The Seattle Sounders are hosting the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. Here is everything you need to know.
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 1 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on JoeTV, YouTube TV and Univision-Seattle.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2018 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 13-11-5 (44 points, 6th West), Rapids: 6-17-6 (24 points, 11th West).
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: LLWWW, Colorado: LLLLL
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 15-5-2 all-time against the Rapids, including a 9-2-1 record at home.
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Sounders defeated the Rapids 2-1 on July 4 on the road courtesy of a Will Bruin brace, and Stefan Frei producing arguably the save of the season on Shkelzen Gashi.
COURSE CORRECTION: After having their nine-game winning streak snapped, the Sounders have since lost two matches in a row. A full week of training, allowing Chad Marshall to recuperate from his head injury that kept him out last weekend, and a favorable home matchup will provide the club a platform to close out the season with a strong run of form.
THROWIN’ IT BACK TO 2016: One of the most memorable fixtures in the history of these two sides has to be the 2016 Western Conference Championship. The Sounders won 3-1 on aggregate and went on to win the club’s first MLS Cup title. Jordan Morris, then a rookie sensation, had his own “flu-game” in the second leg, scoring the massive third series goal in a 1-0 away win to seal the Western Conference title.
HOME STRETCH: The Sounders have the easiest remaining stretch of matches in the league, according to their opponents’ points-per game. With just five matches left on the schedule, Seattle’s opponents have an average PPG of just 0.9.
IN-GAME FLEXIBILITY: In Seattle’s 3-0 loss to the LA.Galaxy, midfielder Cristian Roldan played three different positions: right midfield, right back, and center midfield. That kind of versatility provides Head Coach Brian Schmetzer the tactical flexibility to tweak his lineup within the flow of a match.
SEATTLE TIES: The Rapids’ manager, 37-year-old Anthony Hudson, was born in Seattle, while his father, Alan, played for the Seattle Sounders from 1979-83.
Mr. 300: Including regular and postseason MLS matches, Sounders defensive midfielder Osvaldo Alonso has compiled in 295 appearances for the club. If he participates in each of Seattle’s remaining league games, he’ll hit the 300 mark.
THANK YOU, CHAD: Former Sounder Chad Barrett retired from professional soccer on Tuesday, Sept. 25. Barrett, who made 44 appearances in MLS regular-season play, scored 12 goals in two seasons with the club.
