Sounders FC wins second match in a row following 2-0 victory over Colorado at CenturyLink Field

SEATTLE, WASH. - Seattle Sounders FC (2-0-0, 6 points) defeated the visiting Colorado Rapids (0-1-1, 1 point) by a final score of 2-0 in front of 37,725 at CenturyLink Field on Saturday night, marking the Rave Green's second consecutive victory to begin the 2019 MLS season. With tonight's result, Seattle moves to 2-0-0 for the first time since 2012, with Brian Schmetzer's side scoring a combined six goals to spark their attack in 2019, while conceding just one goal thus far. For the second week in a row, Kelvin Leerdam got Sounders FC off the blocks in just the fifth minute of play, while striker Raúl Ruidíaz continued his fine form, notching Seattle's second goal three minutes later. Seattle now leads the MLS regular-season series with Colorado at 18-5-2, including a 11-2-1 record at CenturyLink Field. Including its three wins in the postseason, Seattle has 21 victories against the Rapids in MLS play, its most against any opponent.

Leerdam put Sounders FC on the board first in the fifth minute, giving him his second goal in as many games this season and the third of his MLS career. Similar to his strike last week, the fullback capitalized on a rebound opportunity inside the area after Seattle's initial opportunity was saved.

Ruidíaz tallied his second goal of 2019 just minutes later, marking his seventh consecutive appearance with a goal dating back to last season (including postseason). After a quick restart, Ruidíaz combined with Jordan Morris and Víctor Rodríguez in the final third to set the Peruvian up for a shot inside the area, giving Seattle a 2-0 lead.

With two goals in the opening eight minutes, Sounders FC set a new club record for fastest time to two strikes to start a match. The previous record was set on October 25, 2015 in a 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake, with Clint Dempsey and Marco Pappa scoring in the fifth and 10^th minutes, respectively.

Stefan Frei made three saves and earned his first shutout of the season, giving him 67 clean sheets in his MLS career, good for seventh in MLS history.

Following Saturday's result, Sounders FC hits the road for the first time in 2019, traveling to face the Chicago Fire on Saturday, March 16 at SeatGeek Stadium (10:00 a.m. PT / JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

• Sounders FC is now 2-0-0 to start the 2019 campaign, with both wins coming at CenturyLink Field. This marks just the third time in club history that Seattle has opened the season with two wins (2009, 2012).
  
• With two goals in the opening eight minutes, Sounders FC set a new club record for fastest time to two goals to start a match. The previous record was set on October 25, 2015 in a 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake, with Clint Dempsey and Marco Pappa scoring in the fifth and 10^th minutes, respectively.
  
• Sounders FC won its fifth straight match against Colorado and now leads the MLS regular-season series at 18-5-2, including a 11-2-1 record at CenturyLink Field. Including its three wins in the postseason, Seattle has 21 victories against the Rapids in MLS play, its most against any opponent.
  
• Leerdam now has two goals in his first two matches of the 2019 season, after previously recording just one in his first 41 regular-season appearances with the club.
  
• Ruidíaz also scored his second goal in his second match of 2019, giving him 12 goals in 16 MLS regular-season appearances after leading the club with 10 strikes last season. Including postseason, the Peruvian has found the net in his last seven appearances and has 15 goals in 18 games overall. 
  
• Stefan Frei made three saves and earned his first shutout of the season, giving him 67 in his MLS career, good for seventh in MLS history.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 2 - Colorado Rapids 0
Saturday, March 9, 2019

Venue: CenturyLink Field
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
Assistants: Mike Rottersman, Felisha Mariscal
Fourth Official: Alejandro Mariscal
VAR: Fotis Bazakos
Attendance: 37,725
Weather: 42 degrees and mostly clear

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA - Kelvin Leerdam 5'
SEA - Raúl Ruidíaz 8'

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

COL- Keegan Rosenberry (caution) 17'
SEA - Gustav Svensson (caution) 25'
COL - Benny Feilhaber (caution) 33'
SEA - Jordan Morris (caution) 52'
SEA - Cristian Roldan (caution) 59'
SEA - Kelvin Leerdam (caution) 65'
SEA - Nicolás Lodeiro (caution) 90'+3'

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam, Kim Kee-hee, Chad Marshall, Brad Smith; Gustav Svensson, Cristian Roldan, Jordan Morris (Román Torres 85'), Nicolás Lodeiro - captain, Víctor Rodríguez (Harry Shipp 68'); Raúl Ruidíaz

Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Will Bruin, Jordy Delem, Handwalla Bwana, Nouhou

Total shots: 13 (Ruidíaz, 3)
Shots on goal: 3 (Ruidíaz, 2)
Fouls: 14 (Kim, 3)
Offside: 2 (Smith/Ruidíaz, 2)
Corner-kicks: 7 (Lodeiro, 7)
Saves: 3 (Frei, 3)                               

Colorado Rapids - Tim Howard; Keegan Rosenberry, Danny Wilson, Deklan Wynne, Dillon Serna; Benny Feilhaber, Jack Price, Kellyn Acosta (Andre Shinyashiki 77'), Nicolas Mezquida (Niki Jackson 85'); Diego Rubio, Kei Kamara

Substitutes not used: Clint Irwin, Sam Vines, Sam Raben, Johan Blomberg, Cole Bassett

Total shots: 15 (Kamara, 5)
Shots on goal: 3 (Kamara, 2)
Fouls: 18 (Feilhaber/Rubio, 4)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 3 (Feilhaber, 3)
Saves: 1 (Howard, 1)