Sounders playoff battle with Houston predicted to be a close one

October 28, 7:07 AMSeattle Soccer ExaminerDavid Falk

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The "ScarfSeattle.com" campaign is regenerating for the playoffs. Here Flickr user Fremont Girl catches it in action, of course...in Fremont.

It's the day before the first playoff match in Sounders FC history and national writers are weighing in on the series with Houston.

Goal.com's Kyle McCarthy says: Could Sounders FC do what the Chicago Fire did in 1998? Absolutely. Seattle enters the postseason in fine form with three consecutive wins and boasts two top-class match-winners in Freddie Ljungberg and Fredy Montero. Add in perhaps the best coach in the league in Sigi Schmid and Sounders FC has everything it needs to mount a serious title run. The biggest question: will the pressure of reaching a final on home turf make the task too difficult? McCarthy ranks Seattle as second favorites to win it all, behind the LA Galaxy.

USA Today's Beau Dure says: Seattle has a trophy this season, winning the U.S. Open Cup, and faced more high-pressure games before clinching a playoff spot. Along the way, the Sounders broke the defending champion Columbus Crew's 22-game home unbeaten streak Oct. 3. He also quotes Freddie Ljungberg: "It's going to be electric."

ESPN's Andrew Hush says: To me, this is the closest tie to call, featuring as it does two evenly-matched sides, both of which are more than capable of winning MLS Cup. Furthermore, sprinkled throughout the ranks of Houston and Seattle are many players who know what it takes to win a championship.

Prost Amerika's Steve Clare has a preview of leg one: Call him a legend, call him a veteran, everyone in the game has amazing respect for Pat Onstad. Pat is 41 and comes from Vancouver BC. Together with Kasey, they will set a record for the oldest combined ages for goalies in an MLS game. (Prove me wrong!) Pat has made 641 saves in MLS. Before joining MLS, Pat had spells at Dundee United and many Canadian clubs starting with the Vancouver 86ers in 1987, but he has played much of his football on Canada’s east coast. He has 56 Canadian caps and his final international game was an August 2008 World Cup qualification match against Jamaica. You might even recognise him as the goalkeeper on the tarpaulin covering the seats in the upper deck. Now that’s being a legend!

MLSNet.com put the Sounders 4th, one spot behind Houston, in their final Power Poll.

Seattle Soccer Examiner posted a keys to victory poll earlier this week. Fans are voting on what it will take to beat the Dynamo.

Seattle Times has quotes from Sigi Schmid after Tuesday's practice.

Soccer America says the match is sold out, again...and looks at Seattle's success.