SEATTLE — Cristian Roldan had cotton gauze shoved in his nose to stanch the bleeding. He returned not long after receiving treatment only to be tackled from behind by Sebastian Blanco. Roldan shot up and got into Blanco’s face, yelling at him and forcing the Portland Timbers’ Designated Player backward. It was one of myriad times so far this season where the normally humble, quiet and kind Roldan off the pitch has been especially vehement and fervent on it.
“It’s what rivalry games are about,” Roldan said after the Seattle Sounders’ 1-0 win over their Cascadia rivals.