Back in training camp, Sounders FC emphasized a desire to win every trophy available in 2014.
It checked one trophy off the list by winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for the fourth time in six seasons. Now with four matches left in the regular season, the Supporters’ Shield and Cascadia Cup are well within reach as the pursuit of silverware continues for Seattle. There is still plenty to play for in the final four matches of the regular season and the club is confident that it has what it takes to see out those games in successful fashion.
“It’s the drive within the players, the drive to accomplish a goal that they set out for nine months ago,” Sounders FC Sporting Director Chris Henderson said. “We set these goals a long time ago and this is something that we’ve been going for all the way through.”
On Tuesday, the Sounders returned to training after a grueling stretch that saw them play five matches in 16 days, including a 12-day, cross-country road trip. The coaching staff gave the players two days off to rest and recuperate ahead of the final stretch as Seattle readies to face two teams fighting for their playoff lives in the Colorado Rapids and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. To finish the regular season, the Sounders have a home-and-away series with the LA Galaxy that will likely decide the league’s top regular-season record.
A bit of time to rest before their match at Colorado was much needed for forward Clint Dempsey and the Sounders, who haven’t forgotten their 5-1 defeat to the Rapids from late last season.
“Yeah for sure. We’re going to be back on the road again going to Colorado,” Demspey said. “That’s a team that gave us problems last season when we traveled there so we’ll be looking to try and correct that.”
After visiting Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to face the Rapids, Sounders FC returns home to face the Whitecaps with the Cascadia Cup on the line. A win or draw would put the Cascadia Cup – which features Seattle, Vancouver and the Portland Timbers – in the hands of Sounders FC.
Regardless of the results of those two matches, Seattle’s series with the LA Galaxy will ensure plenty of drama over the final two weekends of the season.
In addition to Landon Donovan playing his final two regular-season matches, the two teams will be battling for the top spot in the Western Conference.
Seattle has gone 5-2-1 in its last eight regular-season matches and hoisted the U.S. Open Cup, but those two defeats still stick out to both players and fans as Sounders FC looks to peak heading into the playoffs.
Those high standards help drive the team on and off the field.
“It’s a good sign when everyone around the club – including the fans – expects us to win every game. That means we’re doing the right things and the expectations are so high,” Henderson said. “I think we have the talent to win each game and if we can bring the correct mentality, we’ll have a chance to win every game.”
