SEATTLE, WASH. – Two goals on either side of halftime boosted Seattle Sounders FC (2-3-1, 7 points) to a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union (3-3-0, 9 points) on Saturday night on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field in front of a sold-out crowd of 39,620. Chad Marshall scored for the second-consecutive week, while Homegrown Player Jordan Morris opened his MLS scoring account for the Rave Green. Austrian playmaker Andreas Ivanschitz assisted on both goals, with the midfielder now leading Seattle with three assists on the season. With the win, Sounders FC is unbeaten in three straight MLS matches (2-0-1), and next faces the Colorado Rapids at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday, April 23 (6:00 p.m. PT / Q13 FOX, Univision-Seattle, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
The home side broke the scoreless deadlock before the stroke of halftime, as Marshall continued his hot hand, scoring for the second consecutive week for the second time in his career. Just like April 12 against Houston, Marshall secured a far-post finish for the Rave Green, this time off of an Andreas Ivanschitz corner-kick, rising to meet the Austrian’s cross with his head. Marshall finished past Union goalkeeper Andre Blake, giving Seattle a 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
Following the intermission, Seattle gained a man-advantage over Philadelphia for the remainder of the contest, as Union midfielder Roland Alberg was sent off for a dangerous challenge on Seattle’s Cristian Roldan. Referee Drew Fischer showed Alberg his second caution of the match for the scissoring tackle in the 53rd minute of play.
Morris added the exclamation point for Seattle in the 71st minute, as Ivanschitz delivered a cutting through-ball from midfield into the rookie’s feet, setting him up for a near-post finish past Blake. The strike is the first for Morris since signing for Sounders FC on January 21 as a Homegrown Player.
Philadelphia found a lone goal two minutes after Morris’ tally through former Sounder Sebastien Le Toux, but the Frenchman’s effort was not enough to overcome Seattle’s initial two-goal lead.
Sounders FC defender Brad Evans and midfielder Osvaldo Alonso each made their 200th career MLS regular season appearance on Saturday. The pair of Sounders FC originals were honored in a pre-match ceremony with Owner Joe Roth.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Philadelphia Union 1
Saturday, April 16, 2016
Venue: Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee: Drew Fischer
Assistants: Mike Rottersman, Claudio Badea
Fourth Official: Alejandro Mariscal
Attendance: 39,620
Weather: Cloudy and 62 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Chad Marshall (Andreas Ivanschitz) 41’
SEA – Jordan Morris (Andreas Ivanschitz) 71’
PHI – Sebastien Le Toux (C.J. Sapong, Fabinho) 73’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
PHI – Roland Alberg (caution) 32’
PHI – Fabinho (caution) 34’
PHI – Roland Alberg (caution; ejection) 53’
SEA – Dylan Remick (caution) 55’
PHI – Leo Fernandes (caution) 88’
SEA – Osvaldo Alonso (caution) 90’+5’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Tyrone Mears, Brad Evans – captain, Chad Marshall, Dylan Remick; Osvaldo Alonso, Cristian Roldan (Herculez Gomez 75’), Clint Dempsey; Oalex Anderson (Nelson Valdez 62’), Jordan Morris (Joevin Jones 82’), Andreas Ivanschitz
Substitutes not used: Tyler Miller, Zach Scott, Michael Farfan, Aaron Kovar
Total shots: 19 (3 players tied at 3)
Shots on goal: 8 (Ivanschitz/Morris, 3)
Fouls: 12 (Alonso, 5)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 3 (Ivanschitz, 3)
Saves: 2 (Frei, 2)
Philadelphia Union – Andre Blake; Fabinho (Leo Fernandes 82’), Joshua Yaro, Richard Marquez, Keegan Rosenberry; Warren Creavalle, Vincent Nogueira, Roland Alberg, Chris Pontius (Tranquillo Barnetta 63’), Sebastien Le Toux – captain (Fabian Herbers 75’); C.J. Sapong
Substitutes not used: Matt Jones, Brian Carroll, Anderson, Raymon Gaddis
Total shots: 13 (Sapong, 4)
Shots on goal: 3 (3 players tied at 1)
Fouls: 15 (Alberg, 5)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 7 (Alberg, 4)
Saves: 7 (Blake, 7
