FC Dallas draw with Sounders, move into playoff position

Goalkeeper Jesse Gonzalez made three saves as FC Dallas moved into playoff position in the Western Conference with a 0-0 draw against the host Seattle Sounders on Wednesday night.

Dallas (12-11-8, 44 points) moved one point ahead of the Portland Timbers, who took a 2-0 defeat at home to the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday, for the seventh and final playoff spot in the West.

It was the seventh shutout of the season for Gonzalez.

Seattle goalie Stefan Frei made three saves for his eighth shutout. It was the first clean sheet for the Sounders in nine matches, dating to a 1-0 victory at Houston on July 27.

The Sounders (14-9-8, 50 points) moved two points clear of Minnesota United for second place in the Western Conference.

Seattle defender Xavier Arreaga received his second yellow card of the match in the 86th minute and was ejected.

The Sounders outshot Dallas 14-9 and had the better scoring opportunities.

Seattle nearly scored in the fifth minute, but Joevin Jones' cross from the left wing went just over the head of a leaping Cristian Roldan at the top of the 6-yard box. The ball fell at the foot of unsuspecting Sounders defender Kelvin Leerdam and rolled out of bounds for a goal kick.

Jones and Roldan nearly connected in the 55th minute, but the cross was just a bit behind Roldan and his shot looped over the crossbar.

Seattle's Jordan Morris came on as a substitute in the 74th minute and nearly made an immediate impact, but his shot from the top right of the 6-yard box was just wide of the right post.

Dallas' only shot on goal in the second half was by midfielder Brandon Servania in the 48th minute from outside the 18-yard box. Dominique Badji and Bressan forced Frei to make routine saves in the first half.

Gonzalez made saves on shots by Raul Ruidiaz in the 15th minute, substitute Victor Rodriguez in the 84th and Morris in second-half stoppage time.