Could the Seattle Sounders be MLS Cup Champions?

Oct 30, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; The Seattle Sounders FC celebrate with the fans after defeating FC Dallas at CenturyLink Field. Seattle Sounders FC defeated FC Dallas 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 30, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; The Seattle Sounders FC celebrate with the fans after defeating FC Dallas at CenturyLink Field. Seattle Sounders FC defeated FC Dallas 3-0. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports /
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With the way the Seattle Sounders have been playing, it isn’t hard to imagine the Rave Green lifting the MLS Cup in December.

After a 3-0 thrashing of the US Open Cup and Supporters’ Shield Champions FC Dallas, the Seattle Sounders fans are feeling pretty good about their chances of making a deep playoff run. But how far will this Seattle team go? Is it realistic to see them as MLS Cup Champions for the first time in their 8 years of MLS play? I think it is.

Seattle is currently 3 goals up on Dallas, heading into Frisco to play a team who’s best player, Mauro Diaz, is out injured. There is no way Seattle should lose this game which sees them into the Western Conference finals. Here they would either play the Colorado Rapids or the LA Galaxy (LA currently holds a 1-0 lead).

Both these two teams have been strong in recent weeks so this Western Conference final would not be a walk in the park for the Seattle Sounders. Both teams are beatable, though. The last time Seattle played against the Galaxy, it was a 4-2 thrashing in Carson City, a place where the Rave Green hadn’t won since 2009. Colorado, on the other hand, hasn’t played against Seattle since their 1-0 victory over the Sounders on May 21st. That Sounders team was pre-Lodeiro, pre-Torres, and pre-good soccer. Though it won’t be easy, Seattle definitely has a chance on making it to their first ever MLS Cup final.

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But once in the final, how would be fare against Eastern Conference teams?

The only game Seattle would play host in the final would be against Montreal, since hosting the MLS Cup is decided on Supporters’ Shield standings. So most likely, the Rave Green would have to play on the road, something that Sounders fans shouldn’t be too concerned about. Since Schmetzer took over as interim/now official head coach, the Sounders have gone have 3-2-2, a solid record compared to going 1-2-7, only picking up 5 out of the possible 30 road points.

The toughest team that the Sounders will have to face from the Eastern Conference is Toronto. ESPN’s SPI projections has the Canadian side favorites to win the Cup with LA behind by 4% and Seattle just behind LA with 1%.

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Seattle next game against Dallas is on Sunday with kickoff at 9pm EST and 6pm PST. Keep following us here at MLS Multiplex and @mlsmultiplex for up-to-date news and rumors surrounding the MLS Cup playoffs.