Rapids routed by Bruin-led Sounders
SEATTLE » Will Bruin is glad to be back in the MLS playoffs. This time, he’s going with a team that has never missed them.
Nicolas Loderio scored two goals, Bruin had his third in the past two games and the Seattle Sounders beat the Colorado Rapids 3-0 on Sunday in the regular-season finale to grab the No. 2 playoff seed in the Western Conference.
The defending MLS Cup champion Sounders (14-9-11) avoided this week’s knockout round.
Bruin joined Seattle last December after spending his first six seasons in the league with Houston. The Dynamo missed out on the postseason in 2014, 2015 and 2016.
But the Sounders have made it all nine years of their existence. The other established teams in the league have missed at least one postseason during that stretch.
“That’s exactly why I came here,” Bruin said. “For me personally, it feels good to get back in. I think it’s clicking pretty well right now. Everybody knows their roles and knows where they need to be . ... The goals will take care of themselves.”
Bruin’s ninth-minute goal put Seattle on the board and gave him 11 for the season.
Lodeiro sent a penalty kick past Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard in the 64th minute, then scored again in the third minute of stoppage time.
Sunday’s highlights.
Marco Urena scored in the third minute of stoppage time as the San Jose Earthquakes secured a playoff berth with a 3-2 victory over Minnesota United .… Atlanta United set a pair of attendance records but failed to secure a first-round bye in the playoffs when Sebas- tian Giovinco scored on a brilliant free kick in the 84th minute, giving Toronto FC a 2-2 tie and the most points ever in a Major League Soccer season. … David Villa scored two goals and New York City FC tied the Columbus Crew 2-2 in the first regularseason match at Citi Field to secure the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. … C.J. Sapong had two goals and set Philadelphia’s single-season goals record and Fabrice-Jean Picault and Ilson Pereira also scored twice to help the Union beat Orlando City 6-1. … Roland Lamah scored twice, Mauro Diaz had a goal and two assists, and beat the 10-man Los Angeles 5-1. … Kelyn Rowe scored in stoppage time to give the New England Revolution a 3-2 victory over the Montreal Impact. … Darren Mattocks scored early in the second half to give the Portland Timbers a 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps. … Luis Silva scored in the opening minutes and Real Salt Lake beat Sporting Kansas City 2-1. … Romell Quioto and Mauro Manotas scored in the second half to help the Houston Dynamo beat the 3-0.