It’s a detectable difference. Bouncing out of bed on match day with belief is much better hitting the floor with faint hope.
That’s the big, big difference between Monday’s series-deciding clash at the CLink and those home playoffs that came before it.
For the first time in the MLS era of the Sounders, they are playing a second leg at home without the handicap of a deficit. In fact, Seattle is an away goal to the good following the first-leg draw to FC Dallas. So, if nothing moves the nets, that’s good enough.
In the postseason, it’s all about surviving and advancing to play another day. Ultimately, that’s the name of the game: Taking care of business. There are no style points.