Seattle Sounders goalkeeper Michael Gspurning was sent off late, but the Colorado Rapids never mounted any serious opposition. Eddie Johnson scored late to clinch Seattle’s progression to the conference semifinals, where they meet Portland.
Sounders down Rapids to set up Cascadia series
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY SportsThat seven-match winless streak, over. Next up, the Timbers in one of MLS’s most anticipated playoff ties ever.
Sounders
Read Article >Sounders vs. Rapids: Lineups
Steven Bisig-USA TODAY SportsThe Seattle Sounders are winless in their last seven, and they better hope they can avoid it being winless in their last eight -- otherwise, their season will be over and Sigi Schmid could very well be out of a job. Such is the mood in Seattle, where they are hoping a playoff run can salvage a season that once was so bright and is now heading downhill quickly.
Things are much better for the Colorado Rapids, who are young and probably ahead of schedule, having made the playoffs in Year 1 under Oscar Pareja. Now they take that extreme talent and inexperience to CenturyLink Field, where they hope to be the kids spoiling the big boys’ party.
Read Article >Pressure on Sounders
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY SporAnd while Seattle’s excitement is usually followed by laughter or envy from the rest of the country, that wasn’t the case this time around. Dempsey’s signing made MLS’s 18 other clubs fearful of Seattle. The team, on paper, was a superpower.
1. Can Seattle get back on track? The Sounders are winless in seven straight so the fact that they still made the playoffs is rather extraordinary, but their season will end quickly if they can’t snap out of their funk. There were a handful of decent moments down the stretch and they closed the season with a fine match against the Galaxy, but they only managed a draw. When a home draw is all you have to show for your best performance in two months, you’re in trouble.
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