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Toronto FC-Sounders Preview

Oct 1, 2010 - 5:40 PM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Editor

Toronto FC (8-11-7) at Seattle (11-9-6), 3:30 p.m. EDT

Before the Seattle Sounders can focus on defending their U.S. Open Cup crown this week, they have plenty at stake Saturday against visiting Toronto FC.

The Sounders can move closer to a second MLS postseason berth in as many years with a victory over fading Toronto, which may be officially eliminated with a loss.

Seattle (11-9-6) qualified for the playoffs in its inaugural MLS season in 2009, but the highlight of its year was winning the U.S. Open Cup - a championship it will defend in Tuesday's final against the Columbus Crew.

First, however, the Sounders have a chance to continue an impressive surge toward the playoffs. Coach Sigi Schmid's club has gone 7-1-3 to open a six-point lead on Kansas City for the final postseason spot.

"Now what we need to do is just really concentrate on those last four games and make sure we pick up the points needed," goalkeeper Kasey Keller said, "because it would be a real shame to dig ourselves out of the hole we put ourselves in ... and then to throw that away by slipping up."

Blaise Nkufo's 88th-minute goal at Chicago last Saturday gave Seattle to a 1-0 win. Nkufo, who joined the Sounders in July, scored his first three MLS goals in a 4-0 win at Columbus on Sept. 18.

The Sounders' defense, meanwhile, has blanked three consecutive MLS opponents. The 40-year-old Keller had four saves against the Fire, including a key point-blank stop at the end of the first half.

"Maybe I am so used to seeing it from him over all the years you begin to expect it, but that's what great goalkeepers do - they come up with a key save that keeps you in the game," Schmid told the Sounders' official website.

Seattle has also been busy with CONCACAF Champions League, beating Honduran squad CD Marathon 2-0 on Wednesday in its eighth overall match this month.

The Sounders, though, must have the energy to deal with a desperate Toronto FC, which needs three points to salvage any remote playoff hopes. Toronto's bid for its first MLS postseason berth took a huge hit with last Saturday's 3-2 home loss to San Jose.

Toronto (8-11-7) trails the Sounders and Earthquakes by eight points with four games left, but it could make a big dent in that deficit with a victory Saturday.

"Need three points the rest of the way," Toronto striker Chad Barrett said. "We've got nothing to lose, everything to gain at this point, so there's really no reason not to go out and give it our all."

Toronto would be officially eliminated with a loss and a San Jose win against Columbus, but it may draw confidence from a 2-0 home win over the Sounders on April 25. The teams played to a scoreless tie at Qwest Field on Aug. 29, 2009.

With 12 goals, Toronto's Dwayne De Rosario still has a chance at the MLS Golden Boot, trailing Los Angeles' Edson Buddle by two.