Seattle Sounders FC travels to Texas for the final road match of the regular season on Saturday afternoon against FC Dallas. Kickoff is set for 11:30 a.m. PT at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

Saturday’s match will be on network television as NBC will carry the game nationally with John Strong and Robbie Earle calling the action. The match will also be available on 97.3 FM with Ross Fletcher and Kasey Keller calling the action, and can be heard in Spanish on La Gran D 99.3 FM.

Sounders FC (15-11-6, 51 points) can clinch a berth in the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs with a win on Saturday at Dallas. Seattle could also qualify with a draw and several favorable results from Western Conference opponents. Sounders FC would qualify regardless of its result if the LA Galaxy and Colorado Rapids both win.

Sounders FC has qualified for the playoffs on the road each of the past four seasons, and could become the second expansion team in league history to reach the postseason in each of its first five seasons.

Sitting third in the West and fifth in the race for the Supporters’ Shield, Sounders FC looks to rebound from its first three-game losing streak since 2010. Seattle is still tied for the league lead with 15 wins – the first tiebreaker for playoff seeding.

Riding a six-game (5-0-1) unbeaten run against Dallas, Sounders FC will visit Toyota Stadium for the first time since September 2, 2012. Seattle won the previous two meetings this season at CenturyLink Field, 4-2 on May 18 and 3-0 on August 3.

With just two wins in its past 19 outings, FC Dallas (10-11-11, 41 points) was eliminated from playoff contention last Saturday. Having lost four of its past five games, Dallas will draw from its strong home form where the team has earned 29 of its 41 points this season.

Following Saturday’s match, Sounders FC will return home for the regular season finale against the LA Galaxy on October 27. CenturyLink Field will be opened to the full seated manifest for the fourth time this season.

Tickets to Sounders FC home matches are available through SoundersFC.com, all Ticketmaster Outlets, the CenturyLink Field Box Office or by calling 800-745-3000.

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

Saturday, October 19, 11:30 a.m. – Sounders FC at FC Dallas

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



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MLS Cup Playoffs Update

Sounders FC will have another opportunity to punch its postseason ticket on Saturday afternoon in Dallas. A win would clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs while a draw would require favorable results from several Western Conference opponents. Seattle would qualify for the playoffs regardless of Saturday’s result if both the LA Galaxy and Colorado Rapids win.

Seven Western Conference teams are vying for five playoff spots as Chivas USA and FC Dallas have already been eliminated from playoff contention. Two Eastern Conference teams (New York and Sporting KC) have qualified while two teams (Toronto and D.C. United) have been eliminated.

Seattle Sounders FC will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF

* Seattle Sounders FC win vs. FC Dallas on Saturday

OR

* Seattle Sounders FC tie vs. FC Dallas on Saturday AND

* Colorado Rapids lose or tie vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday OR

* San Jose Earthquakes lose or tie vs. LA Galaxy on Sunday OR

* LA Galaxy lose to both Montréal Impact on Wednesday and San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday

OR

* LA Galaxy win vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday AND

* Colorado Rapids win vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday

MLS Cup Playoffs 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. The 4th- and 5th- place teams will play a single knockout game, the winner of which will advance to the Conference Semifinals and face the 1st-place team in the conference. The Conference Semifinals will be decided by a two-game, aggregate-goal format. The Conference Championships will be decided by a two-game, aggregate-goal format. MLS Cup will be hosted by the finalist that finished the regular season with the most points in the 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)

How Seattle Previously Qualified

Sounders FC has qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs the previous four seasons – one of just three teams (LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake) to accomplish the feat. Seattle has clinched its postseason berth on the road all four years, with the first two at Kansas City and last two at Vancouver. If Sounders FC can clinch a 2013 postseason berth, it will be the latest in a season in club history.

Playoff Qualification Game

Date Opponent Result

10/17/09 at Kansas City W, 3-2

10/9/10 at Kansas City W, 2-1

9/24/11 at Vancouver W, 3-1

9/29/12 at Vancouver D, 0-0

Final Two Games Await

As Sounders FC readies for its final two matches of the 2013 regular season, the team will look to draw upon the strong finishes of season’s past. Same as last season, Seattle will end the season against FC Dallas and the LA Galaxy. Seattle downed Dallas, 3-1, at home and lost to Los Angeles, 1-0, on the road to end the 2012 regular season. Overall, Sounders FC has gone 6-2-0 in the final two matches of the regular season, including two home wins over Dallas. This season will be the first time since 2009 that Seattle will play its final regular season game at CenturyLink Field.

