There are matchdays, and then there are Seattle vs. Portland matchdays.
Heading into the 99th installment of the Sounders-Timbers rivalry (6:30 p.m. PT kickoff; FS1; KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and El Rey 1360AM; TICKETS), there is even more on the line with the Sounders currently holding the top spot in the Western Conference by one point over none other than the Timbers.
“I know they [the players] all say that they don’t look at the standings, and we as coaches say we don’t look at the standings, but we all look at the standings,” said Head Coach Brian Schmetzer after Saturday’s training session at Starfire Sports Complex.