SEATTLE, WASH.- Forward Will Bruin scored his team-leading fifth goal of 2017 on Wednesday evening, as Seattle Sounders FC (5-7-5, 20 points) battled to a 1-1 draw against Orlando City (7-5-5, 26 points) in front of 42,333 fans on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. Orlando defender Chris Sutter equalized off a direct free-kick for the visitors just moments from full-time, halting Seattle's three-match winning streak at home. Currently in the midst of a four-game stretch inside 13 days, Seattle heads to Oregon on Sunday, June 25 for its lone match of the season at Providence Park against the Portland Timbers, with ESPN2 providing national television coverage of the Cascadia Cup clash beginning at 7:00 p.m. PT.
Bruin got Seattle on the board first in the 19th minute of play, as Nicolás Lodeiro played the St. Louis native through on goal, putting Orlando defender Jonathan Spector in a compromising position. Spector was unable to cleanly displace Lodeiro's through ball, leaving Bruin with a straight line to goal, with the forward finishing past Joe Bendik at the goalkeeper's near post. Bruin's five goals through 14 matches played (six starts) currently pace Seattle, with Clint Dempsey and Lodeiro holding four and three goals to their names, respectively.
Despite a 52.2-percent advantage in possession throughout the contest and 13 total shots to Orlando's 10, Seattle couldn't capitalize on several second-half scoring opportunities, leaving the door open for an Orlando equalizer. The Lions found their goal just moments from full-time, as Kaká lined up a direct free-kick in the 94th minute, finding Sutter crashing Seattle's six-yard-box. The Swiss international converted at Stefan Frei's near post, breaking Seattle's record streak of 427 minutes without allowing a goal at home.
Of note, defender Chad Marshall made his 400th career appearance across all competitions, becoming just the 13th player in MLS history to do so. The three-time MLS Defender of the Year has played in 355 league matches, 24 postseason matches, 13 U.S. Open Cup matches and eight CONCACAF Champions League matches.
With 17 matches played thus far in the 2017 MLS regular season, Sounders FC finds itself at the midway point of the 2017 campaign, with the Rave Green currently in a three-way tie for the sixth and final MLS Cup Playoffs position in the Western Conference with Vancouver and San Jose. Brian Schmetzer's side now readies itself for a third showdown with Portland in the past month across all competitions, with Sunday's game being the only contest at Providence Park this season. Originally slated for a 1:00 p.m. PT kickoff, the match has been moved on June 25 due to a heat advisory in Portland, with pre-match coverage beginning at 7:00 p.m. PT on ESPN2. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PT, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and El Rey 1360 AM are set to be onsite for regional radio coverage throughout Western Washington.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 - Orlando City SC 1
Wednesday, June 21, 2017
Venue:
Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee:
Ismail Elfath
Assistants:
Frank Anderson, Eduardo Mariscal
Fourth Official:
Dave Gantar
Attendance:
42,333
Weather:
64 degrees and sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA -
Will Bruin 19'
ORL
- Scott Sutter (Kaká) 90'+4'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA -
Clint Dempsey (caution) 75'
ORL
- Will Johnson (caution) 78'
ORL
- Jonathan Spector (caution) 79'
SEA
- Román Torres (caution) 90'+3'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Cristian Roldan, Chad Marshall, Román Torres, Nouhou Tolo; Osvaldo Alonso - captain, Gustav Svensson, Nicolás Lodeiro, Clint Dempsey (Tony Alfaro 90'+1'), Jordan Morris (Henry Wingo 87'), Will Bruin (Joevin Jones 76')
Substitutes not used: Tyler Miller, Brad Evans, Aaron Kovar, Harry Shipp
Total shots:
13 (Dempsey/Lodeiro, 4)
Shots on goal:
6 (Dempsey, 3)
Fouls:
15 (Seven players, 2)
Offside:
2 (Lodeiro/Bruin, 1)
Corner-kicks:
4 (Lodeiro, 4)
Saves:
5 (Frei, 5)
Orlando City SC - Joe Bendik; Jonathan Spector, Scott Sutter, Donny Toia (Victor "PC" Giro 84'), Tommy Redding; MatÃas Pérez GarcÃa (Luis Gil 64'), Cristian Higuita, Antonio Nocerino, Kaká - captain; Giles Barnes (Will Johnson 74'), Carlos Rivas
Substitutes not used: Josh Saunders, José Aja, Servando Carrasco, Hadji Barry
Total shots:
10 (Higuita/Rivas, 2)
Shots on goal:
6 (Rivas, 2)
Fouls:
15 (Higuita, 4)
Offside:
2 (Sutter/Rivas, 1)
Corner-kicks:
4 (Kaká/GarcÃa, 2)
Saves:
5 (Bendik, 5)
MATCH NOTES
- Sounders FC is now 5-7-5 in the 2017 MLS Regular Season. With 20 points, the Rave Green are in a three-way tie for sixth place alongside Vancouver Whitecaps FC and the San Jose Earthquakes.
- Seattle remains unbeaten against Orlando City SC with a head-to-head record of 2-0-1. Sounders FC have outscored the Lions 8-2 in the series.
- With today's result, Sounders FC extends its home unbeaten streak to four matches, after previously recording three consecutive 1-0 wins at CenturyLink Field.
- Defender Chad Marshall made his 400th career appearance across all competitions, becoming just the 13th player in MLS history to do so. The three-time MLS Defender of the Year has played in 355 league matches, 24 postseason matches, 13 U.S. Open Cup matches and eight CONCACAF Champions League matches.
- Defender Nouhou made his first MLS start at left back, playing all 90 minutes.
- After holding Orlando City SC scoreless until second-half stoppage time, Sounders FC sets a new club record with 427 consecutive scoreless minutes at home. Since allowing a penalty-kick goal to Jozy Altidore in the 23rd minute of play on May 6, the Rave Green posted three home shutouts, then nearly had a fourth until Orlando's stoppage-time equalizer. Brian Schmetzer's club hasn't allowed a goal in the run of play at home in 516 minutes, dating back to the first half against New England on April 29.
- With an attendance of 42,333, Sounders FC extends its MLS sellout streak to 154 matches.
