After months of waiting — even assuming — that the Seattle Sounders would finally turn around their regular season, the final nail was applied on Sunday. The 1-0 loss on the road against Sporting KC not only officially eliminated the Sounders from postseason contention — marking the first time they missed the MLS playoffs in 14 seasons — it also served as a broad commentary on how much of the season unfolded.
The goal the Sounders allowed was, once again, the product of sloppy play more than anything else. Yeimar Gomez Andrade started it with an ill-advised pass into the middle of the park that Sporting KC easily intercepted and immediately turned into a chance.