Sounders FC try to punch ticket to dance
Seattle looks to become first expansion club since Chicago in '98 to make playoffs
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With that in mind, Marshall knows Seattle needs to punch its ticket with a win in Kansas City this weekend. Once they get in "the dance," to use one of Sigi Schmid's favorite metaphors, anyone can be named Prom King -- even an expansion team.
"Once we get in, it's a whole different ballgame and that's what we want. We want to make sure we get to the dance," Marshall said. "Once we get to the dance, we find the prettiest girl and make sure we dance with her."
From the outset of the season, the organization has set the goal of becoming the first expansion team to make the playoffs since the Chicago Fire in 1998. Before Sounders FC starts picking out corsages, though, they must earn a result on the road against a dangerous Kansas City team that is all but out of the playoff race.
The Wizards come into Saturday needing two wins in their last two matches and a lot of help. That means the team will unleash its full offensive arsenal in search of goals, as a 0-0 draw would definitely see Kansas City eliminated.
"It's not a point that they are looking to get. They are playing to win," Schmid said. "That should allow the game to be a little more open and they shouldn't be bunkered in on the back in any way."
Davy Arnaud, especially, will be in sights of Seattle's defense after he struck the winner in the team's first meeting.
"He's still a dangerous player on the pitch -- he can score at any time," Marshall said of Arnaud. "We just have to be aware of him, Josh Wolff, Claudio Lopez and Kei Kamara. They have a lot of weapons.
"It's unfortunate that they are in the situation they are in, but we still have to come out and play to zeroes at the back and try to score some goals up top."
In that match, which broke up Seattle's perfect 3-0-0 start to the season, Arnaud found space late in the match against an exhausted, 10-man Sounders FC squad and put a knuckling shot past backup goalkeeper Ben Dragavon. With Kansas City all but eliminated from playoff contention, Marshall expects Kansas City to try to make it two league wins against Seattle in a free-flowing, attacking match.
"They can go out and play free soccer, meaning that they don't have any restraints," Marshall said. "Those teams are dangerous teams."
One point in Seattle's favor has been its excellent road form of late. Goalkeeper Kasey Keller said the team was very disappointed not to emerge from New England with at least a point after playing a very strong game, while in its last competitive action the team stole a 1-0 result on the road at Columbus.
Another road win would put the team into the playoffs, a thought that entices the veteran goalkeeper. It would also take the pressure off the team, changing the final match of the regular season against FC Dallas from a must-win match into an exhibition game with only playoff seeding at stake.
"For us it's a huge game. It could finish off our goal from the beginning of the season, which was to make the playoffs," Keller said. "Obviously there are different goals once you get into the playoffs, but you can't look at that until you actually get there."
Schmid agreed.
"We would like to take care of it this weekend and not wait until the following weekend," Schmid said. "We would like to get the three points there and wrap it up."
Andrew Winner is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
