In a sense, the math that puts the Seattle Sounders through to the Western Conference finals is very straightforward. If they win, no matter the score, they go on. If they don’t? Then the Sounders’ only hope of advancement is for tonight’s match against the Vancouver Whitecaps to end 0-0 and to win the penalty shootout. Any loss or a tie that results in each team scoring at least once put the Whitecaps through.
But if the question is “how good of a chance do the Sounders have to advance?”, that’s a bit more complicated.