What a night!
Thursday’s 3-0 win over the Houston Dynamo at CenturyLink Field featured so many storylines, it’s hard to grasp everything that just happened. From a Macklemore “Scarves Up!” to a trophy raise from Schmetz, let’s rewind one of the most memorable nights in club history. In chronological order, let’s go!
1. A GLORIOUS “Scarves Up!”
Hip-hop superstar Macklemore was in the building on Thursday, supporting his hometown club. He got the party started with a memorable “Scarves Up” rallying cry before the match.
2. Stef sets the record
It’s been a long time since the Sounders allowed a goal in the playoffs. Like, a realllly long time. In the seventh minute, Stefan Frei broke the MLS record for consecutive scoreless minutes in the postseason. After the ensuing shutout, Frei has an individual record of 557 consecutive minutes. As a club, the Sounders haven’t allowed a goal since the first half of the first leg of the 2016 Western Conference Championship – more than six-and-a-half matches ago.
3. Rodríguez strikes early
Midfielder Víctor Rodríguez put the Sounders on the board in the 22nd minute, giving the Rave Green a crucial tally to run the aggregate score to 3-0.
4. Clint extends his record
No Sounder has scored more postseason goals than Clint Dempsey, who recorded his sixth career tally in the MLS Cup Playoffs in the 57th minute. His three goals in the 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs match Nicolás Lodeiro’s club-record scoring output from the 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs.
5. The Bear gets another
With his second goal in as many matches, Will Bruin now has the second-most postseason goals among active MLS players (Leader: Bradley Wright-Phillips, nine). He is off to his third MLS Cup appearance after playing in two with the Houston Dynamo.
6. Jordan Morris returns
Seattle’s homegrown son made his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury against the LA Galaxy on Sept. 10. He came on in the 76th minute for Joevin Jones, who played at CenturyLink Field for the final time. The dynamic left back is off to Germany at the end of the season.
7. Back-to-Back!
With a dominant 5-0 aggregate over the victory, the stage is set for a rematch of the 2016 MLS Cup. We all remember how that ended :)
8. Deuce and Mazinger embraced
MAZINGER AND DEUCE! pic.twitter.com/CWpdlBsGVR
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) December 1, 2017
It was amazing.
9. Deuce and Mazinger danced
It was REALLY amazing.
10. Players took turns hoisting the Western Conference trophy
Naturally, it ended with Head Coach Brian Schmetzer.
A moment we’ll never forget.
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) December 1, 2017
Our coach. Our supporters. Our CUP. #DefendOurCuppic.twitter.com/1SuymeB3Sk
11. The crowd was epic
It was the second-largest postseason crowd in club history. What an incredible way to end the 2017 home slate. Including the postseason, the Sounders went 14-1-5 at CenturyLink Field in MLS play. That one loss? Toronto. It had to be.
