Sounders FC Hosts LA Galaxy in Regular Season Finale Sunday Night

Seattle will set MLS season attendance record for fifth straight year

Playoff-bound for the fifth consecutive season, Seattle Sounders FC readies for the regular season finale against the two-time defending MLS Cup champions LA Galaxy on Sunday night. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.

Sunday’s match will be nationally broadcast on ESPN with Adrian Healey, Taylor Twellman and Alexi Lalas calling the action. The match can also be heard on 97.3 FM with Ross Fletcher and Kasey Keller on the call.

Sounders FC (15-12-6, 51 points) sits fourth in the Western Conference, just three points behind leaders Real Salt Lake. Seattle clinched its fifth consecutive postseason berth on Sunday, becoming one of just three teams to reach the playoffs every season since 2009.

Amidst a four-game losing streak, Sounders FC returns to CenturyLink Field where it has the opportunity to post the best home record in club history. Seattle needs one more home point to set the top mark, which would rank second in MLS this season.

A win against the LA Galaxy on Sunday would secure a top three seed for Seattle, placing the club into the Western Conference Semifinal and avoiding the Knockout Round. A loss or draw would place Seattle in the Knockout Round as the fourth or fifth seed.

Sunday’s match will be played in front a raucous crowd at CenturyLink Field. With over 64,000 expected in attendance, Sounders FC will set a the MLS season attendance record for the fifth consecutive season. The match also marks the second time in two months that Seattle will host a crowd of over 60,000 for a regular season MLS match.

Riding a three-game unbeaten streak, the LA Galaxy (15-11-7, 52 points) are currently third in the West and will visit CenturyLink Field for the first time this season. Sounders FC battled to a 1-1 road draw in the previous meeting after dropping the first meeting of the season.

The Galaxy will visit El Salvador’s Metapan for the final group game of the CONCACAF Champions League on Thursday. Los Angeles won the previous three matches and have already clinched advancement to the tournament’s knockout stage.

The MLS Cup Playoffs begin on Wednesday, October 30, with the Knockout Round matches. Sounders FC will know its opponent, date and time of its first playoff game following Sunday’s match.

Sounders FC Competition Schedule (all times Pacific; subject to change)

Sunday, October 27, 6 p.m. – Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy

Sounders FC to Set Attendance Record on Sunday

With over 64,000 expected in attendance on Sunday evening, Sounders FC will set the MLS average attendance record for a fifth straight season. Seattle currently averages a league-best 42,652, and Sunday’s attendance will raise the average enough to best the 2012 mark of 43,144. Sounders FC has set the average attendance record in each of its first five seasons, and the 2013 average would rank in the top 10 in the English Premier League (6th), German Bundesliga (10th), Spanish La Liga (3rd) and Italy’s Serie A (3rd).

Attendance Averages – 2013 Season

Team GP Average Total

Sounders FC 16 42,652 682,436

Los Angeles 17 21,770 370,084

Portland 17 20,674 351,458

Montreal 17 20,603 350,259

Vancouver 16 20,041 320,653

Top-10 All-Time MLS Attendance Averages

Year Team Average

2012 Seattle Sounders FC 43,144

2011 Seattle Sounders FC 38,498

2010 Seattle Sounders FC 36,173

2009 Seattle Sounders FC 30,897

1996 Los Angeles Galaxy 28,916

2008 Los Angeles Galaxy 26,009

2007 Los Angeles Galaxy 24,252

2005 Los Angeles Galaxy 24,204

1996 MetroStars 23,898

2004 Los Angeles Galaxy 23,809



goalWA.net Local Soccer News is sponsored by Pro Roofing Northwest, Kirkland, Bellevue, Seattle, Redmond, Woodinville, Federal Way, Everett, Snohomish, Issaquah, Renton, Kent, Bothell, Edmonds Washington roofing company.

