The Sounders lost both regular-season matchups against Sporting Kansas City, their opponent in a one-game playoff on Thursday night at CenturyLink Field, the latter of which ultimately cost longtime coach Sigi Schmid his job.
But asked whether that is a cause for concern ahead of the knockout-round showdown, multiple Sounders insisted that the dynamic is hugely different this time around. Brian Schmetzer took over for Schmid in the aftermath of that 3-0 loss at Children’s Mercy Park in late July, Nicolas Lodeiro made his Seattle debut the following weekend and Roman Torres returned from his knee injury a month later.