FC Dallas defender Walker Zimmerman (25) reacts to a near miss during the first half of an MLS soccer western conference semifinal playoff match against the Seattle Sounders Sunday, November 6, 2016 in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
The Associated Press
FRISCO, Texas (AP) - The Seattle Sounders advanced to the Western Conference finals on Sunday night, winning the two-leg series 4-2 after falling 2-1 in the second game.
Seattle will host the Colorado Rapids on Sunday, Nov. 20 in Game 1 of the conference finals. Dallas, the Supporters Shield winner, was just the third team in MLS history to face a three-goal deficit after the first game in a two-leg series - and no team has come back.
Seattle sat back in the defensive end for much of the first half but gave up a goal in the 25th minute. Dallas defender Atiba Harris hooked a cross into the area and Tesho Akindele headed it off the crossbar for his third career playoff goal.
Seattle got a much needed away goal in the 54th minute from midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro to tie it a 1. Tyrone Mears stole it from Walker Zimmerman deep in Dallas territory and played it across goal for a sliding Lodeiro.
Two minutes later, Maximiliano Urruti gave Dallas a 2-1 lead but it still needed three more goals to move on.
FC Dallas forward Maximiliano Urruti (37) and Seattle Sounders midfielder Osvaldo Alonso (6) compete for a ball along the sidelines during the first half of an MLS soccer western conference semifinal playoff match Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016 in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
The Associated Press
FC Dallas forward Maximiliano Urruti (37) and Seattle Sounders defender Chad Marshall (14) compete for a header during the first half of an MLS soccer western conference semifinal playoff match Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016 in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
The Associated Press
FC Dallas forward Maximiliano Urruti (37) and Seattle Sounders defender Zach Scott (20) watch a near miss go out of bounds during the first half of an MLS soccer western conference semifinal playoff match Sunday, November 6, 2016 in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
The Associated Press
FC Dallas forward Maximiliano Urruti (37) and midfielder Carlos Gruezo (7) celebrate the first goal of the game scored against the Seattle Sounders by Dallas' Tesho Akindele (13) during the first half of an MLS soccer western conference semifinal playoff match Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016 in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
The Associated Press
FC Dallas defender Maynor Figueroa (31) celebrates the first goal of the game scored against the Seattle Sounders by Dallas' Tesho Akindele during the first half of an MLS soccer western conference semifinal playoff match Sunday, Nov. 6, 2016 in Frisco, Texas. (AP Photo/Jeffrey McWhorter)
The Associated Press