MLS Cup Playoffs: Seeding Scramble

Four of the five playoff spots in the Western Conference were secured last weekend as the Portland Timbers, Real Salt Lake, LA Galaxy and Seattle Sounders FC clinched postseason berths. The Colorado Rapids are currently fifth in the West, and San Jose has not yet been mathematically eliminated. If the season ended today, Sounders FC would host the Colorado Rapids in the Knockout Round with the winner facing Portland in the conference semifinal. The other semifinal would pit Real Salt Lake against the LA Galaxy. In the East, New York and Kansas City are the only teams to clinch a berth in the playoffs. Five teams (Montreal, Chicago, New England, Houston and Philadelphia) are vying for the final three spots. Just three points separates third-place Montreal and seventh-place Philadelphia.

The top five teams in the West are currently separated by just three points, and with one game remaining seeding could change drastically by the end of the weekend. Sounders FC could finish in any of the top five spots, depending on other results.

Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy Results

Win – Seattle secures a top three seed, avoids Knockout Round and would host Colorado, Portland or Salt Lake in the Conference Semifinals (November 2 or 3).

Draw – Seattle finishes fourth or fifth and would play either Los Angeles or Colorado in the Knockout Round (October 30 or 31).

Loss – Seattle finishes fourth or fifth and would play Colorado in the Knockout Round (October 30 or 31).

Job One: Securing Top Three Seed

Sounders FC will look to secure a top three seed in the Western Conference with a win against the LA Galaxy on Sunday. A top three finish would put Seattle straight into the conference semifinal, avoiding the Knockout Round. Sounders FC could still finish as high as first in the West, which would guarantee home-field advantage through the Western Conference Championship.

There are currently two teams (New York and Kansas City) in the East with a higher point total than Sounders FC. A win or draw against the LA Galaxy on Sunday would give Sounders FC home-field advantage in the MLS Cup over every East team besides New York and Kansas City.

Five for Five: Sounders in Playoffs, Again

Sounders FC has qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs for five consecutive seasons, marking the second-longest postseason appearance streak to Real Salt Lake’s six-straight trips. Seattle is one of three teams (LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake) to qualify for the playoffs every season since 2009. Sounders FC is also nearing the record for the most consecutive postseason appearances by an expansion team. The Chicago Fire qualified for the playoffs each of its first six seasons (1998-2003).

MLS Cup Playoffs Format Notes

Ten clubs will qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs – the top five in points from each conference at the end of the regular season.

Knockout Round – Single match elimination between No. 4 and No. 5 seeds at home venue of No. 4 seed on October 30 or 31. Winner advances to the Conference Semifinals to face top seed.

Conference Semifinals – Two-game, aggregate-goal series to be played between No. 1 seed/Knockout Round winner and No. 2 seed/No. 3 seed. First leg is hosted by the lower seed with the second leg at the higher seed’s home venue. First leg begins November 2 or 3 with the second leg on November 6 or 7. Winners advance to Conference Championship.

Conference Championship – Two-game, aggregate-goal series to be played between Conference Semifinals winners. First leg is hosted by the lower seed with the second leg at the higher seed’s home venue. First leg begins November 9 or 10 with the second leg onNovember 23 or 24. Winner advances to MLS Cup.

MLS Cup – Single match championship played between the Western Conference and Eastern Conference champions. The match will be played at the home venue of the team with the higher regular season point total on December 7.

*If the score is tied after 90 minutes of play in the Knockout Round, second leg of Conference Semifinals or Conference Championship, or MLS Cup, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by kicks from the penalty mark, if necessary.

Team Standings Tiebreaking Procedures

When two or more teams are tied in the standings on points, the following tiebreakers will be used in the sequence below, until one team ranks ahead of the other(s):

1. Most Wins

2. Goals For

3. Goal Differential

4. Fewest Disciplinary Points

5. Road Goals

6. Road Goal Differential

7. Home Goals

8. Home Goal Differential

9. Coin Toss (2 teams) or Drawing of Lots (3 or more)

Regular Season Finales

Sounders FC will conclude the regular season against the LA Galaxy for the second straight year, but will do so in Seattle for the first time since 2009 when Brad Evans scored the late game-winner to cap the inaugural campaign. Overall, Sounders FC has two wins and two losses in the four regular season finales, outscoring opponents 6-5. Evans, who has started three of the four finales, has recorded a goal and assist. Osvaldo Alonso has started all four finales, and Leo Gonzalez and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado each have three appearances.

