Seattle Sounders FC<\/a> (No. 2) make their Audi MLS Cup Playoffs return Monday evening when hosting FC Dallas<\/a> (No. 7) for Game 1 of their Round One Best-of-3 series in the Western Conference.
The first team to two victories in the new Round One Best-of-3 series advances to the Conference Semifinals, meaning Dallas are guaranteed to host Seattle on Nov. 4 for Game 2. If necessary, Game 3 is scheduled for Nov. 10 back at Lumen Field.
If a Round One Best-of-3 series match is tied after regulation time (90 minutes), a penalty kick shootout will determine the winner (no extra time). Big picture, teams are chasing a berth in MLS Cup presented by Audi on Dec. 9.
Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs Bracket<\/a>
Seattle, MLS Cup champions in 2016 and ’19, missed the postseason a year ago \u2013 the same season in which they won a historic Concacaf Champions League<\/a> title. That misstep ended their 13-year playoff qualification streak (then a league record), a remarkable level of consistency since joining MLS in 2009.
But Seattle have stormed back in 2023, weathering some up-and-down results to end the regular season nine games unbeaten (4W-0L-5D). Head coach Brian Schmetzer’s team, with a veteran core, knows how to navigate these high-stakes matches.
The Sounders’ uptick in form coincides with midfielder Cristian Roldan<\/a> returning to full health, a glue piece for their Jordan Morris<\/a>-led attack and league-best defense (32 goals against) that’s anchored by goalkeeper Stefan Frei<\/a>. Another development: striker Ra\u00fal Ruid\u00edaz<\/a> and midfielder Nicol\u00e1s Lodeiro<\/a> (who said this is his last season in Rave Green<\/a>) aren’t guaranteed starters anymore.
Dallas enter as the underdog, but a 4-1 Decision Day win<\/a> at the LA Galaxy<\/a> could signify their attack is waking up. They scored just 41 goals this year (the same total as Seattle), led by US men’s national team<\/a> forward Jes\u00fas Ferreira<\/a> tallying 12g\/6a.\u00a0
Somewhat under the radar, FCD had the West’s second-best defense this year with 37 goals against \u2013 a testament both to goalkeeper Maarten Paes<\/a> and center backs Nkosi Tafari<\/a> and Sebastien Ibeagha<\/a>. In midfield, Asier Illarramendi<\/a>, Paxton Pomykal<\/a> and Alan Velasco<\/a> are developing into a first-choice trio.\u00a0
On the injury front, midfielder Sebastian Lletget<\/a> (hamstring) and forward Bernard Kamungo<\/a> (ankle) are listed as questionable. If they can play, depth improves considerably.<\/p>\n

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Seattle Sounders FC (No. 2) make their Audi MLS Cup Playoffs return Monday evening when hosting FC Dallas (No. 7) for Game 1 of their Round One Best-of-3 series in the Western Conference.The first team to two victories in the new Round One Best-of-3 series advances to the Conference Semifinals, meaning Dallas are guaranteed to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-82315","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n