Paul Rothrock, Stefan Frei lead Sounders past Dynamo 1-0 after both securing playoff berth

SEATTLE (AP) — Paul Rothrock scored an early goal and Stefan Frei made it stand as the Seattle Sounders held off the Houston Dynamo 1-0 Sunday night after both teams clinched a playoff spot before the start of the match.

Seattle (14-9-8) punched its ticket to the playoffs after FC Dallas lost 3-0 to Orlando City earlier in the day and Austin FC tied Real Salt Lake 2-2. Houston qualified for the playoffs after Dallas lost.

Rothrock scored the only unassisted goal in the 22nd minute to give the Sounders the lead for good. It was his fourth goal of the season and the fifth of his two-year career, spanning 10 starts and 28 appearances.

Frei finished with a save to earn his 10th clean sheet of the season for the Sounders.

Steve Clark stopped three shots for Houston (13-9-9).

Seattle overtakes the Dynamo and finds itself tied with the Colorado Rapids for fourth place in the Western Conference. The top four teams in each conference open the playoffs with a home game.

Dynamo returns home to host the New England Revolution on Wednesday. The Sounders will travel to face the Vancouver Whitecaps on Wednesday.

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