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The Sounders will open the playoffs Saturday at Real Salt Lake, which finished third in the Western Conference, one spot behind Seattle. The clubs will meet in a two-game, aggregate-score series, with the second game to be played Nov. 2 or 3 at CenturyLink Field. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Monday. Game times were not immediately announced.
The Sounders’ position in the MLS standings was set regardless of the result against Chivas in Carson, Calif. However, coach Sigi Schmid said he wanted his team to end the regular season in a good rhythm, and he backed that up by sending a top-level lineup onto the pitch.
The decision seemed to backfire in the first half when midfielder Mauro Rosales was carried off on a stretcher after suffering a knee injury. No prognosis was immediately given, however, Rosales watched the game from the bench and seemed to walk well under his own power.
Seattle surged to a 3-0 lead starting with an own goal credited to Chivas’ Andrew Boykens after a nice move by Fredy Montero. Alvaro Fernandez and Sammy Ochoa also added goals.
Kasey Keller’s bid for a shutout in his final regular season game lasted until the 83rd minute, when Victor Estupinan got Chivas on the board.
Seattle ended the season with an 18-7-9 record. Those 63 points set a club record and were second highest in the league this season. The Sounders lead the league with 56 goals and nine road wins. Keller had nine shutouts.
These Sounders topped the 12-7-11 record (47 points) of their expansion 2009 season, and the 14-10-6 (48 points) of last season.
Now they also hope to improve their playoff results. The club has never won a playoff series, losing to Houston in 2009 and Los Angeles last season.
They split two games with RSL this season, with each club taking 2-1 wins on the other’s home pitch.
Rapids 2, at Whitecaps 1:Wells Thompson scored in the 84th minute and Colorado rallied for a 2-1 victory over Vancouver in the teams’ regular-season finale.
Defending-champion Colorado (12-9-13) improved its chances of hosting a playoff game, pending other results this weekend.
Vancouver (6-18-10) closed its inaugural MLS season at home and was playing under coach Tommy Soehn for the last time. Martin Rennie will take over next season.
Timbers 1, at Real Salt Lake 1:Futty Danso scored in stoppage time to lift Portland to a draw with Real Salt Lake.
Danso’s late goal helped the Timbers (11-14-9) finish the season on a positive note after barely missing out on a playoff berth.
Alvaro Saborio scored in the 45th minute for Salt Lake (15-11-8), which had clinched a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season a month ago. and could have wrapped up third place in the Western Conference with a win.
Saborio’s 11th goal in MLS play this season snapped a 270-minute scoreless streak for Salt Lake, going back to a 2-1 loss to Los Angeles on Oct. 1.
Sporting KC 1, at D.C. United 0: Matt Besler scored in the 54th minute to help Sporting Kansas City earn the top seed in the Eastern Conference.
Sporting (13-9-12), which closed the season with a five-match unbeaten run, will play a two-leg conference semifinal against the higher remaining seed from next week’s wild card round.
United, eliminated from playoff contention with a draw against Portland last Wednesday, finished 0-5-1 in its last six matches.
Besler scored on a turnaround shot on a rebound effort following Kei Kamara’s corner kick header off the post for the only goal of the match.
Revolution 2, at Toronto FC 2: Danny Koevermans scored in the 83rd minute to lift Toronto FC to a draw with New England.
The Dutchman scored his eighth goal in 10 games this season.
Forward Nick Soolsma opened the scoring for Toronto (6-13-15), which gave up a league-worst 59 goals.
Midfielder Monsef Zerka and forward Milton Caraglio scored for New England (5-16-13).
At Fire 3, Crew 2: Diego Chaves scored on a rebound in the 81st minute to lift Chicago to its seventh win in 10 games.
Rookie defender Jalil Anibaba scored his first two career goals — both in the first half — for the Fire (9-9-16), who still missed the postseason.
Emilio Renteria scored in the 73rd minute and Dilly Duka tied the score in the 79th for the Crew (13-13-8), who missed out on securing the Eastern Conference title and homefield advantage. Columbus, now third in the East, could fall into a wild-card spot pending results of Sunday’s games.
Timbers 1, at Real Salt Lake 1:Futty Danso scored in stoppage time to lift Portland to a draw with Real Salt Lake.
Danso’s late goal helped the Timbers (11-14-9) finish the season on a positive note after barely missing out on a playoff berth.
Alvaro Saborio scored in the 45th minute for Salt Lake (15-11-8), which had clinched a playoff berth for the fourth consecutive season a month ago and could have wrapped up third place in the Western Conference with a win.
Saborio’s 11th goal in MLS play this season snapped a 270-minute scoreless streak for Salt Lake, going back to a 2-1 loss to Los Angeles on Oct. 1.
