As the Seattle Sounders enter the final stretch of the regular season, every point matters with postseason play on the horizon.
“It's an exciting time if you're a soccer fan,” said Head Coach Brian Schmetzer.
The next five days are especially crucial as the team visits the Vancouver Whitecaps (7:30 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360AM) on Wednesday and the Colorado Rapids (6:30 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360AM) on Saturday in a two-match week that could determine playoff seeding.
“Certainly we'd like to [finish] business at one of these couple road games, and make sure we do the business at home against Portland [on Oct. 19], but they're all [going to be] hard games,” said Schmetzer.
The Sounders enter the midweek fixture on 50 points, just three ahead of Vancouver in the Western Conference standings, making Wednesday’s match a must-win for the Seattle side.
“The [players] obviously see the standings like everybody else,” said Schmetzer. “One loss, one win, you know, depending on other results…. Right now, this time of the year, performance is critical.”
A win at BC Place will give the Sounders the upper hand heading into Saturday’s match against the Rapids, who are currently tied on points with the Rave Green.
“The team is very united, so hopefully we'll get two big results,” said Vargas.
Positive outcomes in Vancouver and Colorado will not only extend the Sounders’ current momentum from Saturday’s playoff-clinching win over the Houston Dynamo, the team will also be in position to secure home-field advantage in the postseason.
“We're hopefully looking to get in third, second, wherever we can, as high as we can,” said Vargas. “It's going to be difficult and we're going to have to grind it out, but I think we're ready for that.”
Every match matters as the regular season comes to a close, beginning with Seattle’s Cascadia Rivalry match on Wednesday.
“Last year, we had a good result up there,” said Schmetzer. “We're going to hopefully do the same [tomorrow].”
Along with potential shifts in playoff scenarios, three points in Wednesday night’s match-up against the Whitecaps will put Seattle one step closer to a Cascadia Cup title. If the Sounders come out victorious over Vancouver and finish on top against the Timbers on Decision Day, they will win the regional trophy for the first time since 2021.
“Any time we play Vancouver and Portland, we have that extra edge,” said Vargas. “We want to win every game, especially against those two.”
