By Liv Lyons

On Saturday, July 9th, the Seattle Sounders faced off once again against their rivals, the Portland Timbers. But this was no ordinary rivalry match —the Sounders had a championship to celebrate, and they did so in true Seattle fashion.

Ahead of the unveiling of the CONCACAF Championship banner, fans were greeted with two live performances, one by Travis Thompson and another by The Head and the Heart. During The Head and the Heart's set, the Navy Leap Frogs parachuted into Lumen Park with a massive "CHAMPIONS" banner. Minority-owner Drew Carey greeted Sounders fans with a brief message, reminding Timbers fans in attendance which team were champions of the elite, before signaling the reveal of the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League banner.

The crowd erupted in applause, then turned their attention to the flag for the National Anthem. Adorned in her signature afro and an "Our Full 90" Sounders shirt, one of Seattle's unmistakable voices reverberated through the stadium. Shaina Shepherd performed the 1st verse of the Star Spangled Banner, her voice wrapping around those in attendance like a silk scarf.

The opening ceremony for this match set it apart from your average MLS match, and Shepherd's rendition of the National Anthem was the perfect finishing touch. As for the match itself, the Timbers outshined the Sounders 3-0. The local team will look to take this loss in stride as they move ahead to the July 13th matchup with Nashville SC.