Monday’s Western Conference Semifinal with FC Dallas is more than just a playoff match for Sounders FC. It’s going to define the season to this point.
The club, which enjoyed a record-setting regular season that included a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title and a Supporters’ Shield, could either continue its path towards an unprecedented treble or see itself eliminated from the postseason.
Sounders Head Coach Sigi Schmid knows that the onus is on his side to protect its very slim advantage with a hungry FC Dallas needing goals.
“Dallas needs to score,” Schmid said after training on Thursday. “There’s no way they’re going to advance unless they get at least a goal. So we know at some point – whether it’s early, whether it’s late – they’ve got to open up, they’ve got to take risks. And that makes it easier for us in terms of being able to find some space on the other end of the field.”
After a hotly-contested 1-1 draw in Frisco on Sunday, Seattle goes into Leg Two with the upper hand due to the away-goals rule that’s been newly-implemented into the MLS Cup Playoffs this year. Because of this, forward Clint Dempsey anticipates a pretty open affair at CenturyLink Field.
“Yeah, I think at some point,” said Dempsey on whether the match will be attacking in nature. “But we have to be smart about how we approach the game and how we play and manage it in the right way. But I think if we can play to the best of our ability, we’ll get the right result.”
With Monday’s visitors needing goals, the Sounders back line will be tasked with slowing down the likes of Fabian Castillo and Andres Escobar, two FCD attackers who saw plenty of the ball in the First Leg of the series.
“I definitely think that they try to get those guys the ball,” said defender Chad Marshall of the forward pair. “It’s definitely something they game plan for. We just need to play honest defense. We know when those guys get the ball in certain situations, we need to double.”
The shots will be flying around the Xbox Pitch on Monday, and the Sounders know what’s at stake - a spot in the Western Conference Finals for only the second time in club history.
They will be ready.
“It’s halftime and the score’s 1-1,” Schmid said of the series. “But we’re coming into our field and we’re playing at home, so we’re anxious and excited about that.”
Kickoff is slated for 7:30pm PT on Nov. 10 with live television coverage on NBCSN.
