Sounders FC vs. FC Dallas
MLS Cup Playoffs - Western Conference Semifinals
Sunday, November 2; 6:00 pm PT; Toyota Stadium
TV/Radio: ESPN2; KIRO Radio 97.3 FM; ESPN Deportes Radio, 1490 AM (Spanish)
Head Coach Sigi Schmid has constantly said since training camp that this year’s Sounders FC squad is much different than previous years. Not only are there plenty of new faces, but team chemistry is at an all-time high.
By earning the No. 1 seed in the formidable Western Conference, Schmid’s team proved that statement to be true. The Sounders set numerous club and MLS records this season en route to their first Supporters’ Shield. If they can complete the first-ever Ameican treble by winning MLS Cup, this group will have earned the right to be called the best team in league history.
Seattle’s quest for its third trophy of the year begins Sunday night at FC Dallas in the first leg of the Conference Semifinals. Coming off what Schmid referred to as the biggest win in club history, Sounders FC is hungry for more.
“It’s not enough right now because Sigi said we have to be greedy,” forward Obafemi Martins said. “We have to try and win MLS Cup.”
It won’t be easy for the Sounders to make it out of the Western Conference, but they do have a couple of advantages in the Semifinal series with Dallas.
On Friday the MLS Disciplinary Committee suspended FC Dallas midfielder Mauro Diaz for Sunday’s first leg. Diaz had a trio of goals and assists during an injury-plagued regular season, and the Argentine played a substantial role in his team’s 2-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the Knockout Round.
Furthermore, Wednesday’s Knockout Round match gives Seattle an edge in regard to fitness. Last season the Sounders were the ones in the Western Conference who had to commence the Semifinals a few days after winning the Knockout Game.
“At the end of the year, the last thing you want to do is play another 90-minute game,” Seattle captain Brad Evans said. “For us, it’s a testament to the guys fighting to the last minute. …It’s a good mindset. It’s a good thing to put in the back of your head that we’ll be fresh for this game.”
Evans also noted the importance of finding the back of the net in Sunday’s first leg. MLS has implemented the away-goals rule for this year’s playoffs, meaning the team that scores the most goals on the road in the home-and-home series would move on in the case of a tie on aggregate scoring.
This new system could benefit the Sounders, who scored seven more goals in regular-season road matches than any other team in MLS.
“It’s not like you’re going to throw everything forward looking for goals because you’re away from home,” Schmid said. “…The main thing is coming out of game one, making sure that you have a chance to win it all in game two.”
Game one should feature a fully healthy Seattle lineup, as Evans and center back Chad Marshall are expected to play after suffering minor injuries last weekend.
Sunday’s match is scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. PT and will be televised nationally on ESPN2.