Regular Season Finales

Date Opponent Result Goal Scorers

10/24/09 vs. Dallas W, 2-1 Jaqua (61), Evans (84)

10/23/10 at Houston L, 1-2 Riley (11)

10/22/11 at Chivas W, 3-1 Own Goal (53), Fernandez (68), Ochoa (73)

10/28/12 at LA Galaxy L, 0-1 None

Sounders at CenturyLink Field

Seattle has been one of the top home teams in MLS this season, and will look to cap off the campaign on Sunday with another strong performance at CenturyLink Field. Sounders FC is currently tied for the fourth-highest home point total (34) in MLS, and could reach second overall with a win on Sunday. Seattle’s stellar home form this season translated into the longest home unbeaten run (10-0-4) in club history and third-longest in MLS this season. Seattle has earned over two-thirds of its points at home this season, marking the largest percentage in club history. On Sunday against the Galaxy, Sounders FC has the opportunity to set the club record for most points at home, most wins at home and best home goal differential.

All-Time Home Record

Year GP Record (pts.) PPG Pct. of Season Point Total GD (GF/GA)

2012 17 11-4-2 (35 pts.) 2.1 62.3 +16 (27/11)

2013 16 10-2-4 (34 pts.) 2.1 66.7 +14 (28/14)

2011 17 9-4-4 (31 pts.) 1.8 49.2 +12 (32/20)

2009 15 7-2-6 (27 pts.) 1.8 57.4 +11 (21/10)

2010 15 8-4-3 (27 pts.) 1.8 56.3 +5 (21/16)

Sea of Rave Green

For the fourth time this season, Sounders FC will open the entire seating manifest at CenturyLink Field on Sunday night. In the previous full-stadium games, Sounders FC drew crowds of over 53,000, including 67,385 on August 25 against Portland, marking the second-largest attendance for a standalone match in league history. Overall, Sounders FC has opened the entire stadium seven times in club history, with an average attendance of 60,484, and Seattle has hosted three of the top 10 single-game attendances in league history.

All-Time MLS Single-Game Attendances – Club

Attendance Teams (Competition) Date

67,385 Sounders FC 1 vs. Portland Timbers 0 August 25, 2013

66,452 Sounders FC 3 vs. Portland Timbers 0 October 7, 2012

64,140 Sounders FC 2 vs. San Jose 1 October 15, 2011

60,908 Sounders FC 4 vs. LA Galaxy 0 August 5, 2012

55,718 Sounders FC 2 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0 August 18, 2012

55,107 Sounders FC 2 vs. Real Salt Lake 0 September 13, 2013

53,679 Sounders FC 3 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 June 8, 2013

Top-10 All-Time MLS Single-Game Attendances

Att. Match Date Location

*92,650 Chivas USA vs. New England 8/6/06 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

*92,216 LA Galaxy vs. Tampa Bay 6/16/96 Rose Bowl

*88,816 Chivas USA vs. LA Galaxy 8/10/05 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

*73,123 San Jose vs. DC United 7/4/99 Stanford Stadium

*70,550 Houston vs. LA Galaxy 8/9/06 Reliant Stadium

69,255 LA Galaxy vs. MetroStars 4/13/96 Rose Bowl

67,385 Sounders FC 1 vs. Portland 0 8/25/13 CenturyLink Field

66,452 Sounders FC 3 vs. Portland 0 10/7/12 CenturyLink Field

66,237 New York vs. LA Galaxy 8/18/07 Giants Stadium

64,140 Sounders FC vs. San Jose 10/15/11 CenturyLink Field

*International doubleheader

Big Crowds, Big Wins

The big crowds at CenturyLink Field have translated to big wins for Sounders FC. In games with an attendance of more than 40,000, Sounders FC is 8-0-2 with a plus-16 goal differential (23 goals scored with seven goals allowed). The offense has scored in all 10 matches, including multiple goals seven times. The team gets stronger as the crowds get bigger, winning all six matches played in front of over 55,000, outscoring opponents 14-1.

