HOUSTON, TEX. - Gustav Svensson and Will Bruin scored first-half goals as Seattle Sounders FC earned a 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo in the first leg of the Western Conference Championship Tuesday evening at BBVA Compass Stadium. Tyler Miller, who started in goal for the injured Stefan Frei, recorded a shutout in his first appearance in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs to extend Sounders FC's current record postseason shutout streak to 557 minutes. The two sides head to Seattle for the second leg next Thursday, November 30 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field (7:30 p.m. PT / ESPN, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
Seattle got off the blocks with a crucial away goal through Svensson, as the Swede rose to meet a Nicolás Lodeiro corner-kick in the 11th minute of play. Fresh off international duty - where he played a key role in Sweden's two-match UEFA series with Italy to secure FIFA World Cup qualification - Svensson bagged his second strike of the 2017 MLS campaign to secure a critical away goal for the Rave Green. Svensson last scored on July 19 versus D.C. United, netting an equalizer in a memorable 4-3 comeback win.
Seattle's pressure continued to mount in the first half, resulting in another goal-scoring opportunity in the 27th minute, as Joevin Jones won a penalty after being dragged down by Houston defender Jalil Anibaba. Due to the infraction, the former Sounder was issued a red card by referee Chris Penso due to denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity. However, Joe Willis was able to bail his side out of trouble, as the Dynamo netminder dove to his left and thwarted Lodeiro's spot-kick to keep the score at 1-0.
However, with Houston set to the play the remainder of the contest with 10 men, the Rave Green pressed their advantage. Bruin bagged Seattle's second strike in the 42nd minute, with the former Dynamo forward burying a perfectly-placed header past a frozen Willis to make the score 2-0. Jones provided the service on the goal, marking Bruin's first postseason strike for the Rave Green on the heels of his 11-goal regular season. Before signing with Seattle prior to the 2017 campaign, Bruin led Houston's forward line from 2011 through 2016.
Tyler Miller started in goal for Seattle in place of Stefan Frei due to a hamstring injury, making three saves. Miller now has eight appearances for Sounders FC across all competitions, with his last First Team match coming in a 4-3 win over July 19 over D.C. United. Miller has 35 appearances for Sounders FC 2 dating back to 2015, including 22 this season.
Sounders FC now returns home for the second leg of the Western Conference Championship next Thursday, November 30 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field (7:30 p.m. PT / ESPN, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 - Houston Dynamo 0
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Venue:
BBVA Compass Stadium
Referee:
Christopher Penso
Assistants:
Jeff Muschik, CJ Morgante
Fourth Official:
Armando Villareal
VAR:
Kevin Stott
Attendance:
22,661
Weather:
Clear
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA
-Gustav Svensson (Nicolás Lodeiro) 11'
SEA
- Will Bruin (Joevin Jones) 42'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
HOU
-Jalil Anibaba (ejection) 28'
HOU
- Alberth Elis (caution) 29'
HOU
- Tomas Martinez (caution) 44'
SEA
- Nouhou (caution) 64'
SEA
- Román Torres (caution) 88'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Tyler Miller; Kelvin Leerdam, Román Torres, Chad Marshall, Nouhou; Cristian Roldan, Gustav Svensson, Nicolás Lodeiro - captain, Clint Dempsey (Victor Rodriguez 46'), Joevin Jones (Lamar Neagle 79'); Will Bruin (Henry Wingo 90'+1')
Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Tony Alfaro, Jordy Delem, Harry Shipp
Total shots:
14 (Lodeiro, 3)
Shots on goal:
5 (Lodeiro, 2)
Fouls:
10 (Four players, 2)
Offside:
1 (Bruin, 1)
Corner-kicks:
5 (Lodeiro, 4)
Saves:
3 (Miller, 3)
Houston Dynamo - Joe Willis; Jalil Anibaba, Adolfo Machado, Philippe Senderos (Dylan Remick 59'), DaMarcus Beasley; Eric Alexander (Romell Quioto 72'), Juan Cabezas, Alex (Leonardo 32'), Tomas Martinez, Alberth Elis; Mauro Manotas
Substitutes not used: Calle Brown, Ricardo Clark, Vicente Sanchez, Erick Torres
Total shots:
9 (Elis, 4)
Shots on goal:
3 (Three players, 1)
Fouls:
8 (Cabezas/Martinez, 2)
Offside:
1 (Manotas, 1)
Corner-kicks:
5 (Martinez, 3)
Saves:
3 (Willis, 3)
MATCH NOTES
- With the result tonight, Sounders FC heads into the second leg of the Western Conference Championship with a two-goal advantage as it looks to reach its second-consecutive MLS Cup. Next Thursday's second leg at CenturyLink is set for 7:30 p.m. PT, with a national broadcast on ESPN, as well as local radio coverage on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360 AM.
- Gustav Svensson scored the match's opening goal in the 11th minute, heading in a corner-kick from Nicolás Lodeiro. It marked the first Audi MLS Cup Playoffs goal for Svensson, who had one goal and four assists in 32 regular-season appearances. It was the second assist of the 2017 postseason for Lodeiro, who recorded 12 in the regular season.
- Will Bruin scored his first postseason goal for Sounders FC by heading in a ball from Joevin Jones in the 42nd minute. However, it is the seventh career goal for Bruin in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs after scoring six in his time with the Dynamo from 2012-2016. Jones now has four postseason assists for Seattle, the most in club history.
- Tyler Miller started in goal for Seattle in tonight's first leg in place of Stefan Frei, who suffered a hamstring injury in training prior leaving Seattle, making three saves en route to the shutout. Miller now has eight appearances for Sounders FC across all competitions, with his lone regular-season appearance in 2017 in a 4-3 win over July 19 over D.C. United. He also started both of the club's 2017 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup fixtures, a 2-1 win over Portland on June 13 and a 2-1 loss at San Jose on June 28. Miller has 35 appearances for Sounders FC 2 dating back to 2015, including 22 this season.
- Sounders FC recorded its first win at Houston in 10 all-time appearances in regular season and postseason play, while holding a 6-0-3 record at CenturyLink Field. Tuesday marked the third postseason match between the two sides, after Seattle and Houston met in the 2009 Western Conference Semifinals.
- Sounders FC is 13-10-6 all-time in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, including a current six-match unbeaten streak (4-0-2).
- Seattle extended its MLS postseason record shutout streak to 557 minutes. Dating back to September 16, Seattle has kept its opponents off the scoresheet in seven of its last nine outings across all competitions.
