The last time the Seattle Sounders and Inter Miami faced each other, things got ugly.
A postgame scuffle in the Leagues Cup championship match Aug. 31 led to sanctions on both teams from both the tournament and Major League Soccer, most notably a three-game MLS suspension for Inter Miami superstar Luis Suarez.
The teams are bracing for what is now a very anticipated rematch Tuesday night in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., which could have major ramifications on each team’s MLS playoff seeding.
Seattle pulled away from Miami in the second half that night at home to win 3-0 and secure its first Leagues Cup title. Suarez was suspended for spitting on a member of the Sounders’ staff and will be serving the second match of his league sanction Tuesday.
The Sounders (12-7-9, 45 points) returned to MLS action Saturday night with a 2-2 draw against the Los Angeles Galaxy. Seattle sits in fourth place in the Western Conference and is trying to solidify a top-four spot in order to earn home-field advantage in the first round.
Multiple Seattle starters, including Jordan Morris, Joao Paulo, Albert Rusnak and goalkeeper Stefan Frei, are nearing returns from injury.
“I’ve just reminded those players that the strength of this team is the collective,” Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. “That’s the best thing they can do is push their teammates and if they’re not in the group, train hard to be ready for your opportunity.”
Inter Miami (13-6-7, 46 points) fell 3-0 to FC Charlotte on Saturday and slipped to eighth place in the East. The lopsided loss included a rare penalty kick miss by Lionel Messi.
Although Miami still has four games in hand on the top four teams in the East and at least three more to play than the top six teams, the margin for error is shrinking.
“Of course, it worries me. We lost 3-0 and we felt coming into (Saturday’s game) we would play well and earn three points and generate confidence,” coach Javier Mascherano said. “Unfortunately, that didn’t happen. A lot of times lately, we lose our shape too early and that’s giving our opponents plenty of opportunities.”
–Field Level Media
