There are 10 matches left for the Seattle Sounders to defend their place above the Red Line. The Red Line report focuses on those teams within three points of the Line in the Western Conference and the Shield. None of the Western Conference sides have double-game weeks this week.

Those Above

Real Salt Lake - 38 - 4 home/4 away

Last Game

RSL surges late, mounts a 2-1 comeback over Houston Dynamo - RSL Soapbox
Albert Rusnak is the hero in Houston as he scored two stoppage-time goals to mount a 2-1 win after trailing for the majority of the game.

Next week: at Colorado on Aug 25 at 6 PM

LA Galaxy - 37 - 4 home/4 away

Last Game

Match Report presented by Bob's Discount Furniture: LA Galaxy fall 5-0 to Seattle Sounders FC | LA Galaxy

Next week: vs LAFC on Aug 24 at 7:30 PM on ESPN

Portland Timbers - 37 - 6 home/5 away

Last Game

Portland Timbers ground to dust by Sporting Kansas City in 3-0 loss - Stumptown Footy
The Portland Timbers’ losing streak continued as they took a 3-0 drubbing from Western Conference opponents Sporting Kansas City. They’ve now lost three straight after having their 15-match unbeaten streak snapped.

Next week: vs Seattle on Aug 26 at 6:30 PM on FS1

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Those Below

Seattle Sounders - 35 - 5 home/5 away

Last Game

Sounders vs. Galaxy, recap: Seattle moves above the red line for short time - Sounder At Heart
It was only temporary, but the Sounders moved ahead of RSL and now they aren’t.

Next week: at Portland on Aug 26 at 6:30 PM on FS1

Vancouver Whitecaps - 34 - 5 home/4 away

Last Game

However Red Bulls get last laugh as they leave Vancouver with draw thanks to late tying goal while down a man. - Eighty Six Forever
Whitecaps give up late goal in draw.

Next week: at San Jose on Aug 25 at 7 PM

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Shield Hunt

1. Atlanta United - 51 - 3 home/6 away
2. New York Red Bulls - 48 - 5 home/5 away

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The Maths of Seattle

At last check 538 had Sounders as 6th in West on pace for 48 points. They were the best defense and 20th best attack. Sagarin considered the Sounders 5th in the West and 8th best overall. Things have changed in two weeks.

538 now has the Sounders as 5th most likely to make playoffs in West, expecting to earn 51 points. They’ve fallen to third best defense while the attack is now 17th best.

Sagarin lists Seattle as 2nd in the West and 5th overall. Their schedule is the 9th most difficult to this point in the season.

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2018 Awards Snapshot

MVP

1. Josef Martinez
2. Zlatan Ibrahimović
3. There is no third

Defensive Player of the Year

1. Chad Marshall
2. Aaron Long
3. Graham Zusi

Goalkeeper of the Year

1. Sean Johnson
2. Stefan Frei
3. Zach Steffen