Major Link Soccer: Sleepless in Cascadia

The non-Sounders stuff can wait until later. For now, this post is dedicated to the number 67,385, and some other fun digits.

In case you missed them, here is the massive, awesome tifo, as well as what is probably the largest March to the Match in Seattle's history (if you find better, longer video, please share here).

That five-figure number is responsible for the second largest stand-alone crowd in MLS history. It was also the third-largest crowd in world soccer over the weekend. Most importantly, it was the largest gathering of people for a soccer match in Seattle. Ever. No one even CARES about Manchester United. Barcelona should be BEGGING to be allowed to come back. The UEFA Champions League will look towards the sky and shout "TAKE US" and we will whisper "no". That's right, Timber's Army, I read "Watchmen" too. (That last sentence might not make sense to you unless you were at the match).

At this point, I think it's easy to say that Eddie Johnson is the new King of the Northwest with six goals in nine Cascadia matches. Fredy Montero was the one who always came up clutch in these matches, but when he left the crown was up for all to grab. Looks like that crown stays in Seattle. It's good to be king when you're sitting on top of the Cascadia Cup standings (a win at home against Vancouver in October would bring the trophy back regardless of any other results). With four matches played by each team, the Sounders have seven points, followed by Vancouver's five and Portland's three. Additionally, the Sounders are again in a playoff position to the detriment of the Whitecaps. They trail the Timbers by two points with a pair of games in hand.

Clint Dempsey was without a doubt a focal point of the night, as Pro Soccer Talk followed his every move and chronicled it in this post. Dempsey ended up banged up, but was rewarded with his own currency (the exchange rate for which I imagine would be at about its peak right now. SELL HIGH!) Grant Wahl (among others) never ceases to be impressed by the goings-on in our fair corner of the country, as Clint was the subject of only half his article.

Other outlets were paying attention as the festivities unfurled. Yahoo. ESPN. NBC. Soccerbyives. The Seattle Times. USA Today. All who were there (save maybe for 1,500 or so of them) won't soon forget Sunday night.

One last note