TUKWILA — Ever since the Seattle Sounders won Concacaf Champions League there have been discussions about how much longer this season has felt. It has often been suggested that those eight extra games front-loaded into the season have had the knock-on effect of sapping not just the energy of the team, but also the emotions.
As much as the Sounders have talked about understanding the need to start winning games in order to make the most of the MLS campaign, they’ve also known that there was wiggle room. But sitting outside of playoff position with eight games remaining — even if it’s just by a single point — means any sense of comfort should now be gone.