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%

Head coach Ben Olsen is hopeful Houston Dynamo can carry their recent form on the road into their clash with Seattle Sounders when they return to home turf on Thursday. 

Houston are now unbeaten away from the Shell Energy Stadium in their last two games with draws against Atlanta United and Portland Timbers.

However, the hosts have won just three of their last 12 league matches, leaving them seventh in the Western Conference and level on points with Austin FC. 

While Olsen was impressed with his side's display in their most recent outing, he insists that his players must put on a better display this Thursday. 

"The goals we conceded were fairly naive on our end," Olsen said. "It was two poor giveaways that led to goals, and it is something we continue to have some issues with and not maximising the points when we play this well on the road. 

"But again, then I switched to resiliency and being able to get something out of the game when it wasn't our best night. 

"We will take the point, we have Seattle now at home, and we need to get a better performance from myself and this group at home, but on the road we have been pretty good."

Meanwhile, Seattle come into the contest following an impressive win over Minnesota United, recording their fifth triumph of the season. 

The Sounders have not won consecutive regular-season matches since July 2023 but will be hopeful of doing so, having lost just once in their last five MLS games. 

Just two points separate the sides in the Western Conference table, and Seattle head coach Brian Schmetzer is confident his side can continue their winning momentum.

"We have evaluated the film, and we are going to get the guys recovered," Schmetzer said. 

"We are going to come up with a strong line-up because the gap between Saturday and Wednesday is certainly better than Wednesday and Saturday. 

"So, we are going to go down to Houston to try and collect points. 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Houston Dynamo – Latif Blessing

Blessing’s 89th-minute equaliser against Atlanta on Saturday was his third goal in his last four matches in the MLS.

Prior to that, the midfielder had scored just three times in his previous 110 league matches for the Dynamo dating back to the start of the 2020 season, and he will be hoping to continue his hot streak in front of goal.

Seattle Sounders – Jordan Morris

The 29-year-old has scored four goals in his last five league matches, including finding the net in back-to-back matches.

Morris has scored in more than two straight league games only once in his career, a four-match run he managed to achieve in 2016.

MATCH PREDICTION: HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN

Houston have recovered well after losing five of their last 12 league matches (D4 W3), and are now unbeaten in the last three matches (W1 D2), recording consecutive 2–2 draws in their previous two league games.

While their recent form in the MLS has left a lot to be desired, the Dynamo have an impressive record over their opponents heading into the contest at the Shell Energy Arena.

Seattle have won 12 of its last 13 meetings against the Dynamo (L1, incl. playoffs) dating back to June 2017. The Sounders have outscored Houston, 23 -6, during that run.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Houston – 48.1%

Draw – 25.9%

Seattle – 25.9%