Sounders won’t ease up during final playoff game with FC Dallas

FRISCO, Texas – The Western Conference semifinal series between the Seattle Sounders and FC Dallas isn’t over, as much as it might seem that way.

The two Major League Soccer teams will play 90 more minutes Sunday night at Toyota Stadium. They might even tack on another half-hour, should Dallas manage to score three unanswered goals.

It isn’t over.

That has been the message all week from Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer – interim no longer – and he isn’t, technically, wrong. That he’s taking injured center back Roman Torres to Frisco at all is an indication of how serious Seattle is taking the second-and-final leg of this home-and-home, total-goals series.

It isn’t over. But let’s put it this way: Only a meltdown of the highest order would prevent the Sounders from securing the third MLS conference-final berth in team history.

Seattle takes a 3-0 lead into the second leg, having overwhelmed Dallas with three goals in 8 minutes at CenturyLink Field last weekend. Nicolas Lodeiro scored twice. Nelson Valdez, postseason specialist, bagged the other.