Oct 19, 2014; Carson, CA, USA; Los Angeles Galaxy midfielder Marcelo Sarvas (8) and Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Aaron Kovar (11) fight for possesion of the ball during second half action at StubHub Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
It may have not gone the way we envisioned it, but the Seattle Sounders held on to beat Dallas and advance to play Los Angeles Galaxy after the international break. This match-up is great for the league, and not only because it keeps FC Penalty Kick (Sorry-FC Dallas) out of the playoffs.
Don’t get me wrong I believe Dallas will be a threat in years to come. But this year? Snore. Clone Fabian Castillo 10 times and then maybe we can talk.
MLS is poised for perhaps its most thrilling western conference final EVER (did I say ever? Yes I did. You didn’t read that wrong). Big crowds, drama, thrilling playing styles, story lines, goals, receding hairlines, you name it and MLS has got it.
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Los Angeles got to the Western Conference Final after a nail biter of a first leg; the second leg followed with a complete dismantling of Real Salt Lake.
Seattle had a little more trouble, having to play catch up ball with Dallas in the first match and holding them to a scoreless draw in the second, which was enough to send them through (thank you very much, away-goals rule).
The winner of this two-game series faces the victor of the Eastern Conference finals, either New York Red Bulls or New England Revolution; another series that has lots of promise. Given the pure firepower of Seattle and Los Angeles, however, many consider them to heavily outgun their Eastern Conference counterparts (I disagree but that’s for another time). So in many American soccer fans’ eyes, the winner of this series very well may be the ones hoisting MLS Cup in December (again, I disagree). Nonetheless, it’s important.