When it comes to covering this season so far for Sounders FC, the narrative can be spun in various ways.
While the club sits in first place in the Western Conference and is just three points away from the Supporters’ Shield, it holds just a two-point buffer for playoff position in the tightly-bunched Western Conference.
Although the club has lost four of its past five matches, the Sounders are 9-2-1 with Clint Dempsey and 7-3-0 with Obafemi Martins in the starting XI. The veteran forwards could soon return from national team duty and injury, respectively.
So, the moral of the story is this: the numbers never lie, but be cautious because numbers can be twisted. Now let’s dive in and explore the latest stats and storylines on the Rave Green.
SEASONAL SIZZLES
Sounders FC (10-8-2, 32 points) continues to sit in a tie for first place in the Western Conference, but holds the goal-differential tiebreaker over Dallas and Vancouver. Behind the three-way deadlock atop the table, LA Galaxy and the Portland Timbers have 31 points, and Sporting KC, with three games in-hand, have 30 points. The conference’s entire postseason field is separated by two points.
LAST WEEK’S LISTINGS
For just the seventh time in club history, Sounders FC allowed a goal two minutes into second-half stoppage-time or later. Jason Johnson’s 90+2’ scoring tally was all the Fire needed to beat Seattle for the first time in 10 tries (1-6-3) during regular season play.
The highlight for Seattle came in the form of Troy Perkins, who made five saves and was moments away from a shutout in his first start for the club. With 214 starts, Perkins ranks 10th all-time in career starts among MLS goalkeepers. His 44th minute substitution in the previous match against D.C. United was the first reserve appearance of his career.
MATCHUP MASHUP
Next up, Sounders FC returns home and faces the Colorado Rapids. The Rapids, who currently sit in last place in the Western Conference table (4-6-9, 19 points), have won two consecutive matches, but still have a league-low four victories on the season.
Currently, Seattle holds the advantage over Colorado in league play with a 13-2-2 record, which is the most wins over any opposing club in franchise history. At CenturyLink Field, the Rave Green hold an 8-0-1 advantage and have outscored the Rapids 19-7. Furthermore, Head Coach Sigi Schmid has had success against the Rapids since joining MLS – 27 of his 217 regular season wins have come against Colorado, which is also the most of any team.
THROWBACK – April 18, 2014; May 27, 2014
Despite being a few months shy of the postseason in the 2015 campaign, Sounders FC is vying for the treble this weekend. At least the Colorado Rapids version, that is.
After earning two wins against Colorado earlier in the season, the Rave Green have the opportunity to sweep the season series. In 2014, Seattle won all three matches against the Rapids, outscoring the Western Conference side 9-2.
In April, Sounders FC visited Colorado on a cold Friday evening at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park for the first matchup of the series in 2015. Lamar Neagle scored a goal in the fifth minute on a curling strike at the top of the area from Clint Dempsey, but Colorado equalized in the 22nd minute on a goal from Gabriel Torres. Merely three minutes later, Neagle completed the first half brace on an unassisted goal from close range.
Obafemi Martins secured the win with a goal in the 73rd minute that earned MLS Goal of the Week honors. The Nigerian striker collected a long pass from Andy Rose with a deft first touch, then coolly spun away from the defense and slotted home the shot.
In the return match at CenturyLink Field on May 27, Seattle beat Colorado 1-0. Midfielder Marco Pappa scored the game’s lone goal in the 15th minute on a goal eerily similar to Neagle’s initial tally in the previous meeting. His curler from just outside the area provided the necessary output for Seattle’s stout defensive effort to give Seattle the win.
KEY(S) TO THE GAME
Get in a groove from the onset. Colorado clearly comes into this match with a chip, considering the results of the two matches in the series from earlier in the season. Based on the recent performance of the two clubs, the Rapids will look to end its five-match losing streak to Seattle with an efficient start. In its past two matches, Colorado has scored in the 2nd minute, but also scored twice in second-half stoppage time. After being on both sides of late 1-0 winners the last two matches, the Sounders need to settle in from the beginning, and not have the match’s fate be decided in the waning seconds.
