Sounders FC suffers 2-0 road defeat to Eastern Conference side D.C. United

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In Sunday night primetime action in the nation's capital, Seattle Sounders FC (14-10-8, 50 points) fell by a final score of 2-0 to D.C. United (13-10-9, 48 points). Despite favorable results elsewhere across the Western Conference, Seattle's qualification for an 11^th consecutive postseason will need to wait another week, as Brian Schmetzer's side remains in second place in the West, one point ahead of third-place Minnesota United. In the tightly packed West, just six points separate the seven teams currently occupying places two through eight. Playing the first matchup between the two sides at recently constructed Audi Field, Seattle's all-time regular season record against D.C. United moves to 9-3-2, including a 4-2-1 road mark in the District of Columbia.

A frenetic opening to the match resulted in United drawing first blood, as Lucas Rodríguez vaulted the home side into a 1-0 lead in the 14^th minute of action. After Ulises Segura put an initial shot on-frame that Sounders FC defender Gustav Svensson blocked, Rodríguez jumped on the loose ball at the top of the area, smashing a shot past Stefan Frei for the Argentine's sixth goal of the season.

United began the second half in much the same fashion as the opening 45 minutes, this time by converting a set piece opportunity in the 54^th minute. Wayne Rooney took hold of a free kick from the left side of Seattle's area, playing a deft ball through the scrum of players and into the feet of teammate Frederic Brillant, good for the defender's second goal of the campaign.

Seattle continues its stay on the road next weekend, as the Rave Green play a pivotal match at the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday, September 29. Kickoff for that contest is slated for 4:30 p.m. PT (JOEtv, Univision-Seattle, YouTube TV, 1090 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM), with three important points on the line. In the penultimate match of the 2019 regular season, San Jose currently sits in the seventh and final postseason position with 44 points. Seattle remains in second place in the Western Conference on 50 points, with its final two games of the regular season against key opponents in San Jose and third-place Minnesota United on October 6.

MATCH NOTES

• With tonight's result, Sounders FC remains in second place in the Western Conference with 50 points (14-10-8), 14 points behind Supporters' Shield-leading LAFC. The club is now one point ahead of third-place Minnesota United FC and two points ahead of fourth-place LA Galaxy. 
  
• Tonight's match marked Víctor Rodríguez's first start since July 6 at Columbus Crew SC. Since making his way back from injury, the Spaniard has featured in recent weeks as a substitute, getting the starting nod from Brian Schmetzer in the absence of Nicolás Lodeiro.
  
• Nicolás Lodeiro was a late scratch this weekend after suffering a lower back injury in the September 18 match versus FC Dallas midweek. Per Head Coach Brian Schmetzer, the Uruguayan is day-to-day and is rehabilitating the injury in Seattle.
  
• Gustav Svensson made his first start in central defense this season, beginning the match in place of the suspended Xavier Arreaga. The Ecuadorian centerback received two cautions on September 18 versus FC Dallas, thus ruling him out for tonight's contest in DC. Svensson had last started at centerback over the early portion of the 2018 season, including back-to-back road contests at Toronto FC on May 9, 2018 and at Portland on May 13, 2018.
  
• Seattle's all-time regular season record against D.C. United moves to 9-3-2, including a 4-2-1 road mark in the District of Columbia. The loss on Sunday snapped a six-match winning streak in the series between the two sides dating back to 2013.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 0 - D.C. United 2
Sunday, September 22, 2019

Venue: Audi Field
Referee: Alan Kelly
Assistants: Logan Brown, Eric Weisbrod
Fourth Official: Silviu Petrescu
VAR: Sorin Stoica
Attendance: 18,489
Weather: 81 degrees and partly cloudy

SCORING SUMMARY

DC - Lucas Rodríguez 14'
DC - Frederic Brillant (Wayne Rooney) 54'

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA - Kelvin Leerdam (caution) 53'

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam (Emanuel Cecchini 82'), Kim Kee-hee, Gustav Svensson, Brad Smith; Jordy Delem, Cristian Roldan, Harry Shipp (Luis Silva 62'), Víctor Rodríguez (Joevin Jones 56'), Jordan Morris; Raúl Ruidíaz

Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Saad Abdul-Salaam, Nouhou, Danny Leyva

Total shots: 17 (Ruidíaz/Silva, 4)
Shots on goal: 4 (Silva, 2)
Fouls: 10 (Three players, 2)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 5 (Rodríguez, 5)
Saves: 2 (Frei, 2)                               

D.C. United - Bill Hamid; Russell Canouse, Frederic Brillant, Steven Birnbaum, Jorseph Mora; Felipe, Junior Moreno, Ulises Segura (Emmanuel Boeteng 83'), Paul Arriola, Lucas Rodríguez (Quincy Amarikwa 70'); Wayne Rooney (Luciano Acosta 77')

Substitutes not used: Chris Seitz, Leonardo Jara, Marquinhos Pedroso, Donovan Pines

Total shots: 12 (Rooney, 3)
Shots on goal: 4 (Arriola, 2)
Fouls: 8 (Moreno, 2)
Offside: 1 (Rodriguez, 1)
Corner-kicks: 4 (Rooney, 4)
Saves: 4 (Hamid, 4)