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MLS Seattle Sounders FC

10-Man Sounders Fall Short against Impact in 1-0 Loss

April 1, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Seattle Sounders FC Goalkeeper Stefan Frei makes a diving save on a first-half Montreal Impact free kick
Seattle Sounders FC Goalkeeper Stefan Frei makes a diving save on a first-half Montreal Impact free kick
(Seattle Sounders FC, Credit: Lindsey Wasson / Seattle Sounders FC)

SEATTLE, WASH. - Seattle Sounders FC (0-3-0, 0 points) lost 1-0 to the Montreal Impact (2-2-0, 6 points) on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field on Saturday night. A red card issued to Seattle defender Kelvin Leerdam in the 40th minute of play left Seattle playing down a man for the remainder of the contest, as Montreal capitalized through Jeisson Vargas to steal a second-half goal for the 1-0 victory. Sounders FC is now 2-4-1 all-time against the Impact in MLS regular season play, including a 1-2-0 mark at CenturyLink Field. The loss snaps a two-match unbeaten run (1-0-1) for Seattle in the series, following last season's 2-2 draw at Olympic Stadium and a 1-0 win at home in 2016.

Stefan Frei makes a diving save on a first-half free kick (Lindsey Wasson / Seattle Sounders FC).

Following the video review process just before the halftime whistle, referee Ismail Elfath ejected Leerdam for violent conduct, with the Seattle fullback putting his hand to the face of Montreal's Daniel Lovitz. The ejection was Seattle's third consecutive match with a red card to start the season, marking the second stretch of three-straight games in club history where the Rave Green have picked up red cards (June 16-24, 2012).

The Impact capitalized on its man-advantage in the 60th of minute of play, as Vargas clipped home an Ignacio Piatti pass for the lead. The goal was Vargas' second strike of the 2018 campaign, with Piatti adding his third assist of the early season.

Due to its upcoming bye week, Seattle does not play in Major League Soccer again until Sunday, April 15 at Sporting Kansas City. That match is slated for national television, with ESPN and ESPN Deportes carrying the Western Conference matchup. YouTube TV is set to provide regional streaming coverage, with local radio coverage on 950 Sports Radio KJR and El Rey 1360 AM.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 0 - Montreal Impact 1

Saturday, March 31, 2018

Venue: Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field

Referee: Ismail Elfath

Assistants: Kathryn Nesbitt, Jeremy Hanson

Fourth Official: David Gantar

VAR: Edvin Jurisevic

Attendance: 39,469

Weather: 51 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

MTL - Jeisson Vargas (Ignacio Piatti) 60'

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA - Kelvin Leerdam (ejection) 40'

MTL - Daniel Lovitz (caution) 41'

MTL - Ken Krolicki (caution) 48'

SEA - Román Torres (caution) 71'

MTL - Samuel Piette (caution) 83'

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam, Román Torres, Chad Marshall, Waylon Francis (Nouhou 84'); Gustav Svensson, Cristian Roldan, Magnus Wolff Eikrem (Jordan McCrary HT'), Handwalla Bwana (Alex Roldan 74'), Nico Lodeiro - captain; Will Bruin

Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Harry Shipp, Jordy Delem, Lamar Neagle

Total shots: 12 (Lodeiro, 4)

Shots on goal: 4 (Four players, 1)

Fouls: 12 (Four players, 2)

Offside: 4 (Bruin, 2)

Corner-kicks: 6 (Lodeiro/Wolf Eikrem, 3)

Saves: 3 (Frei, 3)

FC Dallas - Evan Bush; Chris Duvall, Victor Cabrera, Rod Fanni, Jukka Raitala, Daniel Lovitz; Samuel Piette, Ken Krolicki (Alejandro Silva 81'), Saphir Taider; Ignacio Piatti - captain, Jeisson Vargas (Anthony Jackson-Hamel 72')

Substitutes not used: Clement Diop, Rudy Camacho, Dominic Oduro, Raheem Edwards, Louis Beland-Goyette

Total shots: 8 (Vargas, 5)

Shots on goal: 4 (Vargas, 4)

Fouls: 18 (Piette, 7)

Offside: 3 (Three players, 1)

Corner-kicks: 3 (Taider, 2)

Saves: 4 (Bush, 4)

MATCH NOTES

With the result, Sounders FC moves to 0-3-0 on the season, with the next MLS match coming on April 15 on the road against Sporting Kansas City at Children's Mercy Park (1:00 p.m. PT / ESPN, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).

Sounders FC is now 2-4-1 all-time against the Impact in MLS regular season play, including a 1-2-0 mark at CenturyLink Field. The loss snaps a two-match unbeaten run (1-0-1) for Seattle in the series, following last season's 2-2 draw at Olympic Stadium and a 1-0 win in Seattle in 2016.

Kelvin Leerdam was issued a red card in the 40th minute, forcing Seattle to play the final 50 minutes with 10 men. It marks the third-consecutive match of 2018 with a red card for Seattle, the second time in club history this has occurred (June 16-24, 2012). Dating back to last season, Sounders FC has received a red card in four consecutive MLS regular-season matches after Clint Dempsey's ejection in the season finale against Colorado.

Seattle starters Román Torres (Panama), Gustav Svensson (Sweden) and Cristian Roldan (United States) all returned to the Sounders FC lineup tonight following their time away from the club over the most recent FIFA international break. Torres appeared in both of Panama's European-based friendlies this past week against Denmark and Switzerland, while Svensson started in a 2-1 loss to Chile but did not play in Sweden's other match against Romania. Roldan was a stoppage-time substitute in the second half of play in an international friendly against Paraguay in Cary, North Carolina.

Jordan McCrary made his first career MLS appearance when he came on at halftime for Magnus Wolff Eikrem, filling Leerdam's place at right-back. McCrary appeared in all four of Seattle's 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League matches against Santa Tecla FC and Chivas Guadalajara.

Rookie winger Handwalla Bwana continued his good run of form with the club, making his second MLS start in just three matches for Seattle. After signing as a Homegrown Player this past offseason, Bwana has played in every MLS match of the 2018 season thus far. He made his MLS debut on March 4 versus Los Angeles FC.

Montreal striker Jeisson Vargas recorded his second goal of 2018 tonight, while Impact teammate Ignacio Piatti added his third assist of the early season.

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics




Images from this story

Seattle Sounders FC Goalkeeper Stefan Frei makes a diving save on a first-half Montreal Impact free kick
Seattle Sounders FC Goalkeeper Stefan Frei makes a diving save on a first-half Montreal Impact free kick
(Lindsey Wasson / Seattle Sounders FC)		   



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