By Toby Dunkelberg
MLS Decision Day 2016 is upon us as the Seattle Sounders welcome Real Salt Lake to the CenturyLink Field. Both teams playoff odds hang in the balance. Depending on todays results the Sounders could finish anywhere from 4th to 7th in the western conference. The difference between hosting a playoff game and missing them entirely. It’s a match with huge implications, the least of which is it being 14 year Sounder Zach Scott’s last regular season MLS game.
1. WIN
If the Sounders win today they’re guaranteed the fourth place in the Western Conference. Which sets them up well for the playoffs. The first round is all play in games. One off matches where the winner goes on. Hosting that match is crucial for post season success. The Sounders are traditionally a bad playoff team and are even worse on the road. Win today and they’re guaranteed that fourth spot. They’re guaranteed a home playoff game in front of 40,000+ screaming Rave Green fans. That’s an advantage worth fighting for.
2. DON’T LOSE
The Sounders do NOT win road playoff games. And while winning a road game would make for a better story should they win and go on to the next round. The odds and history are against them.
3. ENJOY THE MOMENT
This is Zach Scotts last regular season match. A thought that’s almost unfathomable when you look at the numbers. Rave Green #20 played his first game for the Seattle Sounders in 2002. A full 14 years ago. To put that in perspective, Zach Scott’s been playing for the Sounders as long as college juniors have been in school. A full generation of Seattle youth have grown up with Zach Scotts dominating headers defining what it means to be a Sounders center back. The word is that he’ll be starting this match. So keep an eye on how he plays in his final regular season match. He’s always played well in big matches. I’d expect today to be no different.
PREDICTION
Seattle Sounders 2 – 1 Real Salt Lake
