UPDATED:
Following Real Salt Lake's 1-1 draw with the LA Galaxy Saturday evening, the Sounders can clinch their ninth consecutive playoff berth with a win vs. Philadelphia Union today at Talen Energy Stadium (10 a.m. PT; ESPN, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM). If the Sounders can grab all three points and secure a playoff berth in the 2017 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, it would mark the longest active playoff streak in Major League Soccer.
After their resounding 3-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday, the Seattle Sounders can book their ninth consecutive trip to the MLS Cup Playoffs this weekend. Here’s the scenario:
- Sounders win over the Philadelphia Union AND Houston Dynamo lose to Minnesota United OR Real Salt Lake draw or lose vs. the LA Galaxy.
- Sounders draw with the Philadelphia Union AND Real Salt Lake lose to the LA Galaxy AND the San Jose Earthquakes draw or lose vs. the Portland Timbers.
Here is how the Western Conference standings look heading into the final weekend before the FIFA international break:
A win over Philly would guarantee that Seattle finishes with no fewer than 50 points. A Houston loss means it can finish with no more than 49 points even if it wins its final three matches. San Jose can also finish with no more than 48 points even if it wins its final three matches.
The Sounders enter this weekend with a 99-percent chance to qualify for the postseason, according to ESPN’s Soccer Power Index, and a 34-percent chance to earn one of the two first-round byes.
