- In Seattle, Sounders defeats the Timbers 3–1 on July 22, 2006, in a hotly contested match that accumulated eight yellow cards, and one red.
- May 10, 2008, in front of over 10,000 at Qwest Field, Seattle and Portland play to a 0–0 draw in the final match the two teams would play each other in Seattle in the USL-1.
- August 7, 2008, the Timbers and Sounders play each other for a final time in the Division 2 league, USL-1. Seattle defeats Portland 1–0 on the historic night, in front of a rambunctious 12,332 fans. The high intensity match also includea a total of six cards handed out, and one ejection.
- July 1, 2009, Seattle eliminates Portland 2–1 before a sold out PGE Park crowd in the US Open Cup2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open CupThe 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup was the 96th edition of the oldest competition in American soccer, running from June through early September.The tournament proper features teams from the top five levels of the American Soccer Pyramid...
. Roger LevesqueRoger LevesqueRoger Levesque is an American soccer player who currently plays for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer....
— a player Portland fans have had a particular dislike for — scored Seattle's first goal within the opening minute. Levesque completed a goal celebrationGoal celebrationIn football, a goal celebration is the practice of celebrating the scoring of a goal. The celebration may be performed by the goalscorer , his or her teammates, the manager or coaching staff and/or the supporters of the team...
, in which he stood still at the top of the Timbers penalty area while Nate JaquaNate JaquaJonathan "Nate" Jaqua is an American soccer player who last played for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer.-High School:...
pretended to chop him down like a tree, ending with Levesque falling flat on his back.
- 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.
- September 9, 2010, hoping to stoke the rivalry for the future 2011 Major League Soccer season2011 Major League Soccer seasonThe 2011 Major League Soccer season was the 99th season of FIFA-sanctioned soccer, the 33rd with a national first-division league, in the United States and Canada, and the 16th season of Major League Soccer. The season marked the arrival of two new league clubs, Portland Timbers and Vancouver...
— when the Timbers would be joining the Sounders in MLS — Portland unveil a billboardBillboardBillboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
displaying a Timbers crest and the words Portland, Oregon and Soccer City USA less than a mile from Qwest Field in Seattle. The billboard was broadcast to a nationwide audience on ESPN2ESPN2ESPN2 is an American sports cable television network owned by ESPN. The channel debuted on October 1, 1993.Originally nicknamed "the deuce," ESPN2 was initially branded as a network for a younger generation of sports fans featuring edgier graphics as well as extreme sports like motocross,...
during halftime of the Sounders home match versus Real Salt LakeReal Salt LakeReal Salt Lake is an American professional soccer club based in Sandy, Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. The team competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. They currently play their home games at Rio Tinto Stadium. Real Salt Lake won...
that evening.
- March 4, 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.
- May 14, 2011, 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 DerbyCascadia CupThe Cascadia Cup is the name of the trophy created in 2004 by supporters of the Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which is awarded each season to the best soccer team in the Pacific Northwest. The Timbers, Sounders, and Whitecaps have roots dating to the days of the...
. This was a stadium record crowd to see a regular season MLS match, and included more than 500 traveling Portland fans.