Cascadia Cup
Supporters of the Seattle Sounders have teamed up with fan-based organizations for the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps to sponsor the Cascadia Cup, to be awarded to the club who finishes with the best record in the season series between these three teams. [1] The Cascadia Cup has been created to celebrate cooperative effort and the strong rivalries between each of these three clubs.
It was first contested in 2004, and was claimed by the Vancouver Whitecaps. The three teams who contest the cup have roots dating to the days of the North American Soccer League. The teams are the Portland Timbers, the Seattle Sounders, and the original champions Vancouver Whitecaps. [2]
In 2007, the Virginia Beach Mariners folded just before the season started, leaving the USL 1st Division to scramble to fix the season schedule. The result was an unbalanced schedule, and as such it was decided to adjust the Cascadia Cup format for that season. Fans of all three Cascadian teams agreed to make only the last home and last away matches between constituent clubs count toward the Cup.
In 2008 the clubs reverted back to playing each other an equal three times each. The Cascadia Cup competition once again included all scheduled regular season USL-1 matches played between the three rivals.
The Seattle Sounders left USL-1 and began play in Major League Soccer (MLS) as the Seattle Sounders FC as of the 2009 season. On March 18, 2009 it was announced that Vancouver Whitecaps will begin play in MLS in 2011. Two days later (March 20, 2009), it was announced that Portland will begin MLS play that same year. This should ensure the renewal of the Cascadia Cup in 2011.
Supporters have continued to hold a Cup competition for 2009 and 2010. Portland and Vancouver will include all scheduled regular season USL-1 matches played between the two. Seattle will include any matches it plays against Portland and Vancouver. Should the clubs remain tied on points after all matches played, away goals will be used as the first tiebreaker to determine the cup winner.
2009 Fixtures & Results
(Home club listed FIRST)
- February 22: Seattle 4 : 0 Vancouver
- April 25: Vancouver 1 : 0 Portland
- May 30: Portland 2 : 0 Vancouver
- July 1: Portland 1 : 2 Seattle [3]
- August 6: Portland 1 : 0 Vancouver
Winners
- 2009: Seattle Sounders
- 2008: Vancouver Whitecaps
- 2007: Seattle Sounders
- 2006: Seattle Sounders
- 2005: Vancouver Whitecaps
- 2004: Vancouver Whitecaps
Results
| 2009-Team | Pts | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Sounders | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | +5 |
| Portland Timbers | 6 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 3 | +1 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 3 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 | -6 |
| 2008-Team | Pts | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 13 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 6 | +3 |
| Seattle Sounders | 8 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| Portland Timbers | 4 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 7 | -3 |
| 2007-Team | Pts | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Sounders | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 4 | +3 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
| Portland Timbers | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 4 | -2 |
| 2006-Team | Pts | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seattle Sounders | 14 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 13 | 10 | +3 |
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 12 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 8 | +2 |
| Portland Timbers | 6 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 11 | -5 |
| 2005-Team | Pts | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 12 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 5 | +5 |
| Portland Timbers | 9 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 15 | -5 |
| Seattle Sounders | 8 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| 2004-Team | Pts | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vancouver Whitecaps | 13 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 | +1 |
| Portland Timbers | 12 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 10 | 11 | -1 |
| Seattle Sounders | 10 | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 |
The logo for the cup on the main website was designed by James Bullen (Atlanta Silverbacks Fan).