Brian Schmetzer is aiming to write more history with the Seattle Sounders in the MLS playoffs after signing a new multi-year contract extension with the club earlier this week.  

Schmetzer, who took charge of the Sounders in 2016, has won 149 of his 321 matches at the helm in all competitions (D70 L102), and has led the club to two MLS Cup titles and two other appearances in the finals.

They welcome Houston Dynamo to Lumen Field in their first-round playoff tie, and Schmetzer insists the good work his side have done so far will not stop in the postseason.

“I’m thrilled to continue this journey with Sounders FC, a community and club that mean so much to me,” said Schmetzer. “Seattle is my home, and there’s no place I’d rather be working.

“We’ve built something special here together, and I’m excited to keep pushing for more success alongside our passionate fans, exceptional staff and outstanding players. The work will not stop – we have many goals to achieve and more history to write.

“Doing it at a club during a time of such great opportunity in the city I love makes it even more meaningful.”

Houston, meanwhile, ended their regular season on a high with an impressive victory over the LA Galaxy, subsequently seeing Greg Vanney’s side drop to second in the Western Conference.

The Dynamo faced off against the Sounders in September, losing 1-0 in the MLS, but coach Ben Olsen believes his team’s latest triumph can be used as positive momentum moving forward.

“Those are the great nights, those are the ones you remember,” Olsen said. “It had a playoff atmosphere; it was a great dress rehearsal for the playoffs because we’re playing a talented team.

“We wanted to win that game, but the other side was to get some rhythm and form because it’s been choppy over the last month. That, for me, was the most important thing.

“We needed to get those minutes together before going to Seattle. Overall, it was pretty good, but there is still a lot to clean up before we travel there on Tuesday.”

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak

Rusnak recorded 16 assists in the 2024 regular season, equalling Nicolas Lodeiro’s club record for the Sounders set in 2018.

He recorded primary assists to eight different teammates this season, tied for the most different teammates directly assisted to this MLS campaign.

Houston Dynamo – Amine Bassi

While Houston were the third-lowest scorers in the Western Conference, the creative flair of Bassi has been pivotal in reaching the postseason.

The Moroccan has the joint-highest goal involvements for the Dynamo this term (10, level with Ibrahim Aliyu), while he has also created more chances (78) than any of his team-mates during the regular season.

MATCH PREDICTION: SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN

This will be the third postseason tie between Seattle and Houston, with the Dynamo advancing in the 2019 Conference semi-final and Seattle advancing in the 2017 Conference Finals. The Sounders have never lost in 17 all-time home matches against Houston (W14 D3), winning the last eight in a row.

The Dynamo have also avoided defeat in nine away playoff matches in club history (W5 D4), advancing to the next round in eight of the last nine ties, only losing out against the New York Red Bulls in the 2008 Conference semi-finals. Houston have been eliminated each of the last four times they have lost on the road in the playoffs.

Seattle’s 1-0 defeat to Los Angeles FC in last season’s Western Conference semi-final ended a run of 19 straight home playoff matches without defeat (W17 D2) that spanned back to the 2014 postseason. Seattle have lost only three of their 27 all-time home playoff matches (W20 D4).

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Seattle Sounders – 49.6%

Draw – 25.4%

Houston Dynamo – 25%