The Seattle Sounders return to action in Los Angeles this weekend against the LA Galaxy at StubHub Center on Sunday (1 p.m. PT; ESPN). Seattle needs a result to keep its playoffs hopes alive, as well as some help from other teams around the league. With that in mind, here are the other Western Conference matches this weekend and their implications for the Sounders.
San Jose Earthquakes vs. Sporting Kansas City (Saturday, 7:30 p.m. PT)
The Earthquakes host Sporting KC in the match with the most influence on the Sounders’ playoff hopes. SKC currently occupies the sixth and final postseason spot in the Western Conference, five points ahead of Seattle. San Jose is just one point behind Seattle and would leapfrog it for seventh with a win and a Seattle draw or loss. It’s worth noting that Seattle and San Jose have two games in hand on Sporting.
The Sounders have to take care of business, and if they do, then a draw between San Jose and Kansas City would be the ideal result. It would push the Earthquakes further in the rearview mirror while pulling Seattle within just three points of Sporting. San Jose has won four of the last five meetings between the two clubs, and it won’t be easy for SKC, who could be without midfielder Graham Zusi, who missed the last two matches with a calf strain.
Houston Dynamo vs. Portland Timbers (Saturday, 6 p.m. PT)
The Timbers travel to Houston looking for their first road win of the season. The Timbers are the only team in MLS this year with out a radio win, and getting three points in this one won’t be easy without Vytas and Lucas Melano, who are suffering from a broken rib and groin issue, respectively.
The Dynamo are in last place in the Western Conference but snapped a three-game winless streak at Real Salt Lake last week, while the Timbers are in fifth place in the West but have played two more matches than the Sounders. Seattle drew in Houston a few weeks ago and will need the Dynamo to earn a result at home to close the playoff gap.
Vancouver Whitecaps vs. Colorado Rapids (Saturday, 4 p.m. PT)
The Whitecaps lost at Seattle last week and have nearly played themselves out of a legitimate playoff chance. They’re six points behind the Timbers for the final postseason spot with only four matches left and have played two more games than Seattle.
The Rapids could still make a run at the Supporters’ Shield, as they’re just five points behind FC Dallas with two games in hand, but they’ve won just once in the previous six matches and only have three road wins all season. Anything but a win for Vancouver essentially writes the 'Caps out of the playoffs.
Real Salt Lake vs. FC Dallas (Saturday, 6:30 p.m. PT)
Two of the top four teams in the Western Conference clash at Rio Tinto Stadium with major Supporters’ Shield ramifications at stake. A win for Dallas would secure a top-four seed and guarantee at least one home game in the playoffs, for which it is the only team to have qualified so far.
RSL is coming off consecutive losses and the status of star Javier Morales is in question after he suffered a quad injury against the Timbers two weeks ago. It’s a rubber match for the clubs, with each having won at home.
