As announced by the league on Aug. 8, the MLS restarted regular season play on Aug. 12 when FC Dallas hosted Nashville SC a day after the Portland Timbers lifted the MLS is Back Tournament cup in Orlando. Dallas and Nashville played the second of their three additional makeup games after missing out on MLS is Back Tournament action. Now, it is time for the MLS to carry on with its 2020 season restart with a slate of exciting matches, including five derbies.
Match of the week – Portland Timbers vs Seattle Sounders
MLS is Back Tournament champions Portland Timbers will square-off against current MLS champions Seattle Sounders in the 26th MLS meeting between the two Cascadia Cup rivals on Sunday at 10 p.m. ET.
On one hand, you have the Portland Timbers who arrive at this game boasting an impressive 7W-1L-1D record, having just won silverware in Orlando. On the other hand, you have the Seattle Sounders who were knocked out from the tournament in a 4-1 defeat by Los Angeles FC in the round of 16.
To put it into perspective, the Timbers claimed first place in Group F after drawing 2-2 with LAFC. Moreover, Giovanni Savarese left out regular starters Diego Charra, Diego Valeri, Eryk Williamson, Jeremy Ebobisse, Jorge Villafana and Larrys Mabiala out of the starting lineup. To be fair, Seattle had many injuries, including left back Joevin Jones and midfielder Danny Leyva.
Given the Sounder’s early MLS is Back Tournament exit, manager Brian Schmetzer has had time to gather up his men and prepare for games like the upcoming one against Portland.
Portland Timbers vs Seattle Sounders: players to watch
Sebastian Blanco – Portland Timbers
The Argentinian attacking midfielder claimed the Player of the Tournament award presented by Adidas in Orlando, scoring three goals and producing the most assists – five – alongside Alejandro Pozuelo.
Raul Ruidiaz – Seattle Sounders
The Peruvian striker has struggled in his 2020 campaign, only finding two goals in eight matches across all competitions. He is averaging a goal every 360 minutes compared to his 146 minutes per goal average in 2019. Ruidiaz is in dire need of a goal in this derby.
Portland Timbers vs Seattle Sounders: broadcast information
Match details, result and original broadcast info
This match has ended. Below are the original Live broadcast details for this match.
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Live TV coverage and streaming in United States
Talk of the week: national anthem
Dallas and Nashville took the pitch on Wednesday, Aug. 12, a day after the culmination of the MLS is Back Tournament, to begin their two-game slate scheduled by the MLS with the purpose to make up for the three group stage games they missed at the tournament in Orlando that counted toward the regular season. But what was supposed to be a sweet time for both sides given that they had not played ball in five months turned sour very quickly.
Before the game, players from both parties asked for the anthem not to be played before kickoff, the same way it was not played at all 51 games at the MLS is Back Tournament.
Following the players' request, Dallas asked MLS for permission to not play the anthem. However, MLS insisted otherwise. Before the regular season restart, the league announced that the standard pregame procession, including the national anthem and new MLS anthem, would take place if fans were sitting on the stands, and that was the case on Wednesday evening.
The anthem was played as players collectively took a knee, an action that ignited boos amongst the 2,000 plus fans present on the night. One fan was even kicked out of Toyota Stadium for throwing a water bottle onto the pitch.
Major League Soccer is one of the only soccer leagues across the globe that plays the national anthem before their league matches.
In conclusion, MLS commissioner Don Garber issued this statement hoping to avoid any more problems, or deal with the problem if it keeps happening.
Top transfers and trades
Blaise Matuidi – from Juventus to Inter Miami
Inbeom Hwang – from Vancouver Whitecaps to Rubin Kazan
Mohamed Traore – from Soccer Institute of Montverde Academy in Orlando to LAFC
Ariel Lassiter – from LD Alajuelense to Houston Dynamo (loan)
Andres Ricaurte – from Deportivo Independiente Medellin to FC Dallas
Grant Lillard – from Inter Miami to Columbus Crew
Kickoff times, dates and broadcast channels for other MLS matches from Aug. 17-23
Below is the schedule for the 13 games of the 2020 MLS restart, which run from Aug. 17-23:
