The L.A. Galaxy have won Major League Soccer's Supporters Shield, the trophy awarded to the team with the best record throughout the season. With their win over FC Dallas, the Galaxy become Seattle's first opponents in the MLS playoff race, welcoming the team to Qwest on Sunday, October 31.
After the match in Seattle, the Sounders will travel to the Home Depot Center for the second half of their two-legged tie with the Galaxy. The winner will be the team that scores the most over both legs, something Seattle fans are quite familiar with. Last season, the Sounders went into the playoffs pitted against the Houston Dynamo. The teams left Seattle goalless and traveled to Houston, where the match remained scoreless in regular time, forcing overtime to be played in front of the Houston crowd. The Dynamo scored, Seattle didn't, and Houston went on to be defeated by the Galaxy.
Should the Sounders beat the Galaxy over both legs, they'll likely meet Real Salt Lake next, at Rio Tinto Stadium in a one-match playoff. Salt Lake and FC Dallas meet on Saturday for their first leg , and odds are that the defending MLS champions will knock Dallas out of the race.
Real Salt Lake may not be a team the Sounders want to face at home, but it's better than getting dumped out of the race in the first round. So, Happy Halloween, everyone! Here's a hint: Don't come dressed as Landon Donovan.