Saturday's important win -- aren't they all -- over the Vancouver Whitecaps has the Seattle Sounders two points out of a tie for second place in Major League Soccer's Western Conference, with Real Salt Lake the team now in the Sounders' sights.
The Sounders' win over one of their Cascadia rivals gave them 40 points and third place ahead of Vancouver and the Los Angeles Galaxy, who at 37 points are tied for fourth. That the Whitecaps are still very much in contention for a playoff spot in August has to be a surprise, but the fact that Vancouver is in the hunt and trying to catch Seattle made the victory all the more important.
The Sounders (11-6-7) have played two fewer matches than Vancouver, Los Angeles and Real Salt Lake, another key advantage, though the Sounders will face additional matches with the CONCACAF Champions League tournament picking up steam.
Seattle travels to play Chivas USA this coming Saturday.