TIMBERS 1, SOUNDERS 2: Raúl Ruidíaz conjured some magic and hit a beautiful, left-footed floating from the edge of the penalty area that nestled perfectly into the net.

An absolute BEAUTY from @RaulRuidiazM! 😱🇵🇪 pic.twitter.com/nqu5xHdtoE
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) May 12, 2024

TIMBERS 1, SOUNDERS 1: Cristian Roldan lets rip from about 25 yards, it deflects off a Timbers defender and nestles into the net.

THE EQUALIZER.@CristianRoldan takes it himself and it's 1-1! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/ibuoLSKgCm
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) May 12, 2024

TIMBERS 1, SOUNDERS 0: Memo Rodriguez gets behind the Sounders defense, plays it off his chest to Felipe Mora for a virtual tap-in.

LINEUPS: In a bit of a twist, Obed Vargas gets the start at right midfielder while Cristian Roldan slides back to pair with João Paulo in central midfield. Also of note is that Léo Chú is available off the bench despite appearing on the injury report, while Pedro de la Vega is not despite an apparent clean bill of health.

For the Timbers, Evander and Dairon Asprilla are not starting but are available off the bench.

The Seattle Sounders and Portland Timbers have arrived at this point in the schedule in very much the same place, but in very different ways. The Sounders started winless in five but have started to seemingly right the ship, while the Timbers opened with seven points in three games and have not won since. The Sounders are still playing mostly very good defense, and the Timbers are doing it all with offense. Both think this can be a turning point for their season.

The Timbers have undeniably dominated this rivalry for at least a couple of years, with the Sounders last having won in 2021. The Timbers are 4-0-2 in that time, a six-match unbeaten strike that is unmatched in a rivalry that stretches back to 1975 and has survived several league changes.

Neither team comes in at full strength, both likely missing Designated Players. The Sounders also played on Wednesday, albeit with mostly reserves. As always, it should be interesting.

Notes

Raul Ruidíaz has 12 career MLS goals against the Timbers, the most goals any opponent has scored against Portland.
The teams have split their previous 37 regular-season meetings, with the Sounders going 14-14-9. All-time and across all competitions, the Sounders lead 56-46-17.
The Sounders became the fastest MLS team to reach 800 all-time points with their tie against the Galaxy last week. It took them 501 matches.
This will be the Sounders fifth match since April 27 and they’ll play five more matches through May 29.