SANDY, Utah – In a postseason of improbable results in every bracket thus far, FC Dallas captain Daniel Hernandez is pulling for one more surprise on Sunday.
“The fact is, if Seattle wins, we’ll get them at home,” the veteran midfielder told MLSsoccer.com after FCD eliminated Real Salt Lake on Saturday night. “We’re definitely rooting for Seattle because of home-field advantage.”
The No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, Dallas became the third lower seed to advance in this year’s MLS Cup Playoffs. If the Sounders can pull an upset against the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sunday night at the Home Depot Center (9 p.m. ET, ESPN, ESPN Deportes), it would be a clean four-for-four sweep of underdogs reaching the Conference finals.
That would also give FC Dallas a home date against Seattle for the Western Conference Championship next Sunday, Nov. 14, at Pizza Hut Park. FCD tied the Sounders in both meetings between the teams during the regular season, 2-2 at PHP back in April and 1-1 in July at Qwest Field.
However, the odds favor No. 1 seed Los Angeles on Sunday, of course. If the Galaxy build off their 1-0 advantage in their first leg, that would set up an LA vs. Dallas Western final at the Home Depot Center next Sunday.
That would be a rematch of both teams’ final game of the regular season, which the Galaxy won 2-1 to clinch the Supporters’ Shield. And that scenario also suits Hernandez just fine.
“At the end of the day, you have to face who you face,” he said, adding, “We’ve lost twice to LA. We’d love to have that chance to face them again.”
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