Seattle Sounders 2–1 LAFC · MLS regular season, Matchday 35 · Lumen Field, 7 November · Goals: Albert Rusnák 1', Sebastián Gómez 31', Eddie Segura 82' · Seattle finishes eighth in the West on 46 points.

A week after getting blown out in Vancouver, Seattle scored in the first minute, went up 2–0 and hung on to clinch a home playoff game. The question on the stream was simple: Are you “hell yeah, playoffs” or “goddamn it, playoffs”? Turns out you can be a little of both.

What fans said

Tribe is glad Seattle got in. He called the berth bragging rights and saw the win as proof the Sounders could still deliver under pressure. He's not buying an MLS Cup run, though, and worried that making the playoffs would take some heat off the front office.

Jordon wants the front office held accountable. He said the players, fans and backroom staff deserved the win. He still wants Seattle to make a run, but would’ve been fine with missing the playoffs if it forced the front office to confront the roster’s shortcomings.

Timbo thinks the torch has passed in goal. He argued that Andrew Thomas deserved his flowers after LAFC kept testing him and the backstop delivered an array of fantastic saves. He's happy to have Thomas in net for a home playoff game.

Nat wanted to enjoy the win. It was the first Sounders win he’d seen in person since May, and he loved the atmosphere at Lumen. He acknowledged the front-office issues and Jordan Morris’ injury but pushed back on calls to move on from Brian Schmetzer before the Sprint Season.

The take that's right

Jordon and Tribe are both right to wonder what the front office takes from this. We're all glad the Sounders made the playoffs. The players earned that night, and it's much better to be getting ready for RSL than writing a season obituary. But Seattle finished eighth and needed a win on Decision Day and help elsewhere just to get in. If the front office looks at the berth and decides the roster was good enough all along, are they taking the wrong lesson?

What it means for Real Salt Lake

MLS Cup Playoffs Wild Card: Seattle Sounders vs. Real Salt Lake
Thursday, November 19 · 7 pm PT · Lumen Field

Morris’ quad injury is the availability question to watch after he came off in the first half. My bigger question is whether Seattle can keep threatening after taking a lead. Against LAFC, the late set-piece goal made the final stretch more nerve-racking than it needed to be.

Watch fans react streams live on YouTube after every Seattle Sounders match.

Previous edition: Fans react to Seattle Sounders vs. Vancouver Whitecaps