Sounder’s historic playoff appearance streak ends at  Sporting Kansas City

A  1-0 loss at Sporting Kansas  City ended the Seattle Sounders playoff run. The Rave Green had participated in the MLS  Playoffs every year of its existence. The game exemplified the Sounders season in some strange and bizarre way.

TO DO LIST

Number one on the Sounder’s to-do list going into this season was to win the CONCACAF Champions League trophy. That is the one elusive trophy for the  Rave Green who considers themselves as big of a club as any in the land. Making the playoffs was on that list. Given the team’s history, it was a matter of formality to put it on the list. Flashback to Sunday, the number one goal was to win the game vs Sporting Kansas City and keep the slim playoff hopes alive.

 MIRROR IMAGES

A quick glance at the Sounders schedule shows all you really need to know. The team’s regular season started with a Leg One  0-0 draw against Motagua in round 16 of the  Champions League on  February 17th. Four days later the Sounders moved to the quarterfinals round with an impressive 5-0 win at home. Three days after the  Champions League game the Sounders started their MLS campaign with a 1-0 loss to Nashville.

 The pattern of Champions League success and subpar performances in  League play continued until the Sounders won the Champions League trophy in an unforgettable 3-0 game win and 5-2 aggregate score.

 During the game, tragedy struck when midfielder  Joao Paulo suffered a leg injury. Truth be told when Paulo went down the Sounders MLS Championship chances followed him. Oh, sure the Sounders were giving league play their best effort, but it was not good enough.

On Sunday the Sounders started on the front foot against  Sporting KC, pressing high and pouncing on loose balls. As has been the case all season the Sounders allowed their opponent to settle into the game.   The home side scored just before halftime to take a 1-0 lead, another trend that plagued the Sounders all season.

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TOO LITTLE TOO LATE

The Sounders spent the second half chasing the game on Sunday and was it not for several miraculous saves by Stefan Frei the Sounder’s season could have ended long before the game-time whistle blew. The same can be said for the  Sounders season after the emotional Champions League win. Some wins but far too many one-goal losses. On Sunday the Sounders came close to tying the game but in the end many chances were squandered.

A WASH

Head coach Brian Schmetzer was asked after the game what his thoughts were about the season.

 “ I would call it a wash.” Schmetzer was also asked what his expectations were for his players for next Sunday’s home season finale. “ My expectation is that each and every player understands that each game is important and when you play for this club you play with pride “.

 Time heals all wounds and with each passing month and year, the  2022 season’s most memorable moment will be the unforgettable 3-0 Sounders win over Pumas to win the  CONCACAF Champions League Trophy.