The Portland Timbers host the Seattle Sounders on Friday in a MLS Western Conference fixture. Portland is 10th in the conference table at 7-12-8 on 33 points with a goal difference of -1. Portland was defeated on the road last Saturday by Sporting Kansas City 4-1. Sebastian Blanco scored Portland's only goal in the 90th minute, but it was too little too late as the Timbers trailed 4-0 at that point.
Portland has taken 33 points through its first 27 matches and has missed the postseason in each of the four seasons in which the club had less than 40 points following 27 matches played. Jaroslaw Niezgoda is the leading goal scorer for Portland with nine, while Sebastian Blanco has scored six. Blanco is the leader in assists with seven and Santiago Moreno has five.'
Seattle is ninth in the conference table at 10-3-13 on 33 points with a goal difference of +1. Seattle battled on the road last Friday to a 3-3 draw with the LA Galaxy. Kelyn Rowe opened the scoring for Seattle with a goal in the 53rd minute and Raul Ruidiaz scored in the 61st minute. Jordan Morris put Seattle ahead with a goal in the 73rd minute but the Sounders gave up an equalizer in second-half stoppage time (90'+2') to share the spoils.
Seattle has taken seven points over its last nine matches with only two wins, one draw and six losses. On only two other occasions has Seattle taken fewer points over a nine-match stretch during the same season. Jordan Morris is the leading goal scorer for Seattle with seven, while Raul Ruidiaz has scored six. Nicolas Lodeiro is the leader in assists with six.
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