Nov 30, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey (2) reacts after missing a shot against the Los Angeles Galaxy during the second half of the Western Conference Championship at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
In the wild and wooly twitter world of Sigi Schmid’s Seattle Sounders, there is a hashtag that is spreading like wildfire like you won’t believe. A hashtag called #SigiOUT. It is hashtag spread by the one-percenters who are spoiled and feel that the Sounders deserve all the trophies by a team in this association football competition we call Major League Soccer. It is a hashtag that may evoke such strong words as bitter, crybabies, petulance, whiners, moaners, BMWers, LOL…you understand the point, noble FanSiders.
When news of the Sounders winning the battle but losing the war against Bruce Arena’s Los Angeles Galaxy broke out, the monday morning quarterbacks in the Emerald City got ready to warm up before making some hot sports take throws the next day. Meanwhile, the majority of fans who truly bleed Rave Green are taking solace that this season, believe of not, was the best season ever for the Sounders. Not only did they win another U.S. Open Cup…for the first time in club history, they took home the Supporters’ Shield, which is arguably tougher to win than MLS Cup.
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How did they do this, you say? Well, Seattle didn’t really begin their season on the right foot. In March, wins against Sporting Kansas City (1-0, Mar. 8) and the Montreal Impact (2-0, Mar. 23) were countered by losses to Toronto FC (2-1, Mar. 15) and the Columbus Crew (2-1, Mar. 29). However, they went on a six-game unbeaten run, going 5-0-1, the lone blemish coming against the Portland Timbers in a 4-4 draw on Apr. 5 at Providence Park in Portland, Ore.
After their worst loss of the season, a 5-0 shutout smashing by the New England Revolution on May 11 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., Seattle went on yet another rampage, going unbeat form the next five matches. Between April 5 and June 28, the Sounders went 9-1-2. Then somebody shot the dog. Between July 5 and Aug. 16, Seattle went 2-4-1, their most glaring coming against their perennial playoff nemesis, the Galaxy, on Jul. 28 at CenturyLink Field.
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Things started to pick up once again late in the summer for Sigi’s crew. Between Aug. 20 and Sept. 12, Seattle went 4-0-1, the lone blemish coming in the form of a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes at home on Aug. 20. After consecutive defeats to the New York Red Bulls (4-1, Sept. 20) and FC Dallas (3-1, Sept. 24) on the road, Seattle delivered one final run in October.
It all went down to the final game of the season. On Oct. 25, a brace from Marco Pappa in the 85th minute and the fifth minute of stoppage time saw the Sounders win their first-ever Supporters Shield. Unfortunately, they would have it tough backing up their form in the postseason.
In the Western Conference Semifinals, Osvaldo Alonso scored in the 54th minute in the 1-1 draw with FC Dallas in the first leg on Nov. 2 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Tex. The scoreless draw in the second leg at the CLink meant that Seattle were through on away goals. But that same rule would prove to be a double-edged sword for the Sounders.
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In the first leg, the Sounders fell to the Galaxy 1-0 at StubHub Center in Carson, Calif. and were unable to score an away goal. That meant Seattle needed to win by two in order to stand a chance at hosting the MLS Cup Final for the first time since 2009. Goals from Brad Evans (26′) and Clint Dempsey (32′) gave Seattle a cushion going into the half. However, they conceded an away goal to Juninho in the 54th minute of play and, despite ending their season with a 2-1 win, were eliminated 1-0 on away goals.
Some players are going to be on their way out for Seattle, including Jalil Anibaba, Djimi Traore, Kenny Cooper and Chad Barrett. DeAndre Yedlin will be on his way to England to join Tottenham Hotspur and prove himself in the rough-and-tumble world of the Premier League. Meanwhile, you can expect a number of players coming back to join Seattle next season, including Osvaldo Alonso, Chad Marshall, Obafemi Martins, Lamar Neagle, Dempsey, Evans, Pappa, Micheal Azira, Andy Rose and Dylan Remick.
Being the victim of a double-edged sword should not take anything away from what has been the best season in Seattle Sounders FC history. Regardless of what happens in the 2014 MLS Cup Final, the Sounders have won the hearts of many across the country and around the world and have a lot to be proud of, and a lot to look forward to heading into next year.