ATLANTA, GEORGIA - Sounders FC (4-9-5, 17 points) played to a physical 1-1 draw against Supporters' Shield-leading Atlanta United FC (12-4-5, 41 points) on Sunday afternoon at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. In addition to a national television audience on Network FOX, a Major League Soccer single-match record crowd of 72,243 was on hand to witness the back-and-forth affair, with Nicolás Lodeiro finding the scoresheet for the Rave Green.
A choppy first half elicited emotions from both sides, with three yellow cards between the two clubs and a critical Video Review decision from referee Baldomero Toledo that lead to a Sounders FC penalty in the 45th minute of play. After Atlanta's Franco Escobar was deemed to have handled the ball inside United's area following Video Review, Seattle captain Lodeiro stepped to the penalty spot, calmly converting his attempt past goalkeeper Brad Guzan. The spot kick was Lodeiro's second goal of the season.
Atlanta came out of the starting blocks in 48th minute, as MLS Golden Boot leader Josef MartÃnez converted a Julian Gressel lofted pass into the back of Stefan Frei's goal to level the score at one goal apiece. The strike was MartÃnez's 19th tally of the 2018 season.
The match's physical nature continued in the second half, with Seattle fullback Jordan McCrary earning a second yellow card from Toledo, resulting in his ejection from the contest. Seattle played the remainder of the match with 10 men, with fellow fullback Kelvin Leerdam making a substitute appearance following McCrary's departure. For Leerdam, it was his first appearance since June 9 versus D.C. United when the Dutch defender injured his right hamstring.
Gustav Svensson made his return to the pitch for Seattle with a 73rd-minute substitution for Chad Marshall. The midfielder just returned to club duty following his Quarterfinal run with the Swedish National Team in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. Additionally, new Sounders FC Designated Player Raúl RuidÃaz was included on the bench but did not play, with Sunday being the Peruvian's first eligible MLS fixture after signing on June 29.
Following Sunday's match in Atlanta, the Rave Green fly back across the country to prepare for their second Cascadia Cup clash of 2018 against Pacific Northwest rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The two sides resume their decades-old rivalry on Saturday, July 21 at CenturyLink Field. Kickoff is slated for 1:00 p.m. PT, with coverage being provided throughout Western Washington on JOEtv, Univision-Seattle and YouTube TV. 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM have the call on local radio.
MATCH NOTES
- With the result, Sounders FC moves to 4-9-5 on the season, currently occupying 10th place in the Western Conference with 17 points.
- A single-match Major League Soccer record crowd of 72,243 was on hand to witness the contest, the second ever between Seattle and Atlanta. Sounders FC drew with the Five Stripes at CenturyLink Field on March 31, 2017 in Atlanta's inaugural MLS season.
- Midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro scored his second goal of the season on a penalty kick conversion to close the first half of play.
- Lodeiro's first-half goal marked Sounders FC's first penalty kick attempt this season.
- Gustav Svensson made his return to Brian Schmetzer's lineup with a 73rd-minute substitution for Chad Marshall. The midfielder just returned to club duty following his participation with Sweden in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
- Fullback Kelvin Leerdam made his first appearance for the Rave Green since injuring his right hamstring versus D.C. United on June 9. Leerdam entered the match in the 65th minute following the departure of Jordan McCrary due to a second yellow card.
- New Sounders FC Designated Player Raúl RuidÃaz was included on the bench but did not play, with Sunday being the Peruvian's first eligible MLS fixture after signing on June 29.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 - Atlanta United FC 1
Saturday, June 23, 2018
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Assistants: Corey Parker, Nick Uranga
Fourth Official: Kevin Broadley
VAR: Alex Chilowicz
Attendance: 72,243
Weather: Indoors
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA - Nicolás Lodeiro (penalty) 45'
ATL- Josef Martinez (Julian Gressel) 48'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
ATL - Leandro Gonzalez Pirez (caution) 15'
SEA - Jordan McCrary (caution) 26'
ATL- Franco Escobar (caution) 44'
ATL - Michael Parkhurst (caution) 56'
SEA- Jordan McCrary (ejection) 63'
SEA - Nicolás Lodeiro (caution) 90'+4'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Jordan McCrary, Kim Kee-hee, Chad Marshall (Gustav Svensson 73'), Nouhou; Jordy Delem, Cristian Roldan, Harry Shipp (Kelvin Leerdam 65'), Nicolás Lodeiro - captain, Victor Rodriguez (Osvaldo Alonso 88'); Will Bruin
Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Alex Roldan, Raúl RuidÃaz, Lamar Neagle
Total shots: 8 (Lodeiro, 3)
Shots on goal: 3 (Three players, 1)
Fouls: 13 (Lodeiro, 4)
Offside: 4 (Bruin, 2)
Corner-kicks: 3 (Lodeiro, 3)
Saves: 6 (Frei, 6)
Atlanta United FC - Brad Guzan; Franco Escobar (Romario Williams 80'), Michael Parkhurst, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez, Chris McCann; Julian Gressel, Jeff Larentowicz, Hector Villalba, Miguel Almiron, Ezequiel Barco; Josef Martinez
Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Sal Zizzo, Mikey Ambrose, Kevin Katz, Brandon Vazquez, Andrew Carleton
Total shots: 19 (Gressel, 4)
Shots on goal: 6 (McCann/Gressel, 2)
Fouls: 12 (Escobar, 3)
Offside: 1 (Almiron, 1)
Corner-kicks: 15 (Barco, 9)
Saves: 2 (Guzan, 2)
