Sounders clinch spot in playoffs

TUKWILA — All the Seattle Sounders needed was a tie for one point to make the playoffs for the 13th time in 15 seasons.

And they got it, barely.

The Sounders squandered a lead, but earned a berth in the United Soccer League (USL) First Division playoffs with a 1-1 tie with the Atlanta Silverbacks. The teams played Saturday night at Starfire Sports & Entertainment Complex in front of 3,650 fans.

"We need to get a focused group for 90 minutes," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said. "I'm going to go in the locker room and be positive, and write, 'We're in ' on the board.

"But I'm really kind of irritated, because we keep letting in soft goals."

The game was a rematch of last year's USL First Division championship match. Seattle won that match 4-0 for its league-best fourth title.

The Sounders (10-9-10 league) moved into a tie for fourth place in the standings with Charleston and Rochester with 40 points. The Silverbacks (8-11-9, 33 points) remained in eighth place, but still in playoff contention.

Sebastien Le Toux's 20th goal of the season, 13th in league play, put Seattle ahead 1-0 in the 38th minute on a feed from Kenji Treschuk. Treschuk recovered a loose ball in the penalty area and made a run up near the left end line, firing the ball across for Le Toux's point-blank tally inside the left post.

Le Toux became the first Sounder to reach 20 goals in one season since Mark Baena did it in 1998 and '99. Baena reached 20 in both of those seasons in league matches only. Le Toux's total includes exhibition play.

Atlanta's Macoumba Kandji, who entered No. 3 in the league with 25 points, scored in the 55th minute to knot the score at 1-1. Kandji, who returned after a five-match absence, took advantage of a defensive breakdown and beat Danny Jackson and Taylor Graham to get a successful one on one with goalkeeper Chris Eylander.

"It's nice to make the playoffs, but we're disappointed that we let another game slip away," Sounders defender Kevin Sakuda said.

Le Toux almost scored another goal in the 82nd minute, but Atlanta goalkeeper Felipe Quintero blocked the shot.

"Overall, we're playing well," Schmetzer said. "It's just bits and pieces. It's an individual here or there, and it's lack of concentration there. We're not far off."

Note

• The Sounders close out the regular season Saturday at home against the Vancouver Whitecaps.