A pivotal, down-to-the-wire October finish against the LA Galaxy in front of a full-stadium CenturyLink Field crowd? Is the year 2014?
Although it didn’t result in the club’s first Supporters’ Shield trophy like last season, Sounders FC’s 1-1 draw against the Galaxy on October 4 gave the Rave Green valuable positioning with two matches left in the 2015 campaign. Although a couple scenarios could result in a postseason berth before this weekend’s match, the Sounders still control their own destiny.
While this feature is often jam-packed with nauseating numbers, the most significant figure at the moment is 3. Three points against the Houston Dynamo on Sunday secures the club’s seventh consecutive postseason berth.
SEASONAL SIZZLES
The Sounders (14-13-5, 47 points) are currently tied for fifth place in the Western Conference and remain three points above the postseason cutoff line. Three teams – FC Dallas, LA Galaxy and Vancouver Whitecaps FC – have clinched postseason berths, while Sporting Kansas City sits at 48 points with one game in hand. At 44 points, the San Jose Earthquakes are three points shy of playoff position.
Although the simplest way for the Rave Green to earn a spot in the postseason is with a win, it isn’t the only option this weekend. The Sounders would advance with a draw against the Dynamo and a San Jose draw with Sporting Kansas City on Friday. Or if the Sounders lose on Sunday and the Earthquakes are defeated by Sporting, Seattle will secure a postseason berth.
LAST WEEK’S LISTINGS
Due to a bye this past week, the Sounders most recently played in the aforementioned 1-1 draw against the Galaxy on October 4. The one-point result extended the club’s unbeaten streak to six league contests and seven across all competitions. It’s the ninth time the Sounders have strung together six consecutive unbeaten matches in MLS play and the longest since a 5-0-1 stretch from April 5 – May 7, 2014.
In a reserve role, forward Chad Barrett scored the equalizer three minutes into second-half stoppage time for the club’s latest goal in league action this season. It was the eighth time since 2009 that Sounders FC has scored three minutes into second half stoppage time or later (last: Marco Pappa, 90+5’ vs. LA, 10/25/2014). Barrett ranks third on the club with five goals this season.
The Sounders have recorded draws in two straight league matches for the first time since September 2013.
MATCHUP MASHUP
Next up, the Sounders face the Houston Dynamo, who are still clinging onto postseason hope with an 11-13-8 record. At 41 points, the Dynamo are tied with Real Salt Lake for eighth place in the Western Conference and are six points below Seattle and Portland for the sixth and final playoff position. In April, the Dynamo visited CenturyLink Field, with the hosts claiming a 1-0 victory on a goal by Obafemi Martins.
The Sounders hold a 5-3-2 advantage against the Dynamo, but have never won as the visiting side in the series. Seattle has recorded a 0-3-1 mark at Houston, having been outscored 9-4.
THROWBACK – August 23, 2009
In the Sounders first-ever contest at Houston, the Rave Green played to a 1-1 comeback draw against the league-leading Dynamo. Houston struck first on a goal from Geoff Cameron in the 36th minute, but Seattle’s Nate Jaqua tied the score in the second half for his seventh goal of the season.
In the 70th minute, James Riley brought the ball deep up the right side and sent a cross into the area. At the far side, Steve Zakuani headed it down to Jaqua at close range, who then placed it past the goalkeeper.
In that match, Roger Levesque made his first career MLS start in place of Fredy Montero, who was suspended due to yellow card accumulation. It served as the first and last time Sounders FC went home from Houston with points.
KEY TO THE GAME
Keep it in control. This applies to both the pace of the game and the postseason race as a whole, considering the Sounders can clinch a playoff spot with a win. Houston faces a must-win situation against a team it has had success against at home. Look for the Dynamo to aggressively seek out and take advantage of a Seattle backline that has been hampered with recent injuries to Oniel Fisher and Chad Marshall. Although the Sounders are 4-9-3 on the road this season, they have shined on national TV broadcasts with a 6-3-2 record. Fortunately for the Sounders faithful, this match is on ESPN.
