With a playoff spot already secured, it might be tempting for the Seattle Sounders to look at tonight’s game at the San Jose Earthquakes as pure bonus. The reality is a bit more complicated. The Sounders have been in a bit a rut lately and are in desperate need of a positive performance heading into next weekend’s season finale.
Beyond that, the Sounders’ hold on a first-round home playoff game is a bit precarious. The Sounders need at least a point in this one to ensure that they control their own destiny in the regard and can still theoretically drop as low as seventh in the standings.