Week 34 Whip Around

There are several nationally televised matches this weekend with playoff implications, including three matchups on Saturday and threeon Sunday. The Seattle-Los Angeles game on Sunday night is the last match of the 2013 regular season.

Saturday, October 26

Philadelphia Union vs. Sporting Kansas City, 12:00 p.m. PT (NBC SN)

Toronto FC vs. Montreal Impact, 1:00 p.m. PT (TSN, UDN, RDS)

San Jose Earthquakes vs. FC Dallas, 2:30 p.m. PT (NBC SN)

Sunday, October 27

D.C. United vs. Houston Dynamo, 10:30 p.m. PT (NBC)

New York Red Bulls vs. Chicago Fire, 2 p.m. PT (UniMas)

Seattle Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy, 6 p.m. PT (ESPN)

LA Series Notes

Sounders FC holds a 3-5-3 record in the all-time series with the LA Galaxy, including a 2-2-1 record at CenturyLink Field. Seattle is currently riding a three-game (0-2-1) regular-season winless streak against Bruce Arena’s club, with the last regular season win coming in a 4-0 result at home on August 5 of last season. There have been two other 4-0 results in the series, as the Galaxy won on May 8, 2010 at CenturyLink Field and May 26 of this season at the StubHub Center. Sunday’s match will be the Galaxy’s first visit to Seattle since the Rave Green won, 2-1, in the second leg of the 2012 Western Conference Championship.

* LA has outscored Seattle, 15-11, including eight goals in the middle third of games.

* The Galaxy have out-shot Sounders FC, 128-121, but Seattle has put more shots on frame (43-36).

* Eddie Johnson, Juninho and Robbie Keane all lead active players with three goals apiece in the series.

* Mauro Rosales and Landon Donovan lead all players with four assists in the series.

* Robbie Keane is the only player to score multiple goals in a game in the series when he netted a hat trick on May 26 of this season.

* Landon Donovan holds the series’ single-game mark when he recorded three assists on May 8, 2010. Mauro Rosales recorded two in last year’s 4-0 win on August 5, 2012.

Donovan Looks to Set MLS Record on Sunday

Landon Donovan will become the all-time leading scorer in MLS history with his next goal. With 134 goals, Donovan is currently tied with Jeff Cunningham atop the all-time list. In his 13th season, Donovan is also second all-time with 117 assists, 37 game-winning goals and 36 game-winning assists. He is also the leader with 30 multi-goal games. Cunningham scored his record 134th goal against Sounders FC at CenturyLink Field on August 27, 2011.

Galaxy Attack among Best in MLS

With 52 goals on the season, including a league-leading 32 at home, the LA Galaxy boasts one of the most potent attacks in MLS. Leading the way is Irish National Team captain Robbie Keane, who ranks fourth in MLS with 15 goals and third with 11 assists. Landon Donovan partners in the attack with 10 goals and nine assists in just 21 games this season. Midfielder Marcelo Sarvas, who has started 32 of the Galaxy’s 33 games, has four goals and six assists this season, and 22-year-old Homegrown forward Gyasi Zardes has four goals and four assists in 22 starts. Juninho, who has also started 32 games in the midfield this season, will be suspended for the match due to yellow card accumulation.

Sounders FC Academy Sweeps Whitecaps FC

Sounders FC Academy traveled to the University of British Columbia last weekend to earn a pair of wins against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC Academy. After a scoreless first half, the Sounders FC U-18s (4-1-3) had goals from Duncan McCormick and Kenny Sweet to win, 2-1, extending their unbeaten streak to five (3-0-2) games. The Sounders FC U-16s (4-2-2) got a first-half goal from Kasey French and a second-half brace from Ryan Schaefer en route to a 3-0 win Saturday afternoon.