SEATTLE — That’s one way to get rid of the taste of bitter defeat.
The Seattle Sounders were itching to get back on the pitch after a disappointing home loss to their hated rivals from the south last Sunday. After coming out of the MLS is Back break with 7 points from a possible nine (with 4 of those on the road), the Portland loss served as a bit of a wake-up call that in MLS, a listless performance can get punished.
So as the Sounders and San Jose Earthquakes took the field, coach Brian Schmetzer wanted to see his side raise the intensity and take it to a side mired in last place in the Western Conference.