Shortly after the Seattle Sounders beat Real Salt Lake to clinch their spot in the MLS Cup playoffs, a team official pulled me aside. He was beaming. With a smile stretching from ear-to-ear his message was simple: “We’re playing with house money, now.”
As much as simply qualifying for the postseason was never seen as a satisfying result in and of itself, the relief in the organization was palpable. Making the postseason was material proof that this team had engineered one of the most impressive turnarounds in MLS history, going from 10 points out of the No. 6 spot to hosting a playoff game in the span of 14 matches.