For the sixth time since the 2014 season, the Seattle Sounders and FC Dallas are set to go toe-to-toe in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Seattle will host the Texas club at Lumen Field on October 30 (6:00 p.m. PT; Watch FREE on Apple TV, FS1, iHeart Radio, Sirius XM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS) before hitting the road for the away fixture on November 4. If necessary, the Rave Green would then host Dallas again on November 10 to decide the best-of-three series.
With so many iconic meetings between these traditional Western Conference powerhouses, we're breaking down some of our favorite Seattle Sounders vs. FC Dallas postseason moments:
Ozzie's Decisive Goal
Fresh off of winning the 2014 Supporters' Shield, the Rave Green took on FC Dallas in the Western Conference Semifinals. In Leg One on the road, Seattle went down a goal in the first half when the hosts were awarded a penalty. Shortly after halftime, club captain Osvaldo Alonso rose highest to meet Marco Pappa's in-swinging free kick, heading home the equalizer. The match ended level at 1-1, and the Sounders eventually advanced on the Away Goals Tiebreaker when Leg Two finished in a scoreless draw. It was the type of clutch play in a critical moment that helped cement Alonso's status as one of the Rave Green's all-time great players.
Massive Upset
In late July of 2016, the Sounders sat in second-to-last place in the Western Conference standings. After the arrival of Nicolás Lodeiro and appointment of Brian Schmetzer as Interim Head Coach, the team embarked on a midseason turnaround that saw them sneak into the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs on Decision Day. The Rave Green then had to take on the heavily favored Supporters' Shield winners, FC Dallas, in the Western Conference Semifinals. After a tense first half of Leg One, Seattle came flying out of the gates after break, with Nelson Valdez heading home the opener before Lodeiro bagged a brace to take a 3-0 lead into Leg Two. It was one of those electric postseason nights in Seattle, with players and fans working in tandem to make Lumen Field and indomitable fortress.
Championship Foreshadowing
The Sounders entered Leg Two of the 2016 Western Conference Semifinals as heavy favorites with a three-goal advantage. But things started to get nervy as FC Dallas piled on the pressure, peppering Stefan Frei's goal until they eventually pulled one back in the 25th minute. With Dallas in the ascendancy and the Sounders defending resolutely together to preserve their advantage, Lodeiro once again stepped up to ice the series with a decisive away goal in the 54th minute. The hosts eventually scored again, but at that point it was too late, as Seattle advanced 4-2 on aggregate. It was a moment that served as a catalyst for the Sounders eventually going on to win their first MLS Cup title that season.
Mercer Island Magician
After recovering from an ACL injury suffered early in 2018, Jordan Morris spent much of the next season adapting to life as a left winger. He rounded into form as the season progressed, and then supplied the kind of iconic MLS Cup Playoffs moments that make club legends in a 4-3 win over FCD in Round One.
Morris got the Sounders off to a dream start, putting the team 2-0 up in the 22nd minute as he finished off a clinical counter attack. The visitors then battled back to level the match at 2-2 in the second half before Morris grabbed his second of the afternoon to make it 3-2. Dallas equalized once again in the 82nd minute to send the match to extra time. With momentum firmly in the Texas club's favor, Frei had to stand on his head in extra time to keep the score even, producing a string of increasingly difficult saves. Morris then produced a moment of magic, scoring the winner in the 113th minute after a scramble in the box. For the second time in four years, a gutsy win over FC Dallas rallied the Sounders together and sparked a run to an MLS Cup title.
Unexpected Hero
The Sounders entered the 2020 postseason reigning MLS Cup Champions and once again had to go through FC Dallas in the playoffs. Facing off in the Western Conference Finals, the Sounders struggled to break down the visitors. But up stepped center back Shane O'Neill, who the started the campaign as a back up defender, to supply the crucial goal that saw the Sounders advance to the Western Conference Final. With the match scoreless in the second half, O'Neill rose highest to a corner kick and headed home the game-winning goal. Although the stadium was empty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was a gritty moment that unified the team and fanbase, making everyone believe that a return to MLS Cup was possible.