Results in Final Two Games of Regular Season

Date Opponent Result

10/17/09 at Kansas City W, 3-2

10/24/09 FC Dallas W, 2-1

10/15/10 Chivas USA W, 2-1

10/23/10 at Houston L, 1-2

10/15/11 San Jose W, 2-1

10/22/11 at Chivas USA W, 3-1

10/21/12 FC Dallas W, 3-1

10/28/12 at LA Galaxy L, 0-1

Nearing Season’s End

Nearing the end of the regular-season campaign, Sounders FC is approaching some of the top marks in club history. The 15 wins this season is already tied for second-most, and the team could reach 17 by season’s end – one shy of the club record. Seattle’s 10 home wins ranks second, and the five road wins already ranks third. The current third place standing in the West is on par with 2009 and 2012, and the team could set the shutout record – currently one shy of the club record (12) set in 2012.

Year-by-Year Record

Year Record (pts.) GD (GF/GA) Home Road Finish Playoff Result

2009 12-7-11 (47) 9 (38/29) 7-2-6 5-5-5 West 3 Quarterfinals

2010 14-10-6 (48) 4 (39/35) 8-4-3 6-6-3 West 4 Quarterfinals

2011 18-7-9 (63) 19 (56/37) 9-4-4 9-3-5 West 2 Quarterfinals

2012 15-8-11 (56) 18 (51/33) 11-4-2 4-4-9 West 3 Semifinals

2013 15-11-6 (51) 2 (41/39) 10-2-4 5-9-2

Springboards of the Past

Losses are often the best motivator, and statistically with Sounders FC that has proven to be the case. Seattle has lost two or more consecutive games on eight occasions in club history. In the previous seven instances, Sounders FC has bounced back quickly, including six-game unbeaten streaks following back-to-back losses in 2009 and 2011 and a seven-game unbeaten run following three straight losses in 2010. After the previous two back-to-back losses this season, Sounders FC posted a six-game and four-game unbeaten streak. And following Seattle’s previous loss before the current three-game losing streak, Sounders FC won five straight matches and posted a seven-game (5-0-2) unbeaten run.

Following Two or More Consecutive Losses

Date Opponents (Result) Notes

April 11-18, 2009 KC (L, 0-1), CHV (L, 0-2) Six-game unbeaten streak (1-0-5)

August 2-8, 2009 at SJ (L, 0-4), at RSL (L, 0-1) Won next game; went 5-2-3 in final 10 games

May 22-29, 2010 SJ (L, 0-1), at COL (L, 0-1) Won next game, 3-0

June 10-July 4, 2010 DC (L, 2-3), at PHI (L, 1-3), Seven-game unbeaten streak (5-0-2);

at LA (L, 1-3) 10-2-3 in final 15 games

March 15-19, 2011 LA (L, 0-1), at NY (L, 0-1) Six-game unbeaten streak (3-0-3)

March 23-30, 2013 at SJ (L, 0-1), at RSL (L, 1-2) Six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2)

July 6-13, 2013 at VAN (L, 0-2), at SJ (L, 0-1) Four-game unbeaten streak (3-0-1)

Marcus in the Nets

Marcus Hahnemann made his third career MLS start for Sounders FC last Sunday at Portland, marking his first action since a 2-1 road win against Toronto FC on August 10. The Seattle-native and former A-League Sounder made two saves and allowed one goal against the Timbers, just his second goal allowed in his three league starts since signing last season. At 41 years and 120 days, Hahnemann is the oldest player to appear in a game this season.

Leo Back on the Left

Costa Rican left back Leo Gonzalez returned to the Sounders FC starting lineup last Sunday after missing three games due to injury. Gonzalez has been perhaps the most consistent defender for Sounders FC this season, nearing career-highs for starts (26) and minutes (2,228). Fourteen of Seattle’s 15 wins this season have come when Gonzalez is starting and, overall, 46 of the team’s 51 points were earned with Gonzalez in the lineup. In his 26 starts, Sounders FC has allowed one goal per game while in the six games he did not start the team allowed 13 goals (2.17 goals against average).

Seattle Success versus Dallas

Seattle’s record against FC Dallas is among the best in club history. Sounders FC has only beat two teams (Chivas USA and Colorado Rapids) more than Dallas, and Toyota Stadium is one of four venues (Toyota Park, Crew Stadium and Sporting Park) where Seattle has never lost. The 20 goals scored against Dallas are tied with Colorado for the most goals scored against one opponent in club history. Additionally, the +10 goal differential against Dallas is the best in club history.

