October 21st, 2012 
Matt Thacker Brad Evans helped the Seattle Sounders lock up one of the top three spots in the Western Conference at the expense of FC Dallas.
Needing at least a win and a draw in the final two matches of the season to have a chance of reaching the playoffs, Dallas came up short in a 3-1 defeat at CenturyLink Field on Sunday. The Sounders now know they will face Real Salt Lake in the Western Conference semifinals.
Seattle took the lead in the 32nd minute after Fredy Montero received the ball in the box and was pulled to the ground by Hernan Pertuz after beating the defender for positioning. Brad Evans easily converted the penalty.
Blas Pérez answered for Dallas in the 40th minute following a free kick from Ricardo Villar that deflected to Pérez for a half-volley finish at the near post. The goal ended the Sounders’ run of 370 minutes without conceding a goal.
The Sounders regained the lead in the 60th minute when Christian Tiffert took a quick restart from Montero and found Evans alone in the box for the finish.
As Dallas was forced to push forward, the Sounders took advantage of lax defending to put the match to rest. Eddie Johnson played a ball to Montero at the far post, and the Columbian hit the ball across the goalmouth to Mauro Rosales for the sliding finish.
The Sounders are second in the Western Conference based on a goals-scored tiebreaker over Real Salt Lake. If the Sounders can maintain that spot, they will host the second leg of the playoff series.
