Vancouver Whitecaps FC have clinched the fifth and final spot in the MLS Cup Western Conference playoffs after Seattle Sounders FC defeated FC Dallas 3-1 at CenturyLink Field this evening.
Although Whitecaps FC were beaten 1-0 by Portland Timbers in their final regular season home match at BC Place this afternoon, Martin Rennie’s side became the first Canadian team to reach the MLS postseason after Dallas failed to win or draw south of the border.
Vancouver will now play Los Angeles Galaxy at The Home Depot Center on either October 31 or November 1 in the Western Conference Knockout Round.
The winner of that match will go on to play San Jose Earthquakes – who finished in first place in the Western Conference.
Meanwhile, Seattle’s win lifted them into joint second place with Real Salt Lake with one match remaining for both teams.
However, the Sounders have scored five more goals than RSL and are in great position to secure second spot.
RSL hosts Whitecaps FC on October 27 while the Sounders travel to Los Angeles to face the Galaxy the following day in the last round of the MLS Regular Season.
Speaking after the Seattle result, Rennie was understandably delighted with his team making history.
“I think it’s a huge achievement by the club,” he told whitecapsfc.com. “Obviously we were disappointed by our result and performance against Portland today, but we got the reward for our hard work throughout the season.
“Now we can focus on the most important part of the season, we’ve got some room to improve, but now we’ve got as good a chance as anyone in making it to the latter stages of the playoffs.
“It’s hard for a Canadian team to reach this stage but we’ve managed to do it and that’s exciting for the club and our supporters.”
