Seattle Sounders face a true must-win match

TUKWILA, Wash. – The Seattle Sounders have at least the gift of clarity Wednesday, when the Vancouver Whitecaps visit CenturyLink Field.

There is no aggregate score to figure, no away goals to weigh, no distant scoreboards to watch. Win, and Seattle advances to the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals. Lose, and it’s eliminated.

“We all know it’s a game where if they win they advance, if we win we advance,” Seattle coach Sigi Schmid said. “A loss or a tie doesn’t get them anywhere. … I think both teams are going to come out of the field and try to win the game.

Actually, a tie does get the Whitecaps somewhere: Honduras for the deciding group match with CD Olimpia on Oct. 22.

“They don’t want to have a Wednesday game in the last week of the league that is important for them advancing,” Schmid said. “Or else they’re going to send down a reserve team and say, ‘OK, we’re not going to advance, we don’t care.’ I think both teams are going to come out (Wednesday) trying to win the game.”

Seattle and Vancouver both need points in the ongoing Major League Soccer season, and that will complicate their personnel decisions in CCL.

Vancouver is tied with the New York Red Bulls in the MLS Supporters’ Shield race, and is one point clear of Dallas and Los Angeles for top seeding in the Western Conference. Seattle is three points behind the Whitecaps, and five points clear of the playoff red line.