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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Sounders poised for top record

Associated Press

Not an hour had passed after the Seattle Sounders’ stirring late comeback for a draw against Los Angeles last weekend and the scope of the 2014 regular-season finale had already come into focus for Brad Evans.

As one of the few remaining players from the Sounders’ first season in 2009, Evans could speak with certainty about the return match between the Galaxy and Sounders today.

“The biggest game probably in our club history so far,” Evans said.

For the first time in league history, the Supporters’ Shield will be decided on the final weekend between the two teams vying for the regular-season title when Seattle hosts Los Angeles. It’s the back end of a two-week, home-and- home matchup between the two best teams in the MLS Western Conference.

A draw or win today would give Seattle the Supporters’ Shield.

Los Angeles must push for a victory; otherwise the Galaxy will be the No. 2 seed in the West playoffs.

U.S. women advance

Carli Lloyd scored a pair of goals in a 3-0 semifinal victory over Mexico on Friday night in Chester, Pennsylvania, securing the United States a trip to next year’s World Cup and a spot in the CONCACAF Women’s Championship match on Sunday.

The U.S. women will face Costa Rica.

The top three finishers in the championship for the North, Central American and Caribbean region earn World Cup bids and the fourth-place finisher will have another chance in a match against Ecuador next month.

Mexico will play Trinidad and Tobago in the third-place match on Sunday.

Lloyd scored in the eighth minute on a header off a bouncing cross from Tobin Heath. She added a goal on a penalty kick in the 30th minute.

• Costa Rica earned the team’s first trip to the World Cup and a spot in the CONCACAF Women’s Championship match by defeating Trinidad and Tobago on penalty kicks after a 1-1 semifinal draw on Friday night.

Costa Rica jumped out to the lead in the 18th minute when Wendy Acosta fed a charging Carolina Venegas atop the box to beat Trinidad and Tobago goalkeeper Kimika Forbes.

Trinidad and Tobago evened the match at 1 in the 73rd minute on Lauryn Hutchinson’s header off a free kick.