A long, hard year ended on a long, bad night in Columbus, as the Crew dominated the Sounders 3-0 for the MLS Cup. “A failure,” said coach Brian Schmetzer.
Author: Andrew Harvey
Andrew Harvey
A lifelong student of soccer whose passion for it outstrips his ability, Harvey is happy to return to the Cascadian mecca of The Beautiful Game. A Seattle native, Harvey was lured into the field of sports media by the high salaries and fast cars that are all too commonplace for sportswriters. As a student at Carleton (MN.) College, he worked as a writer, broadcaster and producer for the sports information department. Harvey graduated from Carleton magna cum laude in history and theatre in 2015. Harvey also worked for the North American Soccer League’s Minnesota United FC, contributing to televised broadcasts from the control room. After completing an internship with Sportspress Northwest, he covers the Sounders and UW men’s basketball as well as contributing coverage on the Seahawks and Mariners.
The championship sensibility was clear as Sounders buried a 2-0 deficit with a three-goal onslaught in the final 20 minutes to stun Minnesota and advance to the MLS Cup again.
If Seattle’s playoff win over LAFC was a chance to celebrate its show horses, the plaudits for Tuesday’s 1-0 win over FC Dallas went to its workhorses on the back line.
LAFC had plans for revenge. But as with most things in 2020, plans were thwarted. The Sounders again had their way, 3-1, in the Western Conference playoffs Tuesday.
A 4-1 win over San Jose on Decision Day allowed Seattle to recapture some swagger and end a bizarre regular season. No. 2 Seattle will face No. 7 LAFC on Nov. 24.
Despite Real Salt Lake’s dominance in possession, Seattle’s offense broke through against RSL’s retiring goalie Nick Rimando to advance to the Western Conference final.
11 MLS seasons, 11 playoffs for Sounders. The No. 2 seed Saturday hosts No. 7 Dallas, which in two matches vs. SEA, never scored a goal itself, yet didn’t lose.
After a short offseason shaking off the MLS Cup failure in 2017, the Sounders are back with seven new players to start the MLS season Sunday.
An improved scouting network, a center back from South Korea, and a freed-up international player slot illustrate a fresh Sounders plan to go global.
The Sounders began roster makeover this week, exercising 11 contract options and acquiring Waylon Francis from Columbus. Backup GK Tyler Miller was lost in the expansion draft.