Seattle looks to punch its ticket to the postseason against the Rapids and here is all the info you need to know heading into the match.
Sounders FC @ Colorado Rapids
October 5, 2013, 7 pm PT; Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
TV/Radio: NBC Sports; 97.3 FM; La Gran D 99.3 FM (Spanish)
Colorado’s Record: The Rapids are fifth in the Western Conference at 12-9-9 (45 points) and 8-3-4 at home.
All-Time Series: Seattle is 8-1-2 against the Rapids in MLS play and hasn’t lost since May 29, 2010, a 1-0 loss at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. Sounders FC’s current unbeaten run against Colorado is at eight games (7-0-1).
Injury Report: Sounders FC – OUT: GK Josh Ford (R patella fracture). QUESTIONABLE: F Will Bates (R knee injury); M Clint Dempsey (R hamstring strain); D Leo Gonzalez (L hip injury); M Shalrie Joseph (R knee sprain); M Philip Lund (R knee injury); D Djimi Traore (L hamstring strain). Rapids – OUT: D Davy Armstrong (R ACL surgery); D Kory Kindle (sports hernia). QUESTIONABLE: M Jamie Smith (R knee).
Key player: Forward Edson Buddle may have finally found the form that earned him a spot on the 2010 World Cup squad. In his last five matches, he has three goals, all scored in consecutive matches against Vancouver, Kansas City and LA. He has been hot and cold all year, with his other two goals coming in consecutive matches in May, but is a proven goalscorer in MLS with 98 goals in his career.
Notes: Sounders FC can clinch a playoff berth with a victory on Saturday. … Midfielder Mauro Rosales tied Fredy Montero for the club record with 34 assists in his career. He shares the league-lead with five game-winning assists this season. In six career matches against the Rapids, Rosales has five assists. … Goalkeeper Michael Gspurning has allowed just one goal in three matches against the Rapids. … After a nine-match unbeaten streak (5-0-4), Colorado has gone 2-2-0, with losses to Sporting Kansas City and the Portland Timbers bookending wins over the LA Galaxy and FC Dallas. … Seattle is unbeaten in its last seven matches (5-0-2). … Saturday’s match starts a stretch of three games in nine days for Seattle, continuing on Wednesday against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and finishing against the Timbers on Sunday, October 13. In two previous stretches of three games in eight days, Seattle has gone 5-0-1.
