SEATTLE, WASH. - Two first-half goals from midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro propelled Seattle Sounders FC (5-9-5, 20 points) to a 2-0 win versus Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7-9-5, 26 points) on Saturday afternoon at CenturyLink Field. The victory marks Seattle's fourth consecutive match with either a win or a draw dating back to July 4. New Designated Player signing Raúl RuidÃaz made his MLS debut with a second-half substitution appearance, following his signing after Peru's run in the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Seattle came out of the gate strong, earning the lead after just five minutes of play through a Lodeiro penalty conversion. Moments earlier, Vancouver's Doneil Henry was whistled for a handball, forcing referee Chris Penso to award Seattle the ensuing spot kick. The penalty was Lodeiro's second in as many weeks, with the Uruguayan playmaker converting a previous attempt on July 13 at Atlanta.
Lodeiro was not finished scoring on the day, bagging his second goal in the 31st minute with a long-range, dipping shot that was fired from well outside of Vancouver's area. Whitecaps goalkeeper Stefan Marinović misjudged the attempt, paving the way for Lodeiro's brace. The midfielder now has four goals in 2018, adding to his overall total of 19 strikes since joining the Rave Green midway through the 2016 campaign.
New Designated Player signing RuidÃaz made his MLS debut in the 61st minute of play, entering as a substitute for fellow forward Will Bruin. The Peruvian nearly scored in the 70th minute when he got behind the defense on a through ball from Lodeiro, but his shot was denied by Marinović.
Seattle now looks ahead to a pivotal two-match week with six possible points on the line, as the Rave Green aim to bridge the eight-point gap between themselves and the postseason cutoff. Currently there are six teams separated by nine points. First up, Seattle travels to San Jose for a midweek matchup at Avaya Stadium on Wednesday, July 25 (7:30 p.m. / JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). Brian Schmetzer's club then returns home to the friendly confines of CenturyLink Field for a nationally televised showdown with New York City FC on Sunday, July 29 (2:00 p.m. PT / ESPN, ESPN Deportes, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH NOTES
- Sounders FC is now 5-9-5 on the season and sits 10th in the Western Conference with 20 points, eight points outside of the six and final postseason position.
- The win extends Seattle's unbeaten streak to four matches (2-0-2), dating back to July 4 at Colorado.
- Nicolás Lodeiro scored his third and fourth goals of the season in the first half, extending his scoring streak to two matches after converting a penalty at Atlanta last weekend. Saturday marked the second multi-goal game for Lodeiro in MLS play, following a brace in a 3-0 win vs. Colorado on October 22, 2017.
- Raúl RuidÃaz made his Sounders FC debut when he came on for Will Bruin in the 61st minute. He nearly scored in the 70th minute when he got behind the defense on a through ball from Lodeiro, but his shot was denied by Vancouver goalkeeper Stefan Marinovic. Sounders FC's newest Designated Player was signed on June 29 and was on the bench last week at Atlanta, but did not play.
- VÃctor RodrÃguez recorded an assist on Lodeiro's second goal, his second of the season, but the Spaniard was subbed off near the end of the first half due to a hamstring injury.
- Stefan Frei made two saves and recorded his third shutout of the season on Saturday. His 62 career shutouts rank second among active MLS goalkeepers.
- Chad Marshall became the fourth player (and second field player) to pass the 34,000-minute mark in his MLS career in the 83rd minute of today's match. The 15-year veteran and only three-time MLS Defender of the Year winner has 34,007 career minutes played in MLS regular-season action.
- After appearing as a substitute in Atlanta last Sunday, Gustav Svensson made his first start since May 13 vs. Portland for the Rave Green after returning from FIFA World Cup duty with Sweden.
- Kelvin Leerdam completed his full return from a hamstring strain, starting his first match since June 9 versus D.C. United and logging 85 minutes on Saturday. Leerdam previously appeared as a substitute in the 65th minute of play on July 15 at Atlanta United.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 - Vancouver Whitecaps FC 0
Saturday, July 21, 2018
Venue: Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee: Christopher Penso
Assistants: Cameron Blanchard, Jeremy Hanson
Fourth Official: Farhad Dadkho
VAR: Allen Chapman
Attendance: 41,849
Weather: 70 degrees and sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA - Nicolás Lodeiro (PK) 5'
SEA- Nicolás Lodeiro (Victor RodrÃguez) 31'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
VAN - Doniel Henry (caution) 16'
SEA- Nouhou (caution) 17'
VAN- Kendall Waston (caution) 63'
VAN- Kei Kamara (caution) 74'
VAN- Efrain Juarez (caution) 77'
VAN- Efrain Juarez (ejection) 77'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam (Jordy Delem 85'), Kim Kee-hee, Chad Marshall, Nouhou; Gustav Svensson, Cristian Roldan, Harry Shipp, Nicolás Lodeiro - captain, Victor RodrÃguez (Osvaldo Alonso 45'+2'); Will Bruin (Raúl RuidÃaz 61')
Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Clint Dempsey, Román Torres, Waylon Francis
Total shots: 14 (Lodeiro, 5)
Shots on goal: 3 (Lodeiro, 2)
Fouls: 17 (Six players, 2)
Offside: 1 (Lodeiro, 1)
Corner-kicks: 6 (Lodeiro, 6)
Saves: 2 (Frei, 2)
Vancouver Whitecaps FC - Stefan Marinović; Doneil Henry, Kendall Waston - captain, Marcel de Jong, Jake Nerwinski; Efrain Juarez, Felipe Martins, Cristian Techera (Nicolas Mezquida 59'), Yordy Reyna (Aly Ghazal 81'); Jordon Mutch (Russell Teibert 70'), Kei Kamara
Substitutes not used: Brian Rowe, Sean Franklin, Anthony Blondell, Brek Shea
Total shots: 8 (Mezquida, 2)
Shots on goal: 2 (Kamara/Techera, 1)
Fouls: 18 (Henry/Juarez, 3)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 3 (Felipe, 2)
Saves: 1 (Marinovic, 1)
