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Portland, Seattle renew rivalry in MLS

May 13, 2011 - 8:57 PM Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Portland and Seattle have enjoyed a rivalry in the lower division of American soccer for years, but the clubs based about 175 miles apart on I-5 meet for the first time in Major League Soccer on Saturday.

Seattle joined MLS in 2009, and has enjoyed two great seasons. Portland joined this season, and general manager/technical director Gavin Wilkinson thinks the rivalry could grow into one of the best in the world.

"I see [the rivalry] getting bigger and stronger and gaining more attention, nationally and internationally," Wilkinson said on the MLS website.

Although the rivalry has been great between the teams out of the spotlight, it will debut nationally Saturday night at Qwest Field in America's top division. The clubs first met in 1975.

"People outside the Northwest will experience it very soon," Wilkinson added.

With both Seattle (3-3-4) and Portland (4-3-1) entering the match on 13 points from the early part of the season, the rivalry also takes on significance in the standings.

Sounders FC leads MLS with an average attendance of 36,289 this season, easily the best mark in the league by more than 10,000. Seattle's Roger Levesque does expect the rivalry to be heated, especially on a bigger stage.

"I think it's going to get a little bit nasty," he told the Seattle Times. "I think players definitely feel that intensity and pride."

Seattle has two wins and a draw in three home matches this season, losing only to the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS season opener in mid-March. The Sounders tied the Columbus Crew on the road, 1-1, in their last match.

Portland has claimed all four of its games at home, but remains winless on the road in four matches with three losses and a draw. Goalie Troy Perkins thinks the club can take some momentum from its home success to Seattle.

After a 1-0 win over the Philadelphia Union at Jeld-Wen Field last week, coach John Spencer and the Timbers could be ready for a surprise against Sigi Schmid and the Sounders.

"Now we have to go on the road and do the same thing next weekend and these two wins at home are really going to help carry that momentum for us," Perkins said, referring to 1-0 wins over Real Salt Lake and Philadelphia.