The Portland Timbers FC are in need of a Vancouver Whitecaps loss to stay in the race for the Cascadia Cup. In fact, the race is so tight that Timbers’ owner Merritt Paulson has given all Timbers FC fans permission to root for the Sounders in their match-up against the Whitecaps on Friday.

https://twitter.com/TimbersFC/status/520257330303467520

Paulson’s note is pretty funny, and shows the good nature ribbing that goes along with rivalries in sports. Notice the crossed out “Fl” in front of “ounders”, and the subtle added “S”. Well done Paulson…well done. Now if only you could clean up your ticket policies, then everything will be just dandy.

The Cascadia Cup is a round robin tournament between the three Pacific Northwest MLS franchises. Each year, the each franchise will play the other two franchises a combined nine times and the team with the most points, in those matches, at the end of the season wins the rivalry trophy.

For those of you who don’t know, points are awarded like this: three points for a win, one point for a draw (tie), and no points for a loss.

Portland and Vancouver are currently tied with seven points each in the Cascadia Cup standings — the Timbers currently hold the tie-breaker because of their goal differential. Seattle currently leads the race for the Cup with eight points.

Team	Points	Played	W	L	D	GF	GA	GD
	8	5	2	1	2	12	9	+3
	7	6	2	3	1	15	14	+1
	7	5	2	2	1	7	11	-4

Courtesy of the Cascadia Cup’s official website.

If Vancouver does lose to Seattle, the Whitecaps would earn zero points and Portland wouldn’t lose any ground in the Cascadia Cup standings. That being said, if Vancouver were to earn a draw — or even pull off the upset and win — then Portland would suddenly find itself in a hole.

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