BEAVERTON — No matter the circumstances, games between the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders are among the more heated in Major League Soccer.
But Sunday’s get together at Providence Park figures to be the most heated yet.
Forecasts predict temperatures in the high 80s when the game kicks off at 4 p.m. — an improvement over earlier predictions of Sunday temperatures in the high 90s. But the relief for the players on the artificial grass will be minimal.
Timbers coach Caleb Porter noted that temperatures on the field will be significantly hotter than the air temperature. When early forecasts called for temperatures near 100 degrees for Sunday, Porter said the Timbers contacted the league about possibly shifting the kickoff away from the heat of the day. But MLS rejected the suggestion, according to Porter.
The game will be shown nationally on Fox Sports 1 — TV primetime on the East Coast.
“We’ve played games already in heat. Houston was very hot. Montreal was hot,” Porter said. “It’s something you just expect in this league and you have to be able to manage the situation.”
If the temperature is around 90 degrees, the referee has the option of calling for water breaks 30 minutes into each half. That can help players with hydration issues, but won’t do a thing for their feet.
“I wish we weren’t wearing these black shoes that we have now because they get really hot,” Timbers defender Nat Borchers said. “But there’s nothing to do. You can pour water over your shoes to try to cool yourself off, (but) your feet just get wet and they get blisters. So, honestly, there’s nothing to do, you just have to deal with it.”
Porter, naturally, noted that both teams will be dealing with the conditions.
It’s also noteworthy that Seattle, like Portland, is used to playing on artificial turf and plays some day games at CenturyLink Field, so the players should not be surprised by the surface heat.
• Nagbe is fine — Darlington Nagbe, who briefly left Wednesday’s loss in Los Angeles holding his shoulder, is fine according to Porter. “Maybe a slight sprain of the shoulder. But he recovers, he’s got super-human recovery,” the coach said.
• Yartey future undecided — Because his Visa expired, winger Ishmael Yartey is not with the Timbers. Yartey joined the Timbers in March on loan from Swiss side FC Sion to add needed depth at the wing position. Porter said Yartey’s future with the Timbers is undecided.
“We don’t know for sure yet what his future holds. We’re still trying to make that decision,” Porter said.
Yartey, 25, played in five league games and assisted on Jack Jewsbury’s stoppage time winning goal at Colorado. The return to health of Michael Nanchoff has bolstered the Timbers options at the wing position.
• Asprilla on the mend — Dairon Asprilla is ready to train again after recovering from an ankle injury. Porter said he might be available for Wednesday’s U.S. Open Cup match at Real Salt Lake.
