The first home playoff match of the 2014 season comes to CenturyLink Field on Monday, and the Sounders cannot wait to get it going.
FC Dallas will be the opponent as the Texas club returns to Seattle for the first time since May 7. On that occasion, the Sounders came out victorious with a 2-1 win on goals from Lamar Neagle and Kenny Cooper.
That’s all ancient history now though, as both teams have a lot more at stake on Monday - namely a spot in the Western Conference Finals to face either the LA Galaxy or Real Salt Lake.
Here are four things you can expect from the contest.
1. Seattle Has The Advantage - Going into the second leg, the Sounders have the slight edge over Dallas due to the away-goals rule favoring Ozzie Alonso’s tally in Frisco on Sunday. It means that if Seattle holds Dallas scoreless or wins the match by any margin, Sigi Schmid’s men will advance. Not a bad position to be in.
2. Dallas Is Going To Come Out Flying - The Hoops need goals. That much is clear. One away goal at CenturyLink Field and all the Sounders’ hard work in Frisco goes out the window. Two goals? That would make things even more interesting. With the likes of Fabian Castillo, Blas Perez and Andres Escobar ready and willing to get forward and catalyst Mauro Diaz returning from suspension, FCD boss Oscar Pareja is not short of attacking options.
3. The Counterattack Will Be On - Relating directly to point No. 2, the Sounders will have the ability to break on Dallas given how much the visitors will be pushing forward to get goals. Coincidentally, counterattacking is one of the things the Sounders do really well. Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins are the two main men that Dallas will focus on, but if Seattle can get some width on the break through Neagle, Marco Pappa and even DeAndre Yedlin, that could lead to even more opportunities at the right end of the pitch.
4. CenturyLink Field Will Be Rocking - You know it. We know it. The team knows it. There is simply no better place to watch a soccer match in North America, and with the game being officially tabbed as a sellout, the atmosphere is going to be really special. Throw in the fact that Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready will be performing the National Anthem and the club is coordinating a massive card stunt, and the crowd will be rocking as the match gets underway.
Kickoff from the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field is set for 7:30pm PT with television coverage on NBC Sports Network.
