Seattle Sounders

CARSON, Calif. — Unfortunately for the Sounders, one goal was all that separated them from a trip back to Seattle to host the MLS Cup.

RENTON, Wash. – Is it Pete Carroll with the Seahawks? Maybe Don James with Washington? Could it be someone who oversaw an Olympic sport, or a high-school hoops team?

Paul Rothrock is out for the remainder of the Sounders' playoff run due to a quad injury, coach Brian Schmetzer told KJR-AM on Tuesday. Seattle (3-0) will play No. 2-seed LA Galaxy (3-0) in a Western Conference final on Saturday at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif. 

Welcome to the postseason Jordan Morris.

SEATTLE – The fourth-seeded Seattle Sounders will play top-seeded Los Angeles FC in a Western Conference semifinal playoff match at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at BMO Stadium. Here are three matchups to watch:

It's the final lead-up to the Western Conference playoff semifinal and the Sounders remain without two players in training. 

While appreciating their defense, the Sounders don’t want their season hanging on what the backline can prevent. There is an aim to score goals, but Sunday was another night for the defense.

RENTON, Wash. – The moment was too perfect.

SEATTLE – A grimy match had to be settled the only way possible – penalty kicks.

SEATTLE – The fourth-seeded Sounders open the MLS playoffs with a best-of-three series against the fifth-seeded Houston Dynamo beginning Monday at Lumen Field.

SEATTLE – Emotion won Saturday.

SEATTLE – We have the sports. NFL, MLB, NHL, Big Ten football and basketball, MLS, WNBA, NWSL – they’re all here.

A rested and lively Sounders squad returned to training Wednesday. The team is on a six-game unbeaten streak, including winning three matches within the span of a week. Sounders keeper Stefan Frei wants to keep the rhythm and doesn't feel the MLS playoff format helps. 

Alex Roldan face-planting on the Lumen Field turf in the waning minutes of Wednesday’s match was fitting. The Sounders defender couldn’t intercept a cross from San Jose attacker Jeremy Ebobisse, creating space for defender Paul Marie to score an equalizer in the 89th minute.

SEATTLE – Losses to Los Angeles FC have a way of hanging over Lumen Field like a gloomy cloud. After a pair of goals, the Sounders were able to dance in the sun again on Sunday.

PORTLAND — Jordan Morris wants to prove he can play a traditional striker position up top; the assignment was to show it against Portland.

TUKWILA — Someday wasn’t Wednesday.

When a club makes a headline signing, the ideal scenario is for the player to have a big moment in his debut.

In two matches nearly a month apart, one thing is clear – Los Angeles FC is better than the Sounders.