Sunday, October 22 2017
After a convincing 3 -0 win over Colorado FC, The Seattle Sounders claimed a top-two seed in the Western Conference and the Knockout Round bye that goes with it after wining the straightforward-seeming task of defeating the already-eliminated Colorado Rapids at home.
It was not that easy, however. The Rapids – though long-eliminated from contention in the race to the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs had taken a shine to the role of spoiler in recent weeks. They picked up seven points from their last three games, dealing serious blows to the playoff hopes of the Montreal Impact, FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake in the process.
The task for interim head coach Steve Cooke and his men will be significantly harder against the team that is firmly in the playoffs, though. The Sounders were unbeaten in their last 12 games at CenturyLink Field and they where fresh off a 4-0 pasting of FC Dallas in Week 32.
Though still missing a couple key contributors to injury in the form of Jordan Morris and Osvaldo Alonso, two 2017 additions to the roster – Gustav Svensson and Victor Rodriguez – have stepped up to keep the Rave Green machine rolling ahead of the playoffs. Sounders have therefore shown their legitimate hunger to defend their MLS tittle for a repeat.
