Sounders FC advances to second consecutive MLS Cup with 5-0 aggregate win over Houston in Western Conference Championship

SEATTLE, WASH. - Sounders FC won its second Western Conference Championship in franchise history on Thursday evening, defeating Houston 3-0 in front of an energized home crowd of 45,298 to advance 5-0 on aggregate to the 2017 MLS Cup. Seattle now faces Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday, December 9 in the MLS Cup Final - a rematch of last season's championship, where the Rave Green will attempt defend their 2016 title.

Seattle scored the match's opening goal in the 22^nd minute courtesy of combination play between Will Bruin and Victor Rodríguez for the latter's first goal of the 2017 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. After receiving the ball just outside the 18-yard-box, Rodríguez played a one-two with Bruin, with the former Dynamo forward sliding a slick pass behind the defense to Rodríguez for a clinical finish into the far side netting. It marked the second assist of the postseason for Bruin, who scored the second goal in last week's first leg in Houston.

Clint Dempsey scored his franchise-best sixth postseason goal in the 57^th minute, doubling Seattle's advantage, with assists coming from wingers Joevin Jones and Rodríguez.

Former Dynamo forward Bruin continued applying pressure to his former team in the 73^rd minute, recording the match's third goal by converting a smooth through ball from substitute Harry Shipp. The strike was Bruin's third goal against his old team after joining Seattle from Houston in the offseason, having formerly played for the Dynamo from 2011 through 2016.

Houston played with 10 men following a video review incident that led to the retroactive dismissal Tomás Martinez in the 67^th minute, with Seattle closing out the series with a 5-0 aggregate result.

Goalkeeper Stefan Frei returned to action for Seattle after missing the first leg due to a hamstring injury and recorded the club's sixth consecutive shutout in postseason play. Sounders FC's current 647 minutes without allowing a postseason goal is almost three full games more than the previous record of 374 minutes set by New England in 2002.

MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 3 - Houston Dynamo 0
Thursday, November 30, 2017
Venue: 
Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee: 
Hilario Grajeda
Assistants: 
Peter Balciunas, Corey Parker
Fourth Official:
Alan Kelly
VAR:
Edvin Jurisevic
Attendance:
45,298
Weather:
Clear
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA -
Victor Rodriguez (Will Bruin) 22'
SEA
- Clint Dempsey (Joevin Jones, Victor Rodriguez) 57'
SEA
- Will Bruin (Harry Shipp) 73'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
HOU -
Eric Alexander (caution) 29'
SEA
- Nouhou (caution) 36'
HOU
- Boniek Garcia (caution) 60'
HOU
- Tomas Martinez (ejection) 66'
SEA
- Joevin Jones (caution) 67'
HOU
- Erick Torres (caution) 80'
LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam, Gustav Svensson, Chad Marshall, Nouhou (Harry Shipp 68'); Cristian Roldan, Nicolás Lodeiro - captain, Victor Rodriguez, Clint Dempsey (Jordy Delem 59'), Joevin Jones (Jordan Morris 76'); Will Bruin

Substitutes not used: Tyler Miller, Tony Alfaro, Henry Wingo, Lamar Neagle

Total shots:
6 (Dempsey/Bruin, 2)
Shots on goal:
5 (Bruin, 2)
Fouls:
 8 (Lodeiro, 3)
Offside:
 8 (Leerdam/Jones, 2)
Corner-kicks:
5 (Lodeiro, 3)
Saves:
 3 (Frei, 3)

Houston Dynamo - Joe Willis; Dylan Remick, Adolfo Machado, Leonardo, DaMarcus Beasley - captain; Eric Alexander (Boniek Garcia 46'), Juan David Cabezas, Alex (Ricardo Clark 78'); Tomas Martinez, Vicente Sanchez (Erick Torres 62'), Mauro Manotas

Substitutes not used: Calle Brown, Andrew Wenger, Kevin Garcia, Jose Escalante

Total shots:
9 (Martinez/Manotas, 3)
Shots on goal:
 3 (Martinez, 2)
Fouls:
11 (Alexander, 4)
Offside:
1 (Manotas, 1)
Corner-kicks:
3 (Sanchez, 2)
Saves:
2 (Willis, 2)
MATCH NOTES

• With a 5-0 aggregate win, Sounders FC advances to the MLS Cup for the second consecutive year and is set to face Toronto FC in a rematch of last year's championship fixture next Saturday, December 9. Toronto advanced on 1-0 on aggregate over Columbus Crew SC in the Eastern Conference Championship after winning the 2017 Supporters' Shield.
• With its sixth consecutive postseason shutout, Sounders FC extends its league-record shutout in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs to 647 minutes, dating back to the first leg of the 2016 Western Conference Championship. Stefan Frei, who missed last week's first leg with a hamstring injury, was back in goal for Seattle and set a new individual with 557 straight playoff minutes without allowing a goal.
• With the match's opening goal, Víctor Rodríguez recorded his first career goal in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and third since signing with Sounders FC in the summer transfer window.
• Clint Dempsey extending his all-time club with sixth postseason goal for Sounders FC, and his seventh career in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, third among active players. Will Bruin, who scored Seattle's third goal on Thursday, is now second among active players with eight goals in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs (Bradley Wright-Phillips, 9).