SB Nation Seattle - Seattle Sounders vs. Vancouver Whitecaps: "Honors" Even In 0-0 Drawhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48997/seattle-fave.png2012-10-15T11:49:25-07:00http://seattle.sbnation.com/rss/stream/31949412012-10-15T11:49:25-07:002012-10-15T11:49:25-07:00Seattle 3rd in West with playoffs fast approaching
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<figcaption>Otto Greule Jr - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Seattle Sounders have already clinched a Western Conference playoff berth, and are now battling for seeding in the MLS postseason with two weeks left in the regular season.</p> <p>After taking the weekend off for international competition, the MLS returns with just two weeks remaining in the regular season. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> (52 points, 14-7-10) are currently in third place in the Western Conference standings, just three points out of second place but only two points ahead of the fourth place Los Angeles Galaxy.</p>
<p>The playoff picture in the Western Conference is basically set, with Seattle among four teams already clinching berths in the MLS postseason. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.centerlinesoccer.com/">San Jose Earthquakes</a> (64 points, 19-6-7 record) and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rslsoapbox.com/">Real Salt Lake</a> (55 points, 17-11-4 record) are the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the West, respectively. The <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://www.eightysixforever.com/">Vancouver Whitecaps</a> will try, in the final two weeks, to fight <a style="background-color: #ffffff;" href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/">FC Dallas</a> for the fifth and final playoff spot.</p>
<p>The Sounders will finish the regular season against Real Salt Lake, FC Dallas and Los Angeles.</p>
<p>The full MLS standings are below.</p>
<p><b>Western Conference</b></p>
<p>1) San Jose Earthquakes (64 points)<br>2) Real Salt Lake (55)<br>3) Seattle Sounders FC (52)<br>4) <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> (50)<br>5) Vancouver Whitecaps (42)<br>6) FC Dallas (38)<br>7) <a href="https://www.burgundywave.com/">Colorado Rapids</a> (31)<br>8) <a href="https://www.stumptownfooty.com/">Portland Timbers</a> (30)<br>9) <a href="https://delete.sbnprivate.com/">Chivas USA</a> (29)</p>
<p><b>Eastern Conference</b></p>
<p>1) <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebluetestament.com/">Sporting Kansas City</a> (59 points)<br>2) <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hottimeinoldtown.com/">Chicago Fire</a> (56)<br>3) <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.blackandredunited.com/">D.C. United</a> (54)<br>4) <a href="https://www.onceametro.com/">New York Red Bulls</a> (53)<br>5) <a href="https://www.dynamotheory.com/">Houston Dynamo</a> (50)<br>6) <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.massivereport.com/">Columbus Crew</a> (49)<br>7) <a href="https://www.mountroyalsoccer.com/">Montreal Impact</a> (41)<br>8) Philadelphia Union (36)<br>9) <a href="https://www.thebentmusket.com/">New England Revolution</a> (29)<br>10) <a href="https://www.wakingthered.com/">Toronto FC</a> (22)</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-sounders/2012/10/15/3507496/major-league-soccer-2012-standingsT.J. Doyle2012-10-01T09:22:46-07:002012-10-01T09:22:46-07:00Seattle Sounders finishing season strong
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<p>With four matches remaining on their MLS schedule, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> (49 points, 13-7-10 record) are in fourth place in the Western Conference and have already secured a spot in the playoffs.</p>
<p>The Sounders are one of four teams in the Western Conference to have already secured a playoff spot. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.centerlinesoccer.com/">San Jose Earthquakes</a> (61 points, 18-6-7 record), <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rslsoapbox.com/">Real Salt Lake</a> (52 points, 16-11-4 record) and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> (50 points, 15-11-5) are the other four. Only one Eastern Conference team – <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebluetestament.com/">Sporting Kansas City</a> – has clinched a spot.</p>
<p>The Sounders have closed the season strong with 5-1-3 record over their last nine matches, with their only loss coming at the hands of the Western Conference-leading Earthquakes.</p>
<p>Three of their final four matches will be at home, including their next match against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stumptownfooty.com/">Portland Timbers</a> on Sunday. The Sounders final three matches of the year will be against Real Salt Lake, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/">FC Dallas</a> and the LA Galaxy.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-sounders/2012/10/1/3438064/major-league-soccer-2012-standingsRonald Clark2012-09-29T20:38:29-07:002012-09-29T20:38:29-07:00Sounders, Whitecaps Grind Out 0-0 Draw
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/">Seattle Sounders</a> continued a rather drab run of games to close out the month of September, escaping BC Place with a point after watching a last-second effort from Camillo Sanvezzo miss the post by inches with the game's final kick. Seattle was the better side in the early stages, but the game was largely even at the break and the second half was dominated by the Whitecaps. This was a typical rivalry game; big on physical play and jawing, lacking in chances and flowing attacking moves. Even when one side was on top of the other in terms of the run of play, dangerous looks were few and far between.</p>
<p>Neither side will likely be happy with a point; though it does give the Sounders a place in the playoffs, it won't move them up the table and could very well put them in a hole if the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a> can beat the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.burgundywave.com/">Colorado Rapids</a> on Sunday night. Vancouver could have put some real daylight between themselves and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/">FC Dallas</a> for the final playoff spot with a win, but instead they will remain well within striking distance. The Whitecaps are also eliminated from Cascadia Cup contention, while the Sounders will need a win against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stumptownfooty.com/">Portland Timbers</a> next week as well as a a result for the Whitecaps in order to hang on to the trophy and local bragging rights.</p>
