Image courtesy of Seattle Sounders FC.
In a few hours, the Seattle Sounders FC will be playing a game against the Houston Dynamo. This game has quite a few compelling aspects to it and really is far from being "just another piddly American soccer game."
If you have been reading this blog for a while now, you will know that I have talked about at lengths about the Seattle Sounders FC, who are Major League Soccer's newest team. Technically they're an expansion team, but in a lot of ways they are not. When it was announced that Seattle would get a MLS franchise, the biggest question has been would the people care.
This year, the Seattle Sounders FC set a record in total attendance for a MLS team in their first year and since the first game of the season, the attendance at a Sounders FC home match has been double that of the league average. I think that pretty much answers if there is a general interest about the team.
Of course what goes hand in hand with the general interest of the team is whether or not the team is actually any good and wins games.
Well the team has.
Tonight's game with the Houston Dynamo is the first game of the first round of the MLS Playoffs. That's correct, the Seattle Sounders FC, the league's newest team are in the playoffs in their first season. I wish I could say we're the first to do that, but the Chicago Fire did it 11 years ago, but no one cares about the Chicago Fire. The Sounders FC themselves expected to reach the playoffs, if not beyond. Certainly the fans had ranging expectations for their first year, but when you factor in that the "major sports teams" in Seattle, the Seahawks (NFL) and Mariners (MLB) haven't touched the playoff drinking fountain in recent memory, for a brand new team like the Sounders FC to already be in the big dance, well simply put, it's awesome.
I will be at tonight's game, screaming my head off and running my throat dry. I always had a feeling that watching soccer games in person was a far different experience than watching it on television, but honestly having been to about half of the games this season and experiencing a thrill ride like no other, I honestly did not think I would have this much fun.
So for all of those with even a hint of interest in soccer, tune into ESPN2 tonight at 7 PM (Seattle-time) to watch the Seattle Sounders FC take on the Houston Dynamo. Hell, you might even see me as I have field-level seats on one of the corners.
Go Sounders FC!
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