The Sounders dropped their fifth straight on Saturday, falling to eighth in the Western Conference table. What is going on with the once-Shield-contending side as they sink deeper into their current rut?
Any time the Timbers come to town, there is a chance for the best of heroic excellence. Instead, the Sounders delivered the worst of mind-boggling, titanic failure.
Everyone on this Sounders club has major aura, as they showed when they won an instant (albeit very messy) classic Heritage Cup match on Wednesday. The question is: can they take this all the way to the Shield?
Had he been a little more selfish, Cristian Roldan could have logged a hat trick by the 50th minute in Lumen Field on Saturday night. But as he showed why the USMNT needs him come June, his whole team showed why they're among the best in MLS.
Despite a two-goal loss in the first leg and a road score for Tigres UANL, the Sounders nearly came away with a semifinals berth in CCC. But the final cherry on top evaded them in the end, and though there were plenty of silver linings, it was an early exit for the dynasty-aspirant Seattle.