Sounders FC wins, Dempsey scores for the USMNT and Go Figure returns to SoundersFC.com after a little hiatus. Not bad, July. You’re off to a good start.
As the second half of the season is well underway, the Rave Green will look to stay afloat in the Supporters’ Shield race and compete in the 2015-2016 Scotiabank Champions League Group Stage matches.
Lots of competitive soccer means lots of notable statistics to uncover, so let’s dive in!
SEASONAL SIZZLES
Sounders FC (10-7-2, 32 points) sits in a tie with Vancouver Whitecaps FC for first place in the Western Conference, but holds the goal-differential tiebreaker. Despite having three fewer points than Eastern Conference leader D.C United, the two Cascadia clubs have two games in-hand, and thus lead MLS with 1.68 points per match. Seattle also ranks third in MLS with a plus-seven goal differential.
Through 19 matches, Sounders FC has maintained its pinpoint shot accuracy. The club ranks first in MLS with 42 percent of its shots on target (82 of 195). Individually, Lamar Neagle leads all MLS players with 65.5 percent of his shot attempts put on frame (19 of 29).
LAST WEEK’S LISTINGS
Friday’s win snapped a three-game losing streak, which was just the third time the club has dropped three consecutive matches in MLS regular season play since joining the league in 2009. The match featured last season’s regular season conference winners, including defending Eastern Conference top-seed D.C. United, who leads MLS with 35 points this season. Seattle defeated visiting D.C. 1-0 to improve to 6-2-2 all-time against United in league action.
The game’s lone goal was courtesy of defender Tyrone Mears, who placed a well-struck half-volley into the far side in the 88th minute. Not only was it the first goal of Tyrone Mears’ MLS career, it was his first goal in nearly five years. His last goal came on a set piece in January 2011 while playing with English-side Burnley.
In addition, Friday’s match also made way for Troy Perkins to appear in his first MLS fixture with the Rave Green. Perkins, who ranks No. 10 all-time among goalkeepers with 214 games played, made his club debut in the 44th minute as Stefan Frei left the match with a shoulder sprain. Frei ended his streak of 4,725 consecutive minutes played in league action dating back to the beginning of 2014, which is a club record for most consecutive minutes to begin a tenure with the Sounders.
MATCHUP MASHUP
Next up, Sounders FC faces the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park for the only time this season. The Fire, who currently sit in last place in the Eastern Conference table (4-9-3, 15 points), are winless in its past five matches, and have never beaten Sounders FC in nine regular season meetings. Currently, Seattle holds the advantage over Chicago in league play with a 6-0-3 record, including a 3-0-2 mark at Toyota Park.
Sounders Chad Barrett and Marco Pappa began their MLS careers with Chicago, and Pappa, who is Chicago’s all-time series leader in shots (16), shots on goal (seven) and is tied for the team lead in goals with Harry Shipp. Shipp leads the Fire in 2015 with five assists and is tied for third with two goals.
THROWBACK – JUNE 7, 2014
For the second consecutive season, Seattle heads to Chicago with 32 points on 10 wins and two draws. Last season on June 7, Sounders FC defeated the Fire 3-2 at Toyota Park for the club’s third win in three seasons over Chicago. Obafemi Martins netted a first half brace with goals in the 31st and 38th minutes, and Lamar Neagle added another tally in the 78th. Seattle overcame a brace from Shipp, who scored on assists from Quincy Amarikwa in the 41st and 82nd minutes.
A traditionally low-scoring matchup, Sounders FC had never scored more than two goals in the series—and Chicago had never scored more than one—until last season’s 3-2 Seattle win.
KEY(S) TO THE GAME
Get off to a fast start. This tends to be common key to the game in this space, but it is undeniably true. The Sounders have only scored one first half goal in its past seven games, yet holds a 6-0-0 record when leading at half, which is the best mark in MLS. Hence, fast starts are a crucial component to the team’s success.
And if there are goals early on, then the Rave Green won’t have to be bailed out of a deadlock from a defender to score his first goal since 2011 in the 88th minute. Although, admittedly, that was pretty sweet.
