Match Prediction: Portland Timbers - Seattle Sounders

Being aired on ESPN, past the first meeting of these two teams, this is the MLS match of the season that is an absolute must watch. The stakes and expected energy of the match itself and animosity of the Timbers' fans will certainly make for one crazy match, one that should be of much higher quality of play than their last meeting at Qwest Field where everything was slogged down by a downpour of rain. Leading into this match the Sounders are undefeated in seven while the Timber haven't been able to win in six, but in a derby match like this those runs mean next to nothing. The three points are all there for the taking for both teams. That said, past form does have a factor. The Timbers have a crippling reliance on set pieces to score goals and also a crippling weakness when it comes to defending set pieces earned by their opponents. If the Sounders can limit set piece opportunities on goal for the Timbers, their incredibly strong back line should be able to hold off any attempts by the Timbers through the run of play. The question then is, who will step up and find the back of the net for the Sounders? As of late, just about every player on the field has scored (13 different players have scored so far this season, in fact) so that shouldn't be too much of a concern, though past Roger Levesque's brace against the Red Bulls a couple of weeks ago, the Sounders' forwards have had trouble being a threat on goal. This is definitely the perfect opportunity for Fredy Montero, or even Levesque to spite the Timbers Army, to step up and change that. Regarding past form, the Sounders should have this in the bag. But, this is a derby after all and anything can happen.