<p>Perhaps most disappointing of all for Seattle, the team appears to be cooling off with the playoffs just around the corner and a very tough run of games to close out the season. The Sounders took just 6 of a possible 15 points in September, and what was once a fairly comfortable lead over the Galaxy and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.rslsoapbox.com/">Real Salt Lake</a> has now vanished. Seattle will get a crack at both teams in October, but they'll significantly improved play if they hope to turn those games into a positive rather than a negative. Seattle's other remaining games are against the Timbers and FC Dallas, and though the Sounders will be favored in each they both look to be far from a sure thing given the way the team has been playing as of late. If this is just a bump on the road, it's far from the worst thing. But if this slump continues to stretch into October, the road to the MLS Cup could be much bumpier than it once would have seemed.</p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-sounders/2012/9/29/3431104/vancouver-whitecaps-seattle-sounders-reviewAaron Campeau2012-09-28T18:52:25-07:002012-09-28T18:52:25-07:00Whitecaps Host Sounders In Cascadia Clash
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<figcaption>Nick Didlick - Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The Cascadia Cup looks to be headed down to the wire, and the Sounders have the chance to eliminate Vancouver from the competition with a draw or a win on Saturday night. But Seattle fighting for playoff positioning and the Whitecaps just hoping to stay alive, both teams have more to be concerned with than local bragging rights.</p> <p><span id="internal-source-marker_0.8521296191029251">Much of the attention in the build up to Saturday evening's clash between the <a href="https://www.eightysixforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Vancouver Whitecaps</a> and the <a href="https://www.sounderatheart.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Seattle Sounders</a> has been focused on the long-standing rivalry between the two sides and the potential impact of the results on the Cascadia Cup standings. And to be certain, those are both compelling and important (to those involved, at least) storylines. But in terms of the big picture, they're of secondary importance. With just 4 regular season games remaining for the Whitecaps and 5 still to play for the Sounders the MLS season is very much in the home stretch, and neither side can afford a loss with the playoff race heading down to the wire.<br><br>Though the Sounders have yet to clinch playoff qualification, it would take a monumental collapse to keep them out of the postseason for a fourth consecutive season. But in a season that looked at one time to hold promise of a Supporters Shield run, qualification isn't enough. After enduring playoff disappointment three years in a row, the Sounders and their fans are desperate for more. Were the season to end today, that would be a difficult hill to climb; Seattle currently occupies 4th place in the Western Conference, meaning they would need to beat the 5th seed in a mid-week one-off game to even have a chance to improve on their previous playoff showings. Thankfully for Seattle, the season doesn't end today; Seattle trails both the Galaxy and <a href="https://www.rslsoapbox.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Real Salt Lake</a> by a point, but they also hold a game in hand and have another crack at each team in the season's final month. But a game in hand isn't the same as points in hand, and it's vitally important that the Sounders keep pace with their opposition.<br><br>On the opposite side of things, the Whitecaps would likely be ecstatic to see the season draw to a close without any more games taking place. While it once looked as though Vancouver's place in the postseason was all but a given, a bad stretch that began in mid-July has gotten progressively worse and the Whitecaps find themselves winless in six and just two points ahead of <a href="https://www.bigdsoccer.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">FC Dallas</a> for the final playoff spot. While correlation does not prove causation and hindsight will always be 20/20, the mid-season shakeup that was met with some confusion while it was occurring increasingly appears to have been a complete disaster. New signings <span>Kenny Miller</span> and <span>Andy O'Brien</span> have not had the desired impact, and though <span>Dane Richards</span> has played well it would be difficult to imagine that Vancouver wouldn't be better off with <span>Sebastien Le Toux</span>. And though time might show Martin Rennie's approach to be correct, for Vancouver miss the playoffs given the advantage they once held would be an enormous disappointment. <br><br>The Sounders ought to be very close to full strength for the first time in several games, with <span>Mauro Rosales</span> looking very likely to make the start and <span>Eddie Johnson</span> returning from suspension. Defender <span>Patrick Ianni</span> is unlikely to make the starting XI due to an adductor strain suffered last weekend against the Earthquakes, but given Seattle's tendency to rotate at centerback it's an absence that likely won't cause as many problems as might typically be expected. Vancouver will likely be missing only one regular, but the absence is a rather big one as Dane Richards will be serving a suspension for yellow card accumulation.<br><br>Given Vancouver's horrible form of late the Sounders will enter the game as favorites, but it's never so simple in this league, especially with the rivalry taken into the equation. The Whitecaps are clearly struggling, but they're not nearly as bad a team as their recent record would suggest and slumps can end at any given time. Seattle having their full complement of attacking options is a major boost, but merely having them on the pitch will not be enough in-and-of itself. The Sounders defense will need to tighten up and improve on their recent efforts, while the attack will need to click in spite of not playing together as a unit for nearly three weeks. The time for this team to come together and unleash its full potential is running short, and any delays could end up costing them dearly. </span></p>
https://seattle.sbnation.com/seattle-sounders/2012/9/28/3426268/seattle-sounders-vs-vancouver-whitecaps-preview-cascadia-cupAaron Campeau