The Sounders play arch-rival Portland in the first of a two-leg Western Conference semifinal this Sunday at Providence Park. The two sides are 2-2 in all-time playoff series across all eras since 1975, with the Timbers winning their lone MLS post-season meeting in 2013.
Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer knows there’s no point telling his team to treat this upcoming playoff series with the rival Portland Timers like any ordinary post-season round.
“We can’t get it into a bar fight,’’ Schmetzer said Friday. “But if it comes to a bar fight, we’ve got to be prepared.’’
So much for avoiding hyperbole ahead of the fifth all-time playoff matchup between franchises and second in the Major League Soccer era.