By Nathaniel Gould
NEW ATTENDANCE RECORD: The Seattle Sounders opened up the brand new Seahawks Stadium with a 4-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps July 28.
An A-League record of 25,515 fans came out to see the first major sporting event at the venue. The league's previous high was 14,809 in Rochester for the Rhinos' playoff game against Montreal on Sept. 21, 1996.
The Sounders will play their remaining home games at Memorial Stadium.
Former MLS players Andrew Gregor (Columbus Crew, Kansas City Wizards) and Brian Ching (Los Angeles Galaxy) picked up points. Gregor had two goals — including the first at the facility — and Ching had two assists. Leighton O'Brien put away a penalty kick and Viet Nguyen picked up a goal and a assist.
The 5-point win (4 points for the victory; plus a bonus point for scoring three or more) was the Sounders' eighth win in a row and gives them 84 points. The Charleston Battery of the Southeast Division has the next best point total at 68.
STRIKE FORCE: Four Sounders are among the A-League's top 10 leading scorers: 1. Ching (12 goals, 6 assists, 30 points), 2. O'Brien (7-11-25), 4. Darren Sawatzky (9-6-24), 6. Viet Nguyen (8-6-22).
PLAYOFF PICTURE: The Sounders became the first team to clinch one of the 12 playoff spots when it beat El Paso, 1-0, July 25. They have also wrapped up the Pacific Division title.
Six teams from each conference — the top two finishers in each division and the fifth and sixth best finishers in each conference — gain playoff spots.
The first round will be played Sept. 4-8. The first three rounds are two-game series decided on aggregate goals. The final (Sept. 27, 28 or 29), is one game.