Sounders hope to ride line between physical, ‘wrestling’

Jeremiah Oshan -

SEATTLE — No team in MLS has allowed fewer goals than the Seattle Sounders. Just one team in the Western Conference has scored more than the Portland Timbers.

Given those two facts, it might stand to reason that the Sounders would prefer to turn Saturday’s Decision Day encounter into a proverbial street fight.

Not quite.

“I want them to play hard, play physical, but we don’t want it to be a wrestling match,” Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer said following Friday’s training session at Lumen Field.

Although the Sounders have allowed the fewest goals on the eighth fewest shots, they’ve not necessarily done it by being overly physical. The Sounders have committed the sixth fewest fouls and have attempted just the 13th most tackles. Their specialty seems to be more about denying entry into dangerous areas, with the Sounders registering the fourth most interceptions and allowing the ninth fewest touches inside their penalty area.

“We just need to play together,” Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas said. “It’s a rivalry match, it’s not about who can play the most beautiful soccer. It’s going to be a rough game. If we can not let ourselves be bullied and bully them, it should be a good game.”

Other updates

  • Josh Atencio was a late addition to the injury list after he entered concussion protocol, joining Cody Baker.
  • The stakes for the Timbers were lowered just a bit on Friday when it was revealed that the Vancouver Whitecaps can’t host the play-in match due to a previously scheduled dirt-bike show. That means the Timbers would host the Whitecaps even if they are the lower seed.
    • Vancouver can finish between 7th and 9th. Portland can finish either 8th or 9th. Minnesota can place as low as 8th.
  • With a win Seattle will take the Cascadia Cup for the first time since 2021 (and Schmetzer's 4th in MLS) while also qualifying for Concacaf Champions Cup 2025 due to their Supporters' Shield standing. More information for other results here.
  • Forecasts suggest there’s a good chance the entire match will be played in rain, which would be a rarity this season.