Some wins matter more than others. Friday night in Portland is a perfect example of this.
The Seattle Sounders had given up 11 goals in four matches, going 0-2-2 in those games, and walked into Providence Park facing a Timbers team that had won four of their last six. Portland beat Seattle in June in the U.S. Open Cup in Tacoma and again last month at CenturyLink Field.
Still dealing with Roman Torres' suspension, Victor Rodriguez with a hamstring strain, and Brad Smith starting on the bench coming back from adductor pain, the odds were stacked against the Rave Green entering Friday.
But Brian Schmetzer doesn't care about odds. Cristian Roldan doesn't care about odds. Neither do Jordan Morris and Raul Ruidiaz.
Roldan scored the first goal, Rudiaz the second, assisted by Morris, as the Sounders defeated the Timbers 2-1 in Portland and retained the Cascadia Cup, after winning it in 2018 in Vancouver. This title is also the first time in MLS history that Seattle won the Cascadia Cup in Portland specifically.
Being the first win in nearly a month, the Sounders leave Portland with tremendous momentum entering the final seven games of the regular season. For the moment, the club sits in second place in the Western Conference, above the Los Angeles Galaxy, Seattle's next opponent. That match will be Sunday, September 1 with kickoff scheduled for 3:00 p.m. at CenturyLink Field.
Yes, some wins matter more than others. After a turbulent month, the Sounders seem to have turned their season back around for the better with an emotional, Cup-clinching, gritty win in the Rose City.
Below, listen to KJR's Postgame Show after the 2-1 win over the Timbers, highlights from the match, and the Cascadia Cup celebration.