33 matches down, one more to go.
The Seattle Sounders host Minnesota United at CenturyLink Field on Sunday (1:00 p.m. PT; JOEtv, YouTube TV, Univision-Seattle, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS). Here are five reasons to attend the match, with tickets still available on SeatGeek, the Official Ticketing Partner of Sounders FC.
Playoff Seeding
The Sounders have already secured a berth in the 2019 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. All that remains to be settled is the team’s seeding in the Western Conference. Seattle’s potential outcomes are rather straight forward.
Seattle and Minnesota enter the final regular season match level on 53 points, with Minnesota perched in second place on goal-differential. If the Sounders can pick up three points at CenturyLink Field on Sunday, they’ll leapfrog the Loons in the standings and secure second place. If they manage a draw, the lowest they could finish is fourth, which would guarantee a home match in the first round. However, if they fail to procure a result, they could fall as far as fifth in the West, which would see the team travel for an away match in the first round of the postseason.
Ozzie Returns
El Corazon is returning to CenturyLink Field.
For a decade, Osvaldo Alonso was synonymous with the Sounders. The midfield enforcer helped the team lift four U.S. Open Cups, the 2014 Supporters’ Shield and the 2016 MLS Cup. After the 2018 season, he signed with Minnesota United as a free agent. Sunday marks the first occasion in which the longtime Seattle captain will return to the Emerald City.
Final Home Match
There have been some incredible, memorable performances at CenturyLink Field this season. The 3-2 win over Toronto FC. The late, dramatic 4-3 win over the LA Galaxy. Kelvin Leerdam’s game-winning goal in the sixth minute of second-half stoppage time against the Vancouver Whitecaps. Most recently, there was the high-scoring 4-2 win over the New York Red Bulls.
Sunday is the final home match of the 2019 regular season. With two of the top teams in the Western Conference squaring off in a raucous environment at CenturyLink Field, you won’t want to miss any of the action.
Best XI Giveaway
In 2019, the Sounders have launched several initiatives to celebrate 10 years in MLS. One of those celebrations – the fan-voted all-time Best XI – was revealed back on July 11.
Seattle artist Keegan Hall recently completed a pencil drawing of the Sounders’ Best XI, honoring the players that have helped shape such a successful club. The first 20,000 fans in the building on Sunday will receive a poster of Hall’s drawing, and 100 of them will be signed by Sounders FC players.
Playoff Momentum
It’s been an up-and-down season for the Sounders. The team’s best-ever start to the campaign was slowed by injuries and a slew of international call-ups. Powered by a high-octane offense, the results have turned around in the last few months, with marquee wins over the Portland Timbers, LA Galaxy, Red Bulls and San Jose Earthquakes. A win over Minnesota, who have been one of the top teams in MLS this season, would help establish the necessary momentum for a third run to MLS Cup.
