SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC (12-16-4, 40 points) drew 1-1 with FC Cincinnati (11-8-13, 46 points) on Tuesday evening on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field. Fredy Montero scored the lone goal for the home side, as the Rave Green held on for a home point after playing the final 20 minutes of the match with 10 men. Brian Schmetzer’s side sits five points behind the final postseason spot with two games remaining in the 2022 MLS regular season.
Cincinnati struck first in the 24th minute, when Brenner got behind the Seattle defense and slotted the ball into the net at the far post, past the outstretched hands of goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
Seattle answered back in the 58th minute courtesy of Montero, who added to his all-time club lead with 76 goals across all competitions. Midfielder Kelyn Rowe darted up the pitch, scything a through ball past the Cincinnati defense that found Montero on the edge of the area. The Colombian beat Roman Celentano at the near post with a shot into the top right corner of the net for his third MLS goal of the season.
Kelyn Rowe was issued a red card in the 69th minute, forcing Seattle to play the final 20 minutes of the match with 10 men.
Sounders FC has two matches remaining in the 2022 MLS regular season, beginning this Sunday, October 2 with a road fixture at Sporting Kansas City (2:00 p.m. PT / FS1, FOX Deportes, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). The Rave Green host the San Jose Earthquakes on Decision Day on Sunday, October 9 (2:00 p.m. PT / FOX 13+, Prime Video, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH NOTES
- With the draw, Seattle remains in the hunt for a position in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Sounders FC now has 40 points and is five points from the seventh and final postseason place at the time of writing. Sounders FC has two matches remaining in the MLS regular season, beginning on Sunday, October 2 at Sporting Kansas City.
- Tonight’s match was just the second all-time meeting between Seattle and Cincinnati, following a 4-1 Sounders FC win on March 2, 2019 in FC Cincinnati’s inaugural MLS game.
- Head Coach Brian Schmetzer deployed a 5-4-1 formation tonight, with 10 Sounders missing due to international duty, injury and suspension. On international duty were Xavier Arreaga (Ecuador), Reed Baker-Whiting (U.S. U-19), Jordan Morris (United States), Nouhou (Cameroon), Alex Roldan (El Salvador), Raúl Ruidíaz (Peru), while the following players were injured: João Paulo (R ACL tear), Obed Vargas (lower back stress fracture) and Andrew Thomas (lower back stress fracture). Nicolás Lodeiro was missing through suspension due to yellow card accumulation.
- Fredy Montero’s 58th-minute strike to level the match at one goal apiece was his fourth MLS goal of 2022 and his seventh strike across all competitions.
- Montero’s goal was also his 76th tally in Rave Green, the most goals for any Sounder in the MLS era.
- Kelyn Rowe earned his third MLS assist of the season on Montero’s goal.
- Rowe’s red card for denial of a goal-scoring opportunity in the 69th minute of play was his second as a Sounder and his second overall career dismissal (July 23, 2022 vs. Colorado).
- Ethan Dobbelaere and Abdoulaye Cissoko started tonight’s contest, marking their first MLS appearances since July 29 and July 13, respectively.
- Cristian Roldan entered the match as a substitute in the 55th minute, marking his return from successful groin surgery last month. Tuesday night marked his first appearance on the matchday roster since August 14.
- With his goal in the 24th minute of play, Cincinnati forward Brenner bagged his 15th goal of the season, one strike of his team’s lead (Brandon Vasquez, 16 goals).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 – FC Cincinnati 1
Tuesday, September 27, 2022
Venue: Lumen Field
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
Assistants: Mike Rottersman, Jeremy Hanson
Fourth Official: Alex Chilowicz
VAR: Malik Badawi
Attendance: 31,291
Weather: 70 degrees and smoke
SCORING SUMMARY
CIN – Brenner Souza da Silva 24’
SEA – Fredy Montero (Kelyn Rowe) 58’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Jackson Ragen (caution) 53’
CIN – Obinna Nwobodo (caution) 69’
SEA – Kelyn Rowe (ejection) 69’
CIN – Luciano Acosta (caution) 72’
SEA – Will Bruin (caution) 83’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Abdoulaye Cissoko (Cristian Roldan 55’), Jackson Ragen, Yeimar Gómez Andrade; Kelyn Rowe, Josh Atencio (Jimmy Medranda 75’), Danny Leyva (Léo Chú 55’), Ethan Dobbelaere; Albert Rusnák, Fredy Montero; Will Bruin (Dylan Teves 84’)
Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 12
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 1
FC Cincinnati – Roman Celentano;Alvas Powell (Raymon Gaddis 83’), Nick Hagglund, Geoff Cameron, Matt Miazga, Álvaro Barreal (John Nelson 90’+2’); Obinna Nwobodo, Júnior Moreno (Yuya Kubo 67’), Luciano Acosta; Brenner Souza da Silva (Sergio Santos 67’), Brandon Vázquez (Dominique Badji 84’)
Substitutes not used: Ian Murphy, Alec Kann, Calvin Harris, Zico Bailey
Total shots: 11
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 19
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 3
- SOUNDERS FC -
