Sounders FC hosts Chivas looking to end slide

SEATTLE – The Seattle Sounders aren’t exactly slumping as they prepare to welcome Chivas USA to CenturyLink Field this afternoon.

But their lead in the Western Conference and Supporters’ Shield standings that peaked at 10 points has flattened to dead even with the L.A. Galaxy with five matches to play.

The culprit has been less a sudden drop than one of those prolonged, typical MLS slides back toward the mean.

Seattle lost three league matches out of four at the beginning of August before rebounding with five straight wins. Back-to-back losses against New York and Dallas in the past week have stoked fears of a second consecutive late-season collapse.