Seattle Sounders will be aiming to carry on their fantastic run up in the MLS this weekend when they welcome Portland Timbers to the Lumen Field with them recently getting back in the win column.
The Sounders were experiencing one of their worst ever seasons in the MLS as recently as just four weeks ago, with them sitting 13th in the Western Conference and with very little hope they would be able to rocket themselves towards the playoffs.
However, a fantastic run of form that's seen them lose just once in their past six games does now put them up into seventh and in the Western Conference playoffs. Their only loss within this time came against the high-flying Eastern Conference side, Montreal, in a 2-1 loss at the Lumen Field.
What has been impressive above all from Seattle is their stunning goals difference in the past few weeks. They've managed to beat the likes of Vancouver Whitecaps 4-0, Sporting Kansas City 3-0, and Toronto 2-0 in recent weeks, with even a 1-1 draw against Los Angeles FC being a positive result for the Seattle-based side.
Better yet for the Sounders, they also have a game in hand on most of those around them, which means should they remain in the win column and get all three points in that game, they'll find themselves moving up into as high as fifth in the table and right behind third-placed Real Salt Lake.
Not quite the same can be said for Portland, although they do find themselves just three points behind Seattle and they could subsequently switch places with them in the playoffs should they win here and other results go in their favour.
On the other hand, however, they've played the most games in the division so far with 19 on the board, and it means fate is out of their own hands in regards to getting back into the top seven, and they must hope others around them drop points in the forthcoming weeks.
The Timbers did manage to beat Houston Dynamo and Colorado Rapids in the past two weeks, but with losses to San Jose Earthquakes, Philadelphia Union, Inter Miami, and draws with both LA Galaxy and Nashville, they sit with only one win since their stunning 7-2 victory over Sporting KC back in May.
Forebet predicts a victory for Seattle here, and for the game to see over 2.5 goals with the Sounders still sitting as one of the MLS’ most in-form sides.