The Seattle Sounders have battled back to control their own playoff destiny, even after a brutal, unprecedented 13-game winless run right in the middle of their season. Now, with just three games left, the path to the postseason is clear: take care of business, starting with a crucial Wednesday night showdown against the Houston Dynamo at Lumen Field.
Must-Win Mentality And A Familiar Foe
The stakes couldn’t be higher for the boys in green. Win against the Dynamo, and get a little help from St. Louis City by having Portland drop points, and the Sounders punch their ticket to the playoffs. Midfielder Paul Arriola isn’t sugarcoating it. “We understand that, but we’re not thinking that this is a guarantee,” Arriola said. “It would be silly for us to go in naively. We’ve got three games against teams that are currently above us; we’re going to have to take this game as a must-win to get into the playoffs.” This isn’t just about clinching; a strong finish could see our Sounders jump as high as fourth in the Western Conference if they win out, or at least sixth with minimal help.
But let’s talk about the Dynamo. They’ve already clinched their playoff spot and sit fifth in the West, five points up on us. Sounds tough, right? Well, here’s the thing: they’re winless in their last seven games, and have only snagged one win in their previous twelve. And get this: their all-time record at Lumen Field? A shocking 0-12-3. You read that right. Zero wins, twelve losses, three draws. That’s a streak Arriola and the squad are surely looking to lean on. “We’re going to continue to back ourselves and hope we play a great game and are able to make plays to get three points,” Arriola added. This isn’t just a game, it’s a chance to build on a historical advantage and ride it into the postseason.
Key Returns Bolster The Squad
Some welcome news on the injury front, because let’s be real, we’ve had our share of those. After leaving Saturday’s game with an apparent injury, we all held our breath for Jordan Morris. Good news! He was training on Wednesday and Coach Brian Schmetzer confirmed he’s available to play against the Dynamo. Schmetzer cleared it up, saying Morris “had some cramps in his hamstring.” The coach emphasized the team’s approach to keeping our explosive forward healthy for the long haul. “He is an explosive, high-speed athlete, and he’s actually being smart. He knows his body, and so when those little red flags come up, we’ve told him that he needs to let us know because the season is more important. Keeping him healthy for the rest of the year is much more important,” Schmetzer said. That kind of smart management is key as we push for the playoffs.
And there’s more. Midfielder Paul Rothrock, who strained his hamstring about six weeks ago, was initially feared to be out for the entire regular season. But after training for the past couple of weeks, Schmetzer said Rothrock should be available to suit up on Sunday when the Sounders face the Vancouver Whitecaps. Even better, Yeimar Gomez Andrade, who suffered a hamstring injury just last week with an initial diagnosis suggesting he was done for the year, got a second opinion. Schmetzer now says Yeimar might be back on the field within two to three weeks! Talk about a boost!
This Wednesday night isn’t just another game, Emerald City. It’s the Sounders’ shot to solidify their playoff spot, right here at Lumen Field, against a team that historically crumbles under our roof. With Morris back and other key players nearing their return, the momentum is building. Let’s get loud, let’s get three points, and let’s march into the playoffs! The next test: Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Sounder at Heart.
Leave a Reply