MLS Playoffs: Seattle Sounders Season Hanging By A Thread
The 2014 MLS Playoffs are slowly coming to an end. The Seattle Sounders are a mere 90 minutes away from being knocked out of the playoffs and seeing their dream season come to an end. Improvements must be made in order to advance to MLS Cup final. After playing 3,060 minutes during the regular season and another 270 minutes so far in the MLS Playoffs, the Seattle Sounders time on this 2014 season is coming to an end fast.
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It’s not as dire of a situation as it has been the last few years the Sounders returned home for the second leg of their series. In 2011 they went to Sandy, UT to face Real Salt Lake in the first leg of the Western Conference semi-finals and promptly got their rear-end kicked to the tune of a 3-0 defeat. They came home knowing they needed three to tie and four to win. They came close but fell just short and lost 3-2 on aggregate.
In 2012 they went to Carson, CA to take on the Los Angeles Galaxy and yet again found themselves on the end of another 3-0 beat down on the road. They came home and scored early and even had a goal taken off the board for an apparent off-sides (he was not). However, it was not to be as Adam Johansson was whistled for a hand ball in the box. Robbie Keane converted the penalty and the Galaxy went on to win 4-2 on aggregate.
This year the Sounders have home field advantage throughout the playoffs and were the beneficiary of the new away goals rule. They tied 1-1 on the road in Dallas and managed another tie, 0-0, at home and advanced by virtue of the one away goal they scored.
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Seattle traveled to Carson again to take on the Galaxy for the first leg of the Conference Finals on November 23rd and came away with just a 1-0 defeat. Yes, I said just a 1-0 defeat. The Sounders were playing without two of their starters and played a more defensive game then I expected. If it wasn’t for one unfortunate misdirection off of the leg of Chad Marshall, we could possibly be talking about a 0-0 score after leg one.
The Sounders had their chances early in the match and if it wasn’t for some nice saves from the Galaxy goalkeeper, Jaime Penedo, we could also be talking about a 1-1 score. But we are not and the Sounders are down one goal and must not concede at home. If the Sounders do concede at home, it will be next to impossible to score three goals against a very talented Galaxy squad. I’m not saying it can’t be done, but it will be extremely difficult.
Hell for all I know, the Sounders could come out and score four goals in the first half and coast to MLS Cup Final. The Sounders could also come out and give up three or four and be done before they even get started.
All I know is the Sounders have a guaranteed 90 minutes left in their season. If they don’t want to see it end prematurely, they need to give it all they got and not back down or have any mental mistakes. Bruce Arena will have his team ready. Will Sigi Schmid have the Seattle Sounders ready?
Will the Sounders beat the Galaxy? Let me know what you think in the poll below.