Sounders Still One Win Away from the Postseason
By Ben Renner
Despite their loss on the road against FC Dallas last weekend, the Sounders are still a win away from the postseason for the seventh straight year.
Even though Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer fell to 7-2-4 after taking over for Sigi Schmid with a heartbreaking loss to FC Dallas last weekend, the Sounders still control their own fate heading into their season finale against Real Salt Lake in a full-stadium Decision Day match at CenturyLink Field.
The Sounders nearly came away with a point on the road against FC Dallas after Herculez Gomez appeared to score in the 33rd minute. The referee called the Sounders for interference and waved the goal off. It would have been a point-giving goal in an eventual 2-1 loss.
But despite the ups and downs of the season, littered with bad calls, injuries, the loss of Clint Dempsey to heart complications, and the firing of the head coach, the Sounders can still return to the postseason by maintaining their position in fifth place in the Western Conference.
All that lies in their way is Real Salt Lake. Nicolas Lodeiro has been a revelation for the Sounders in their late-season revival. He scored again last weekend and will be a pivotal player again for Seattle in the season finale.
Dallas scored two late goals to take the match at home against Seattle, which could have been a season-ender if it wasn’t for the Schmetzer, Lodeiro, and the comeback kids. They need to continue to piece together an offense without their longtime star Dempsey and avoid late-game letdowns in the future to beat Real Salt Lake and return to the playoffs.
Seattle will play Salt Lake at 1 p.m., along with all the other kickoffs in MLS on the final day of the season, or Decision Day, as the league would have me call it. Scarves up!