Portland and Seattle. Seattle and Portland. The first match of the season between the two teams often produces some exciting fireworks.
In the MLS era, Futty Danso headed a dramatic equalizer tying the game at 1-1 in Seattle in the two clubs' first meeting in 2011. In 2012, the Timbers Army unveiled a massive pregame tifo ahead of Portland's 2-1 win at home. 2013 saw Rodney Wallace play the hero with a stoppage time equalizer in a 1-1 draw at Century Link Field while 2014 saw Diego Chara score a brace in a wild 4-4 draw at Providence Park.
The NASL era's 1978 first meeting between the two clubs produced a shootout with arcane rules and controversy too as the Timbers prevaled.
Looking back though to the USL era also brings some memorable moments.
Exactly seven years prior to the day of this Sunday’s Seattle Sounders vs. Portland Timbers match (6:30pm PT, FOX Sports 1), the two Cascadia rivals squared off at then-PGE Park in a match that many may remember for a dramatic Takayuki Suzuki wondergoal.
Portland had started the 2008 campaign well with two victories including a 2-1 victory over the Minnesota Thunder just two days earlier. Against Seattle, Portland continued its hot form defeating the Sounders 2-1 in front of 9,894 fans.
Suzuki notched his first goal on U.S. soil, when just six minutes into the match, he received a long ball on the right side of the field about 30 yards from goal. The Japanese forward maneuvered his way around four defenders before striking a left-footed thunderbolt from outside the box that left Seattle goalkeeper Chris Eylander helpless despite a diving effort.
After the match, Suzuki told assembled media through an interpreter that he had never scored a goal from such a long distance. The Hitachi, Japan native and 2002 FIFA World Cup hero spent three seasons with the Timbers and finished his career with four league goals for Portland.
But Suzuki wasn’t alone in notching his first Timbers goal that day. Miguel Guante, who starred at the University of Portland, also etched his name on the scoresheet when he capped the victory with a 76th-minute strike off an assist from Suzuki. It was the first professional goal for the former Pilot and current Lincoln High School girls soccer coach. Goalkeeper Ray Burse helped preserve the shutout with six saves.
