Now that the dust has settled, we can look back at the Seattle Sounders 2014 regular season as the most successful in club history and their quest for the cup. That includes 40 years of rivalry with the Vancouver Whitecaps and Portland Timbers, facing off against NASL giants, the New York Cosmos and Tampa Bay Rowdies, and nationally televised battles against the LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake. But this year, the Sounders have not only met the high expectations steeped upon them, they’ve exceeded them.
Sounders Dispatch: The Quest for the MLS Cup
But now it comes down to the playoffs; America’s favorite sporting event. Everyone loves the playoffs. It’s a place where the lowest seeded teams that somehow snuck into the picture can have a chance to come home with a championship. A place where new heroes are born and superstars are under the spotlight. As nice as a US Open Cup trophy is, and as superb as a Supporter’s Shield trophy is, there’s nothing quite like hoisting a championship trophy high above your head.
The Seattle Sounders, in order to really be considered an MLS superpower, need to win an MLS Cup. And this year, with clearly their strongest team ever, and before the league explodes to 20, then 22, then 24 teams over the next few years, is the best chance for the team to be crowned the league champion. Any observer of the Sounders will tell you; this is a different team than the last four versions. The attack is more fluid, and faster than anything that has been fielded in the Pacific Northwest before. The defense is starting to find their footing, at just the right time. And the players are motivated and driven to achieve that ultimate goal; an MLS Cup.
The first challenge this team will face is a surprisingly powerful FC Dallas team. Óscar Pareja has put together a fantastic first season in Frisco, Texas, and after knocking out the Whitecaps are ready to host the Supporter’s Shield Champions on Sunday. Behind the one-two punch of Blas Pérez and Fabián Castillo, they’ve chocked up some impressive results this year, including a 3-1 victory over Seattle in their last meeting. Their defense is very sound, and their playing style is very similar to the Sounders.
But Seattle has their own tag-team of Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins. And when they can’t get open, there’s always Marco Pappa, Lamar Neagle, Chad Barrett and Kenny Cooper. Gonzalo Pineda and Ozzie Alonso have formed an amazing tandem in the middle of the pitch, and Chad Marshall continues to impress as the heart of the back line. This team is built for the long-haul, and there is no doubt they know what they need to do to get to the finals.
The playoffs have already begun, but Sunday will mark the beginning of the long journey to the championship, and Seattle has been preparing for this the entire year. They’ll take nothing for granted, and will come flying out of the gates. So sit back and enjoy the ride, because win or lose, it’s sure to be quite the two months.
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Main Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images