Seattle Regular Season Record

vs. Team GP Winning Pct. Record GD (GF/GA)

Chicago 8 .813 5-0-3 5 (10/5)

Kansas City 8 .813 6-1-1 5 (11/6)

Toronto 8 .813 6-1-1 8 (14/6)

Colorado 12 .750 8-2-2 5 (20/15)

Dallas 11 .727 6-1-4 10 (20/10)

Dallas Series Notes

Sounders FC holds a 6-1-4 record in the all-time series with FC Dallas, including an unbeaten 2-0-3 record on the road. Seattle is currently riding a six-game (5-0-1) unbeaten streak against Dallas, with wins in the past three meetings. Sounders FC has scored at least three goals in the past three matches in the series, including a 4-2 win on May 18 and 3-0 win on August 3. Saturday’s visit to Dallas will be the team’s first since a 1-1 draw on September 2, 2012.

* Sounders FC has outscored Dallas, 20-10, including four goals in the final 15 minutes.

* Dallas has outshot Seattle 158-137, but Sounders FC has put 12 more shots on goal.

* Brad Evans leads all active players with four goals in the series. He has five goals and three assists in 11 career matches against Dallas.

* Eddie Johnson and Mauro Rosales have both recorded three goals and one assist against Dallas.

* Overall, 11 active Sounders FC players have scored against Dallas, with Obafemi Martins scoring a goal in both meetings this season.

* Marcus Hahnemann started the previous meeting with Dallas on August 3, leading Seattle to its third shutout in the series.

About FC Dallas

FC Dallas was eliminated from playoff contention last Saturday following a 3-2 home loss to the Chicago Fire. Dallas kicked off the 2013 campaign as the best team in MLS, posting eight wins in the first 13 games. The team has since struggled, earning two wins in the past 19 outings, dating back to May 25. The Dallas defense has been of main concern as the team has allowed 17 multi-goal games, including seven three-goal games, and has not kept a clean sheet since July 20. Eight of the team’s 10 total wins have come at Toyota Stadium, though Dallas holds the third-highest goals allowed average at home in MLS (1.38). With four losses in the past five matches, Dallas enters Saturday’s game searching for its first win since September 7.

Dallas Top Attackers

The FC Dallas attack is led by two of the top playmakers in MLS this season. Panamanian striker Blas Perez has scored 11 goals, ranking tied-seventh in the Golden Boot race, but has scored just one goal since the end of August. His partner in the attack is former MLS MVP David Ferreira, who ranks tied-fifth in MLS with nine assists this season. There are several other notable attacking options on the Dallas roster, including Kenney Cooper, who scored a brace as a substitute last Saturday, and Michel, who recorded a goal and assist against Seattle in May.

International Stars Return

Following tonight’s World Cup Qualifier between the United States and Panama, a trio of players will return to their club teams to meet again in MLS regular season play. Sounders FC midfielder Brad Evans will face two key players for Seattle’s next two opponents in Dallas top scorer Blas Perez and Los Angeles starting goalkeeper Jaime Penedo. Both Perez and Penedo start for Panama, who sit fifth in the group and are fighting to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. Evans and the USMNT have already clinched the top spot in the CONCACAF region, and will look to finish the Hexagonal Round with the best record in team history.

Sounders FC Academy Kicks Off 2013 MLS Generation adidas Cup Play

Sounders FC U-16 and U-14 teams traveled down to Irvine, Calif., this weekend to participate in the 2013 MLS Generation adidas Cup. In the first series of games for the tournament hosted by Chivas USA, the Seattle U-16s won one of the three games while the U-14s won two of three.

The U-16s fell, 2-1, on Friday to the San Jose Earthquakes despite a Harrison Kurtz olimpico. On Saturday, second-half substitute Kasey French’s goal was not enough as the team again lost, 2-1, to Club Tijuana Xolos U-16s. However, a John Magnus golazo fueled the U-16s to a 1-0 win over the LA Galaxy on Monday.

After coming up short in a 2-0 defeat to the LA Galaxy U-14s on Friday, Sounders FC U-14s won the remaining two games of the weekend. Alec Zimmerman, Yohanne Griffin, and Alex Kristov all scored in a 3-1 win over local side Corona U-15 on Saturday. On Monday, goals from Kristov and Cameron Martin fueled a Seattle to a 2-nil win over Chivas USA U-14s.

The 2013 MLS Generation adidas Cup continues when the San Jose Earthquakes host a series of games February 11-14.