Five thoughts from a meaningless season finale

Max Aquino / Sounder at HeartSEATTLE — As season finales go, well, it was a decent way to spend an afternoon.

Granted, for the Seattle Sounders, October matches universally have had much more significance than Sunday’s Major League Soccer finale against the San Jose Earthquakes. Generally, it’s more a cliffhanger, or a “will they, won’t they.” But not every episode can be an Emmy-winner. And the end of the 2022 MLS season had already been spoiled.

So when you know the ending, it takes a bit of the fun out of watching. But there is still some value in watching, and when you’re playing a fellow playoff also-ran and the only things on the line are pride and game bonuses, you take what you can…