The MLS Cup Playoffs have arrived and here is the rundown of everything you need to know before the Knockout Round match between Seattle and Colorado.
Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids
MLS Cup Playoffs; Knockout Round
October 30, 2013, 7:30 pm PT; CenturyLink Field
TV/Radio: KONG 6/16 (in Seattle); ROOT Sports (regionally); NBC Sports Network (nationally); KOMO2 (Spanish TV); 97.3 FM (English radio); La Gran D 99.3 FM (Spanish radio)
Colorado’s Record: The Rapids finished the season fifth in the Western Conference at 14-11-9, going 4-8-5 on the road.
Head-To-Head: Seattle went 1-1-1 against the Rapids in 2013. The first match in April was a 1-0 win for Sounders FC at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, with Obafemi Martins scoring the lone goal to lift Seattle to its first win of the season. In July, they met for the only time at CenturyLink Field and Drew Moor and DeAndre Yedlin traded goals in a 1-1 draw. In the last meeting on October 5, DeShorn Brown scored 14 seconds into the match and the Rapids raced to a 5-1 win.
All-Time Series: Seattle won seven straight matches in the series and went unbeaten in eight matches against Colorado before the streak ended on October 5. Sounders FC is 8-2-2 overall in the series and 5-0-1 at CenturyLink Field.
Injury Report: Sounders FC – OUT: GK Josh Ford (R patella fracture); M Steve Zakuani (adductor). QUESTIONABLE: M Shalrie Joseph (R knee sprain); F Obafemi Martins (groin). Rapids – OUT: D Davy Armstrong (R ACL surgery); D Kory Kindle (sports hernia). QUESTIONABLE: M Jamie Smith (R knee); M Dillon Powers (concussion); F Vicente Sanchez (R shoulder sprain).
Key Player: Midfielder Gabriel Torres is the straw that stirs the drink in Commerce City. The Panamanian playmaker had one goal and one assist against Seattle on October 5 and added two goals against Vancouver on October 19. He is creative with the ball at his feet and provides the spark for the Colorado attack.
Projected Lineup: GK Clint Irwin (32 GP, 10 SO, 14-9-9, 1.10 GAA); D Marvell Wynne (28 GP, 0 G, 2 A); D Drew Moor (32 GP, 3 G, 0 A); D Shane O’Neill (26 GP, 0 G, 0 A); D Chris Klute (31 GP, 0 G, 7 A); DM Hendry Thomas (27 GP, 2 G, 1 A); DM Nathan Sturgis (25 GP, 4 G, 1 A); RM Nick LaBrocca (24 GP, 1 G, 3 A); CM Gabriel Torres (7 GP, 3 G, 1 A); LM DeShorn Brown (31 GP, 10 G, 4 A); F Edson Buddle (24 GP, 5 G, 3 A). Also: F Atiba Harris (29 GP, 5 G, 1 A); M Dillon Powers (30 GP, 5 G, 6 A); D Brian Mullan (16 GP, 0 G, 2 A); F Vicente Sanchez (8 GP, 1 G, 4 A).
Notes: This is Seattle’s fifth consecutive postseason appearance, trailing only Real Salt Lake’s six straight playoff berths as the longest current streak in MLS. … Colorado missed the playoffs last year, but won the club’s first MLS Cup title in 2010 with a win over FC Dallas in the final. … The Rapids have been shutout in each of their last three road matches, putting their road scoreless streak at 285 consecutive minutes. … The winner of Wednesday’s single-elimination round will advance to the Western Conference Semifinals to host the Portland Timbers on Saturday. … If the two teams are even after 90 minutes, they will play a 30-minute overtime, followed by a penalty kick shootout if a winner still has not been determined. … Seattle is 2-1-2 all-time in home playoff games.
