The Seattle Sounders are visiting the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday in their third and final meeting of the regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 6 p.m. PT at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on FOX 13+ and Prime Video.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360AM.
2021 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Seattle: 17-6-6 (57 points, 1st West), Colorado: 14-6-9 (51 points, 3rd West)
PREVIOUS MEETINGS: The Sounders and Rapids drew 1-1 in Colorado on July 4th behind Alex Roldan’s first career MLS goal. Seattle then earned a commanding 3-0 win at Lumen Field two and a half weeks ago with goals from Cristian Roldan, Jimmy Medranda and JoĂ£o Paulo.
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Sounders: LWWWW, Rapids: LWLWD
BOUNCE BACK: The Sounders’ loss at the Houston Dynamo last weekend was their first in five MLS matches. It was a tough break against a team that was eliminated from playoff contention, but the weekend also saw the other three top teams in the West, including the Rapids, lose as well.
YEIMAR RETURNS: The Sounders will have one of their defensive aces back as Yeimar returns following a one-match suspension for yellow-card accumulation. The likely MLS Best XI candidate should be fresh and ready to go at altitude.
JMO SOON?: Speaking of returns, Jordan Morris traveled with the team to Houston but did not make the matchday roster. There’s a chance that Morris, who has not played since February after suffering an ACL injury while on loan with Swansea City, could be available on Wednesday for Head Coach Brian Schmetzer.
TWELVE-POINTERS: Forget six-pointers, the Sounders’ final place in the Western Conference standings could be all but determined in the span of four days. Seattle visits the third-place Rapids, who are six points back, and then hosts second-place Sporting Kansas City, who are five points behind. It’s as much about gaining points as it is denying Colorado and SKC from getting them.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN LOW: The Rapids come into the midweek match after a tough loss of their own, falling 3-1 to rival Real Salt Lake. The loss also sealed the Rocky Mountain Cup title for RSL.
TOUGH TO BEAT: The Rapids have lost just once at home this season, posting a 7-1-6 mark. Only Nashville SC, who is unbeaten, has fewer home losses than Colorado.
NAMLI OPENS 2021 ACCOUNT: Despite the loss over the weekend, Rapids Designated Player Younes Namli scored his first goal of the 2021 campaign. The Danish midfielder has been limited to just 470 minutes this season after undergoing ankle surgery on June 6.
