Seattle Advances to West Finals on Aggregate after Draw with Dallas

After tonight’s scoreless draw in Seattle, the Sounders have advanced on aggregate (1-1 with an away goal) to face Landon Donovan’s LA Galaxy.

In the first season for MLS to use away goals in aggregate, it paid off for Sigi Schmid’s club whose 1-1 draw away from home proved vital. CenturyLink Field was packed to capacity tonight for some actual monday night football, and it did not disappoint.

From the opening kick the Sounders looked to push for a goal and put the pressure on Dallas, leaving the game wide open for much of the night. With that mindset, the Sounders first chance came just under 7 minutes in. It was Clint Dempsey who dribbled his way into the box with nice footwork to drill a shot that was knocked over the bar by Chris Seitz.

FC Dallas’ first half chance game a couple minutes later, but was eventually squandered in the end by Fabian Castillo. After doing the hard part and slicing into the box through defenders, Castillo’s shot was hooked well wide of goal. It was an opportunity terribly let go by the away side.

Seattle’s next chance came in the 27th minute from a Marco Pappa free kick 23 yards from goal. The Guatemalan’s left footed effort pinged off the Dallas wall and out of play for a corner. The ensuing corner kick was an outswinger into the eighteen by Gonzalo Pineda, and was put on goal by a leaping Chad Marshall, but wonderfully cleared off the line by the head of Michel to preserve Dallas’ chances.

It was Seattle once again who forced a save with 5 minutes left in the first half. After an impressive buildup and combination play by Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey, the US captain had his shot denied by the palms of Seitz. And the teams would go into the locker room scoreless.

FC Dallas had the first chance at goal to start the second half, as Castillo ripped a shot just wide of the near post from the top of the box in the 52nd minute. Four minutes later, a particularly concerning moment for Seattle fans was seen when star midfielder Osvaldo Alonso went down with a hamstring injury and had to be subbed off.

Seattle were broken down once again in the 61st minute, however. A deflected pass found the foot of Diaz who chipped a ball into the path of Castillo whose chip beat Frei in goal, but was put wide across the face of goal. It would have been an impressive goal from the first time hit, but was not to be.

Clint Dempsey had two final chances at breaking the tie for Seattle. In the 67th minute Dempsey let a shot fly from outside the area that took a deflection and ended up just wide of the far post. 17 minutes later, Chris Seitz made his best save of the game on Dempsey’s shot after a mistake in the back led to a chance in front of goal. Seitz made a frantic leg save to give his side one last gasp at scoring.

But it was not to happen as Seattle kept a draw and advanced on aggregate to the Western Conference Finals to face a red hot LA Galaxy side. What a final it will be when MLS resumes play after the international break. Can Seattle stop Donovan’s swansong? Can Seattle breakthrough the rugged LA defense with their attacking duo? These are only some of the questions that will be answered by what is sure to be a great series.

Nov 10, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; The Seattle Sounders FC celebrate with the fans after the game against the FC Dallas at CenturyLink Field. The game was a 0-0 draw. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports