The 2014 Cascadia Cup chase is entering the stretch run and Sounders FC has a chance to take its first lead in the Cup this season Sunday when it faces the Portland Timbers at Providence Park in front of a nationally televised audience on ESPN2.
Seattle is second at 1-1-2 (5 points), behind Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the race to determine the top team in the Northwest region. Vancouver is 2-0-1 (7 points) with three matches remaining, while the Timbers are just 0-2-1 (1 point).
Of the four remaining matches, Sounders FC plays in Portland against the Timbers on Sunday, then hosts Vancouver in the Cascadia Cup finale on October 10. In between, the Timbers and Whitecaps will meet in Vancouver on August 30 and in Portland on September 20.
In their previous meeting at Providence Park, Seattle got a second-half hat trick from Clint Dempsey for a come-from-behind 4-4 draw back in April. Coupled with a thorough performance in a 2-0 win at CenturyLink Field in July, Sounders FC has plenty of reason to be confident heading into Sunday’s showdown.
A win by Seattle on Sunday would make the Cascadia Cup a two-horse race, eliminating the Timbers from contention.
The Cascadia Cup was first awarded in the 2004 season and has been given to the top club among Seattle, Vancouver and Portland every year since. The trophy commemorates a derby started 40 years ago when the Sounders and Whitecaps joined the North American Soccer League and were joined the following season by the Timbers. The Cup was established by the supporter groups in each city – Emerald City Supporters in Seattle, Southsiders in Vancouver and Timbers Army in Portland.
Vancouver holds the most all-time Cascadia Cup titles with four while Seattle and Portland have three each. In the MLS era, each team has held the trophy for one season, with Sounders FC winning in the first go-round in MLS in 2011. Seattle didn’t participate in 2009 and 2010 after joining MLS while the two other clubs remained in the USL.
Cascadia Cup Schedule
Apr. 5 – Seattle 4 @ Portland 4.
May 24 – Seattle 2 @ Vancouver 2.
June 1 – Vancouver 4 @ Portland 3.
July 5 – Seattle 0 @ Vancouver 1.
July 13 – Portland 0 @ Seattle 2.
Aug. 24 – Seattle @ Portland.
Aug. 30 – Portland @ Vancouver.
Sept. 20 – Vancouver @ Portland.
Oct. 10 – Vancouver @ Seattle.
