The Seattle Sounders enter Week 31 in sixth place in the Western Conference, four points above the playoff line with five matches remaining. Statistically, the Sounders have the easiest remaining schedule of any team in Major League Soccer, with their final five opponents having a combined Points Per Game average of just 0.9.
Here is a quick overview of who the Sounders have left.
Saturday, Sept. 29 — Home vs. the Colorado Rapids
1 p.m. PT | JOEtv, YouTube TV, Univision-Seattle, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS
The Sounders host the already-eliminated Rapids on Saturday looking to get back on track as the season winds down. Seattle has lost its last two matches after rattling off an MLS-record nine-match winning streak and will have a massive opportunity against a team that has lost five consecutive games. Seattle defeated Colorado 2-1 on July 4 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park behind a brace from Will Bruin and one the saves of the year from Stefan Frei. In a noteworthy roster move, the Rapids traded forward Dominique Badji to FC Dallas in exchange for midfielder Kellyn Acosta since that meeting. Three points is almost a must at home for the Sounders as they look to secure a spot in the postseason for the 10th consecutive season.
Sounders celebrate their 2017 Western Conference title win over the Houston Dynamo | Dan Poss
Monday, Oct. 8 — Home vs. the Houston Dynamo
7:30 p.m. PT | JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS
Oct. 8 will be the first of two meetings with the Dynamo in less than two weeks and their first matchup since the Sounders knocked off Houston 5-0 on aggregate last year in the Western Conference Championship. The Dynamo are still alive for the postseason, but they would need a major turnaround and a lot of help to get there. Houston just captured its first U.S. Open Cup title on Wednesday in a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Union and actually sport a plus-four goal differential, the only positive GD of any team below the playoff line in either conference. But the Dynamo have been undone on the road this year, winning only once in 14 matches with a 1-8-5 record.
Wednesday, Oct. 17 — Away at Orlando City SC
4:30 p.m. PT | Orlando City Stadium | JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM
Directly following a FIFA international break, the Sounders head cross country to take on Orlando City SC, the last place team in the East. The Lions have the league’s worst defense, having allowed 66 goals in 29 matches (2.28/game), and the worst goal differential (-26). They are led offensively by Dom Dwyer (12 goals) and Yoshi Yotún (10 assists), but they have only one win in their previous 20 matches, compiling a total of just six points out of a possible 60.
Sunday, Oct. 21 — Away at the Houston Dynamo
2 p.m. PT | BBVA Compass Stadium | JOEtv, YouTube TV, Univision-Seattle, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM
The second of two matches against the Dynamo this season, the Sounders head to Houston on short rest in their final road match of the year. Mauro Manotas leads the Dynamo with 14 goals, not including two he had in Wednesday’s Open Cup final win, but Houston has only won once in its last 12 league matches (1-7-4).
Raúl Ruidíaz celebrates his first Sounders goal in a win over San Jose on July 25 | Maciek Gudrymowicz
Sunday, Oct. 28 — Home vs. the San Jose Earthquakes
1:30 p.m. PT | JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS
The Sounders host the Earthquakes on Decision Day in a match that may very well have direct implications on playoff seeding, or if the Sounders qualify for the postseason at all. San Jose is the league’s worst team, owning only 20 points from 30 matches and having only won four times all year. Half of the Quakes’ wins have come on the road, and they have a -18 goal differential with 63 goals allowed, second in MLS behind only Orlando City. Despite having two double-digit goalscorers in Danny Hoesen (12) and Vako (10), San Jose was eliminated from playoff contention weeks ago and parted ways with Head Coach Mikael Stahre, who was in just his first season. The Sounders defeated the Earthquakes 1-0 on July 25 behind Raúl Ruidíaz’s first club goal.
