Wow, what a week.
In the past few days, records were set, streaks were ended and achievements were accomplished, not to mention the home debut of a particularly cheeky Brazilian midfielder. Between league and non-league action, it was a busy week for the Rave Green, and narratives are peppered throughout the numbers. Let’s dive in.
SEASONAL SIZZLES
Sounders FC (9-4-2, 29 points) remains in first place in the Western Conference. The club stands in good position as it holds a three-point lead over second-place Vancouver with one game in-hand. Overall, the Rave Green retook the lead in the Supporters’ Shield with a one-point margin over Eastern Conference leader D.C. United with two games in-hand. Sounders FC ranks first among MLS teams with 23 goals scored and 11 goals allowed, thus the plus-12 goal differential is the best in the league by a wide margin.
Last Saturday’s 3-0 win against FC Dallas included the return of forward Obafemi Martins in fine form. The Nigerian forward tallied one goal and one assist in 29 minutes of action as a reserve. His seven goals ties Clint Dempsey for the team-lead and ties him for third-most in MLS this season, while Dempsey also ranks tied for third with six assists and is tied for first with three game-winning goals and three game-winning assists. Midfielder Lamar Neagle continues to have the best shot on goal percentage in MLS (72.7 percent), with 16 of his 22 attempts on frame.
LAST WEEK’S LISTINGS
Saturday’s win against FC Dallas was the sixth win at home in eight matches for Sounders FC, which is the best mark in MLS this season. The stout defensive play yielded goalkeeper Stefan Frei his league-leading eighth shutout. The Swiss netminder also tops all qualifying keepers with 57 saves and ranks second with a 0.73 goals against average.
After making his MLS debut as a substitute in the previous match, Thomàs earned his first MLS start and appeared in 61 minutes of action. Defender Leo Gonzalez scored his second career goal on his first touch of the match in the 89th minute. Gonzalez, who ranks third in club history in appearances, starts and minutes, scored his first goal since June 5, 2010.
In addition to league action, Sounders FC also participated in the Fourth Round of the U.S. Open Cup against the Portland Timbers on Tuesday. The Sounders, which have won four of the competition’s past six titles, fell 3-1 in extra time. Due to three ejections and one injury, the club finished with seven men for the first time in club history across all competitions. Additionally, it was the first-ever loss by Sounders FC at Starfire Stadium in U.S. Open Cup play, which now boasts a 15-1-1 record in the venue (in the lone draw, Sounders FC advanced past the San Jose Earthquakes via penalty kicks last season). Seattle also allowed more than one goal for the first time as an MLS participant in the competition.
MATCHUP MASHUP
Next up, Sounder FC faces the San Jose Earthquakes, who currently rank eighth in the Western Conference (5-5-4, 19 points). San Jose handed Seattle its only home loss of the season in March, a 3-2 result in favor of the visitors. The club has won just once in its past five matches, going 1-1-3 in that stretch.
Sounders FC is 6-9-2 all-time against San Jose in regular-season action, including a 5-4-1 mark at CenturyLink Field. The Earthquakes are led by forward Chris Wondolowski, who ranks second in MLS with eight goals. A traditionally low-scoring matchup, Seattle has scored more than two goals just once in 17 matches.
THROWBACK - MAY 11, 2013
On a pleasantly warm May evening, forward Lamar Neagle scored a brace in a resounding 4-0 win against the San Jose Earthquakes at CenturyLink Field. It stands as the most lopsided win for Seattle in the series and snapped a four-game losing streak to the Earthquakes.
Seattle’s early attack paid dividends in the 28th minute, when Eddie Johnson played the ball into the box for Mauro Rosales, who chested it down to Neagle charging down the middle to rocket a shot past Jon Busch for his first goal of the season and a 1-0 Seattle lead.
Neagle added his second goal of the match in the 54th minute when he brought down a ball from Servando Carrasco, evaded a pair of defenders and cut a left-footed shot inside the near post for a 3-0 Sounders lead.
Although the two sides have met 17 times, that match marked the one time in which a Sounders FC player has scored more than one goal.
KEY(S) TO THE GAME
Stop Wondo. Chris Wondolowski has proven himself as one of the elite scorers in league history. Earlier this season, he became the ninth player to join the legendary echelon of the 100-goals club. Unfortunately, nearly a tenth of those goals have come against the Sounders. Wondolowski’s nine career goals against the Rave Green is the most of any opponent. When San Jose has had success against Seattle, Wondolowski has had success against Seattle. Indubitably, there is a positive correlation here.
