Raúl Ruidíaz’s 93rd minute strike marked the third time this year that a stoppage-time goal improved a Seattle Sounders result. It was an undeniably positive takeaway from Wednesday’s 1-1 tie with the LA Galaxy and a sign that the Sounders still very much embody Brian Schmetzer’s “we never quit” ethos.
Mathematically, it wasn’t quite as meaningful. The only difference it made statistically is that it gives the Sounders a slightly better chance to move into the top seed. Even without that point, they could have finished no lower than fourth and still could have moved up to second, as long as the Portland Timbers don’t claim full points.