The Cascadian Test: Time for the Timbers to prove that 2025 is for real
An eternal rival that always seems to pop up at the most appropriate time represents the biggest test of the Neville era yet.
The Portland Timbers Cascadia Cup defense got off to about the worst possible start that it could.
Fresh off of bruising elimination at the hands of the Vancouver Whitecaps at the end of 2024, 2025 opened with Portland once again getting paddled at home by the ‘Caps (though at least the Timbers scored this time). That brutal 4-1 season opening loss not only cast a pall over the beginning of the season, but it also immediately set Portland behind the curve in the Cascadia standings.
So it is fitting then that Portland’s next Cascadia matchup comes several months after they successfully put that opening day debacle behind them. It’s fitting that it comes in the middle of the Timbers’ best spring form in recent memory (maybe ever). It’s fitting that it comes in the form of a test of this newly built culture and resilience that Phil Neville has worked hard to create.
And of course, it’s fitting that it comes against the Seattle Sounders.
Because I mean c’mon — could it have been any other way?