The Seattle Sounders (14-6-6 48pts.) face the California Victory in the last match of the regular season home schedule on Thursday night, less than 48 hours after their heartbreaking loss to FC Dallas in the US Open Cup Semifinal.

The Sounders can finish at the top of the USL First Division with wins at home against California and on the road against Minnesota in their final two matches before the playoffs.

Roger Levesque is within striking distance of the USL First Division Golden Boot trophy for most goals scored and overall points going into the final weekend. Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar is just one assist away from a tie with Daniel Antoniuk of Atlanta as the league leader in that category.

Sounders goal keeper Chris Eylander will most likely lead the league in saves and is one shutout and one win behind Portland’s Josh Wicks for the statistical lead in those categories with two matches left to play.

California has had a disappointing first Season in the United Soccer League First Division. The Spanish owned side has scored a league low 17 goals and will be looking to play spoiler to the Sounders regular season title hopes while finishing 2007 on a high note.

Seattle defeated California 2-1 on May 26th and 1-0 on August 18th in the two previous meetings between the teams this season.

Seattle head coach Brian Schmetzer could be forced to utilize the depth of his bench after Tuesday’s exhausting 120 minute performance against FC Dallas. Players like Noah Merl, Andre Schmid and Craig Tomlinson have provided late sparks in recent matches and may be called upon to continue their recent good run of form against the Victory.

This will be the last chance that fans have to use flex and youth passes issued for the 2007 season. The home leg of the Sounders first round playoff match will be played on September 16th at Qwest Field against an opponent yet to be determined. Tickets for that match will go on sale to the general public at 10am on Saturday September 8th through ticketmaster.com.