Sounders have big goals in regular-season finale

TUKWILA, Wash. – Playoff seeding. MLS Cup hosting rights. CONCACAF Champions League qualifying. There are a lot of numbers-based, results-based motivations for the Seattle Sounders to win in today’s 6 p.m. MLS regular-season finale at the Los Angeles Galaxy.

“Probably the most important thing is just for our guys to stay in a rhythm,” coach Sigi Schmid said. “You don’t want to go, necessarily, two weeks without playing (with your starters) if you can avoid it, especially when other teams are playing. You want to make sure you stay in a regular rhythm.”

A win or tie at The Home Depot Center would clinch the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and, as a result, home-field advantage in the second leg of the two-game playoff series against Real Salt Lake.

A win would also give Seattle the third-best overall record in MLS, which has its own potential rewards. If the Sounders finish with the third-best record in the league, they would host any Eastern Conference team in the MLS Cup except Sporting Kansas City.