Sounders get 'incredible opportunity' in do-or-die playoff game vs … – The Seattle Times

TUKWILA — Everything is on the line for the Seattle Sounders on Friday night. 
If the No. 2-seeded Sounders beat No. 7 FC Dallas at Lumen Field in the decisive Game 3 of their MLS playoff series, they will advance to play Los Angeles FC in a knockout match in the Western Conference semifinals. If they lose, their season is done. 
Talk about high stakes. 
After their disappointing 3-1 loss in Game 2 in Dallas on Saturday, Seattle comes in hoping to turn the page and finish the series with a victory in front of its home fans. It’s sure to be an electric, pressure-packed environment, but the Sounders have played in plenty of important matches before, and those experiences in do-or-die playoff games are a valuable resource as this year’s squad potentially advances deeper into the postseason. 
The Sounders are in an enviable position as the highest-seeded team remaining in the West, with three potential home games in front of them on the road to an MLS Cup appearance. As long as they keep winning, they’ll keep getting chances to play on their own turf.
“I think that’s such an incredible opportunity for us,” forward Jordan Morris said Thursday. “We’ve got to take it one game at a time. It all starts with Dallas. But I think guys are excited about that opportunity, obviously, and having the experience that we do playing in games like this, playing in front of our fans, we know how much that helps. I think experience is a big part of games like this. It’s nice to look at the guy next to you and know that they’re ready for the game, and I think we have that with the guys on our team.”
Seattle won the first game of the series back on Oct. 30, 2-0, but Dallas took advantage of a few Sounders mistakes in Game 2 to tie the series up. Morris, who scored a goal in both games, is excited for the Sounders to play this all-or-nothing match with the home crowd cheering them on once again. 
“Our goal was to finish it in Dallas; unfortunately, we weren’t able to do that,” Morris said. “But yeah, it’s a big game. I think that’s what this team is built for, though. You’ve seen in the past, we know the quality that we have. Getting to play at home is a huge advantage, so we’re really confident going into the game.”
Luckily for the Sounders, it sounds like the enthusiasm from their fan base is at an all-time high. Seattle always ranks toward the top of the league in attendance, and for a playoff game like this, head coach Brian Schmetzer has no doubt the stadium is going to be rocking with the season at stake. 
By Thursday afternoon, the Sounders estimated attendance was tracking toward more than 33,000 fans, with the lower bowl expected to be completely full. 
There were 30,741 people in attendance for Game 1 in Seattle, and 19,096 in the stands for the Dallas victory. 
“I’ve heard reports that single ticket sales have been off the charts, like more than even the first game,” Schmetzer said. “So thanks to all the single people that are coming out to watch a playoff game. … I heard that it’s impressive, that there’s a lot of individual tickets being sold, so good on the fans.”
The biggest challenge facing both teams is that this will be the third consecutive game that they’ve played each other, which happened thanks to the new playoff format the MLS instituted this season. 
Rather than the single-elimination format of year’s past, MLS playoff teams this year play a best-of-three first round series, followed by single-elimination matches in the conference semifinals, finals and MLS Cup. 
Seeing the same team so much in such a short time creates a level of familiarity that can be both a help and a hindrance. Teams get to know each other’s tendencies so well that adjusting quickly and making the right changes at the right time becomes absolutely crucial if they want keep playing deeper into November. 
The Sounders have made a few adjustments in the series already, and they know that they’ll have to do it again Friday to snag a victory and keep their championship dreams alive. 
“After the third game, both teams know each other pretty well,” Schmetzer said. “I mean, the tactical shifts that [Dallas coach] Nico [Estevez] made in his opening of the second game down there, we countered him a little bit at halftime, and I think those worked. And so yeah, I mean, we kind of know who they are, and they know who we are.”
Both Sounders players who had been dealing with nagging injuries are good to go for Friday night, according to Schmetzer. Midfielder Reed Baker-Whiting (hamstring) was a full participant in training, while João Paulo is expected to play after dealing with a sore knee earlier this week. 
“All of our guys are good. ” Schmetzer said after Thursday’s practice.
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