SEATTLE, WASH. – Second-half goals from Gustav Svensson and Nicolás Lodeiro propelled Seattle Sounders FC to a postseason victory over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night in front of 37,722 fans at CenturyLink Field. With the win, the Rave Green advance to Major League Soccer’s Western Conference Championship for the third time in four seasons, where Sounders FC awaits the winner of tomorrow night’s match between Los Angeles FC and the LA Galaxy. The match is slated for Tuesday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m. PT (ESPN / ESPN Deportes). With homefield advantage based upon regular-season point totals, Seattle can only host its next match in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs if the Galaxy prevails on Thursday evening. Following tonight’s match, Sounders FC is now 14-2-3 all-time at home in the postseason, including 11-0-1 in its last 12 matches.
MEDIA RESOURCES
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: https://sndrs.com/6tbma
PHOTOS - IMAGES FOR MEDIA USE:https://sndrs.com/w46j4
VIDEO - BRIAN SCHMETZER POST-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE: https://sndrs.com/2flgp
VIDEO – GUSTAV SVENSSON POST-MATCH MEDIA SCRUM: https://sndrs.com/cstvp
VIDEO – JORDAN MORRIS POST-MATCH MEDIA SCRUM: https://sndrs.com/ghmzj
VIDEO - NICOLÁS LODEIRO POST-MATCH MEDIA SCRUM:https://sndrs.com/r7pwn
AUDIO - DOWNLOADABLE POST-MATCH SOUNDBYTES: http://sndrs.com/audio
Despite conceding nearly 63 percent of the match’s possession to RSL in the first half of play, Seattle generated multiple clear-cut chances, but was not able to find a way past veteran goalkeeper Nick Rimando. In what proved to be his final professional match, the RSL mainstay recorded seven total saves in a hard-fought match.
The Rave Green finally broke the deadlock and Rimando’s clean sheet in the 64th minute, as Nicolás Lodeiro earned his 14th total assist of 2019 via his signature service during a corner kick. Midfielder Gustav Svensson scored his second postseason goal of his MLS career, firing a header past Rimando at the RSL goalkeeper’s near post, sending the home fans into a frenzy.
The crowd reached fever pitch in the 81st minute, when RSL conceded its second goal of the evening, this time with Lodeiro unleashing a deft shot from just inside the 18-yard-box and into the back of the net. Fullback Brad Smith spring the attack, finding the feet of Raúl Ruidíaz, with the Peruvian providing final service to Lodeiro.
With tonight’s result, Seattle is set to play in the Western Conference Championship for the fifth time in the last eight seasons, including the third time in the past four campaigns. In both 2016 and 2017, Brian Schmetzer’s side advanced to MLS Cup, winning the league title in 2016.
MATCH NOTES
- With tonight’s result, Sounders FC advances to the Western Conference Championship to face the winner of tomorrow’s match between LAFC and the LA Galaxy. The Western Conference Championship is set for Tuesday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m. PT on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.
- Seattle is set to play in the Western Conference Championship for the fifth time in the last eight seasons, including the third time in the past four campaigns.
- Sounders FC is now 14-2-3 all-time at home in the playoffs, including 11-0-1 in its last 12 matches.
- Seattle has posted a clean sheet in five of its last seven playoff victories.
- Sounders FC tonight won its 11th consecutive match in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs at CenturyLink Field. The streak is the second-longest in league history behind D.C. United, which won its first 12 home playoff games in club history. The Sounders FC winning streak started on November 30, 2014, with a Western Conference Championship second leg victory vs. the LA Galaxy.
- Sounders FC tonight improved to 3-1-1 all-time against Real Salt Lake in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, including a 2-0-1 record at CenturyLink Field.
- Nicolás Lodeiro has now recorded two goals and two assists in his last three playoff matches. Tonight, he recorded a goal and an assist in the same playoff game for the first time in his career. His goal was the sixth of his playoff career, which ranks him tied for first in Sounders FC history with Clint Dempsey. Tonight’s assist was the fourth of his playoff career, which ranks him second in Sounders FC history, behind only Joevin Jones (6).
- Gustav Svensson’s goal was his first of the season and his first since October 21, 2018 in a 3-2 win at Houston. The marker was the second of his playoff career, as he also scored on November 21, 2017 in a 2-0 win at Houston in the first leg of the Western Conference Championship.
- Stefan Frei recorded his ninth career playoff shutout, extending his own club record and gaining sole position of fourth place in league history.
- Raúl Ruidíaz now ranks tied for third in assists in Sounders FC playoff history with three. He has now recorded an assist in consecutive games for the second time this season (also: August 23 at Portland and September 1 vs. LA Galaxy).
- Brad Smith’s assist was the first of his playoff career. He ranked third on the club and first among defenders with six assists during the regular season.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Real Salt Lake 0
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Venue: CenturyLink Field
Referee: Alan Kelly
Assistants: Nick Uranga, Kathryn Nesbitt
Fourth Official: Rubiel Vazquez
VAR: Jon Freemon
Attendance: 37,722
Weather: 52 degrees and partly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Gustav Svensson (Nicolás Lodeiro) 64’
SEA – Nicolás Lodeiro (Raúl Ruidíaz, Brad Smith) 81’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
RSL – Nedum Onuoha (caution) 28’
SEA – Nicolás Lodeiro (caution) 82’
RSL – Everton Luiz (ejection) 83’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam, Román Torres (Xavier Arreaga 49’), Kim Kee-hee, Brad Smith; Gustav Svensson, Cristian Roldan, Joevin Jones (Víctor Rodríguez 62’), Nicolás Lodeiro – captain, Jordan Morris (Jordy Delem 71’); Raúl Ruidíaz
Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Nouhou, Harry Shipp, Luis Silva
Total shots: 20 (Ruidíaz, 8)
Shots on goal: 10 (Ruidíaz, 4)
Fouls: 9 (Lodeiro/Leerdam, 2)
Offside: 2 (Morris/ Ruidíaz, 1)
Corner-kicks: 9 (Lodeiro, 9)
Saves: 1 (Frei, 1)
Real Salt Lake – Nick Rimando; Donny Toia, Nedum Onuoha, Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera; Kyle Beckerman – captain (Sebastian Saucedo 80’), Everton Luiz, Jefferson Savarino, Albert Rusnak; Corey Baird (Joao Plata 73’), Damir Kreilach (Sam Johnson 76’)
Substitutes not used: Andrew Putna, Kelyn Rowe, Brooks Lennon, Marcelo Silva
Total shots: 7 (Savarino/Kreilach, 2)
Shots on goal: 1 (Kreilach, 1)
Fouls: 19 (Herrera, 4)
Offside: 2 (Savarino, 2)
Corner-kicks: 2 (Rusnak, 2)
Saves: 7 (Rimando, 7)
POST-MATCH AUDIO
Post-match soundbytes from Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer, midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro, forward Jordan Morris and midfielder Gustav Svensson are available for download via the following link: http://sndrs.com/audio.
