The Seattle Sounders will commemorate their 2016 MLS Cup title in their 2017 home opener against the New York Red Bulls on Sunday, March 19 (TICKETS). Here is a breakdown of everything you need to know about the match:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 4 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
WHERE TO WATCH: The game will be televised on FS1.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The game will air on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and in Spanish on El Rey 1360AM.
2017 RECORDS: Sounders: 0-1-1 (1 point), Red Bulls: 2-0-0 (6 points).
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 4-4-3 all time against the Red Bulls, including a 3-1-1 record at home.
RECENT MEETINGS: The Red Bulls defeated the Sounders 2-0 on June 19, 2016, in Harrison, N.J. after a two-week long break for Copa America Centenario. Mike Grella’s brace lifted the hosts past Seattle, which was without forward Clint Dempsey, who was away on United States national team duty.
CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION: Sunday’s match will cap a week of events, presented by Toyota, highlighted by a Men in Blazers podcast at The Showbox on Thursday, March 16, and the RAVE Foundation’s Back to Soccer Kickoff Dinner on Friday, March 17. Learn more about the events here.
CARDIAC KIDS: The Sounders open at home after salvaging a point at the death in Montreal against the Impact last Saturday. Forward Will Bruin poked home a loose ball in the six-yard box in the 94th minute to tie the match at 2-2 after Nicolas Lodeiro’s penalty kick in the 82nd minute cut the deficit in half.
DÉJÀ VU: The Sounders fell behind 2-0 in Montreal for the second straight road match to the start the season. While satisfied with the composure to rally and steal a point, Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer was not pleased with his team’s early struggles.
“We don’t want to fight and bite and scratch and claw and have to wait until 30 seconds until the end of the match to score two goals,” Schmetzer said on Saturday. “We also don’t want to concede two goals. We gotta stop shooting ourselves in the foot.”
SHIPP’S LEFT THE HARBOR: Midfielder Harry Shipp made his Sounders debut on Saturday against his former club Montreal after battling an ankle injury in the preseason. He started and put in an incredibly smart and technical shift in 72 minutes.
BIG FISH: Sounders defender Oniel Fisher entered in the 59th minute against the Impact in his season debut after working through the league’s concussion protocol. He came on for Gustav Svensson at right back, and Fisher immediately changed the flow of the match. His pace and willingness to get forward stretched the Impact defense and caused all sorts of problems on the right flank. His aggressive run into the box caused Laurent Ciman to take Fisher down in the box, which set up Lodeiro’s 82nd-minute penalty kick.
MR. 100: Goalkeeper Stefan Frei made his 100th regular-season Sounders appearance against Montreal. He is 48-33-16 in his three-plus years in Seattle.
TASTE OF THEIR OWN MEDICINE: A week after the Colorado Rapids opened their 2017 season with a 1-0 win — a score line that defined their successful 2016 season that saw them lose to the Sounders in the Western Conference Championship — the Red Bulls flipped the script and downed the Rapids 1-0 in New York’s home opener last Saturday. Rapids defender Eric Miller scored an own goal right before halftime for the match’s lone tally.
HISTORIC RUN: After starting off 2-0 in 2017, the Red Bulls are now 11-0-7 in their last 18 regular-season MLS matches dating back to last season. They are one match shy of tying the all-time MLS record set by the Columbus Crew in 2004-05. New York has not lost in the regular season since a 2-0 road defeat to rivals New York City FC on July 3, 2016, and is averaging two goals per game in that stretch.
TWO OF MLS’ BEST SINCE 2014: Since the start of the 2014 season, the New York Red Bulls and Seattle Sounders have the second and third most points in MLS, respectively. Only FC Dallas has more. Below is a chart of the top four teams.
IRON MAN ROBLES: Red Bulls goalkeeper Luis Robles broke Chris Klein’s MLS record for consecutive appearances with 142 in New York’s 1-0 win on Saturday. He’s played 12,780 minutes in that span including four consecutive seasons playing all 34 regular-season games. Saturday’s win was the 68th of his MLS career and 40th shutout.
D’AXED: When the Red Bulls visit CenturyLink Field, they will be without longtime center midfield fixture and captain Dax McCarty. New York abruptly jettisoned him to the Chicago Fire in the offseason for $400K in General Allocation Money.
OWN GOAL IS LEADING SCORER: Strange but true: The Red Bulls are 2-0 to start the season but have only scored one goal themselves, an equalizer from Daniel Royer in the opener against Atlanta United. Both game-winners in New York’s two matches have come via own goals.
