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Seattle Sounders FC

Comeback Win over San Jose Launches Seattle Sounders FC into First-Round Bye in Audi MLS Cup Playoffs

October 28, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Seattle Sounders FC celebrate Fan Appreciation Day
Seattle Sounders FC celebrate Fan Appreciation Day
(Seattle Sounders FC, Credit: Lindsey Wasson / Seattle Sounders FC)

SEATTLE, WASH. - Seattle Sounders FC (18-11-5, 59 points) punctuated an incredible second half of its 2018 campaign with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over the San Jose Earthquakes (4-20-9, 21 points), as a two-goal performance from Designated Player signing Raúl Ruidíaz led the Rave Green to a first-round bye in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. With the win, Seattle completes its regular season having won 14 of its last 16 matches, good for a 2.53 points-per-game clip over the second half of the year. No team in MLS history has secured a better half-season, with the Rave Green climbing out of last place in the Western Conference earlier in the campaign, ultimately a 10th consecutive postseason berth.

Seattle's victory over San Jose combined with Colorado's win over FC Dallas, Sounders FC finishes the season in second place in the Western Conference, behind only first-place Sporting Kansas City. The Rave Green now have a bye in the Knockout Round and await the winners of Los Angeles FC vs. Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas vs. Portland. Ticketing details for the club's Western Conference Semifinal match are set to be announced tomorrow, Monday, October 29 by Sounders FC.

San Jose took the lead in the 64th minute, as Earthquakes forward Danny Hoesen fired a shot into the back of Stefan Frei's net off of defender Chad Marshall, but it was Seattle that had the final say of the match, with Peruvian striker Ruidíaz bagging goals in the 79th and 93rd minutes. Ruidíaz's stoppage-time winner sent the home crowd of 42,617 into a frenzy, as the Sounders FC faithful celebrated Seattle's ascension up the Western Conference table due to the win.

With a brace on Sunday, Ruidíaz finishes the 2018 campaign leading Sounders FC with 10 goals in 14 appearances since signing on June 29. Ruidíaz becomes just the eighth player (and 14th instance) in club history to record 10 goals in a season. Seattle improves to 12-2-0 when Ruidíaz appears in MLS play.

Following Decision Day, Seattle pivots quickly to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs - the club's 10th consecutive trip to the postseason since joining the league in 2009.

MATCH NOTES

Sounders FC players wore a customized jersey patch today in honor of Sounders FC Owner Paul Allen, who passed away last week, in addition to flying flags at the stadium at half-staff and honoring Allen with a moment of silence before kickoff. The club issued a statement of support following the news and wore black armbands in each of the past two road matches.

Sounders FC finishes the season with 59 points (18-11-5), the third-highest total in club history (64 in 2014, 63 in 2011). With Seattle's victory over San Jose combined with Colorado's win over FC Dallas, Sounders FC finishes the season in second place in the Western Conference, behind only first-place Sporting Kansas City. The Rave Green now have a bye in the Knockout Round and will await the winners of LAFC-Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas-Portland.

Seattle went 14-2-1 in the second half of the 2018 campaign, good for 2.53 points per game, the highest half-season PPG in league history.

With a brace on Sunday, Raúl Ruidíaz finishes the 2018 campaign leading Sounders FC with 10 goals in 14 appearances since signing on June 29. Ruidíaz becomes just the eighth player (and 14th instance) in club history to record 10 goals in a season. Seattle improves to 12-2-0 when Ruidíaz appears in MLS play.

Nicolás Lodeiro recorded his 16th assist of the season, finishing the season ranking third in MLS, in addition to leading the league with eight game-winning assists. In addition to establishing a new Seattle single-season high, Lodeiro's 36 regular-season assists for Seattle hold the all-time club record.

With three saves on Sunday, Stefan Frei finishes with 114 on the season, a new single-season record for Sounders FC.

Dating back to the club's loss to Sacramento Republic FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on June 6, Sounders FC has accumulated a 16-4-3 record in MLS action. Seattle has now won 13 of its past 15 games in MLS play. MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 2 - San Jose Earthquakes 1

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Venue: Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field

Referee: Chico Grajeda

Assistants: Matthew Nelson, Eduardo Mariscal

Fourth Official: Ramy Touchan

VAR: Kevin Terry, Jr.

Attendance: 42,617

Weather: 56 degrees and partly cloudy

SCORING SUMMARY

SJ - Own Goal (Chad Marshall) 64'

SEA - Raúl Ruidíaz (Cristian Roldan, Víctor Rodríguez) 79'

SEA - Raúl Ruidíaz (Nicolás Lodeiro, Víctor Rodríguez) 90'+3'

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SJ - Eric Calvillo (caution) 53'

SEA - Raúl Ruidíaz (caution) 90'+4'

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam (Handwalla Bwana 75'), Kim Kee-hee, Chad Marshall, Nouhou (Handwalla Bwana 84'); Gustav Svensson (Will Bruin 88'), Osvaldo Alonso - captain, Cristian Roldan, Nicolás Lodeiro, Víctor Rodríguez; Raúl Ruidíaz

Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Harry Shipp, Jordy Delem, Román Torres

Total shots: 18 (Rodríguez, 5)

Shots on goal: 7 (Ruidíaz/ Rodríguez, 2)

Fouls: 9 (Alonso, 4)

Offside: 3 (Ruidíaz, 2)

Corner-kicks: 12 (Lodeiro, 12)

Saves: 3 (Frei, 3)

San Jose Earthquakes - JT Marcinkowski; Shea Salinas, Francois Affolter, Harold Cummings, Nick Lima; Jackson Yueill (Luis Felipe 87'), Anibal Godoy, Tommy Thompson (Yeferson Quintana 90'+2'), Eric Calvillo (Magnus Eriksson 73'); Danny Hoesen, Chris Wondolowski

Substitutes not used: Andrew Tarbell, Vako, Florian Jungwirth, Gilbert Fuentes

Total shots: 7 (Hoesen, 3)

Shots on goal: 3 (Hoesen, 2)

Fouls: 15 (Three players, 3)

Offside: 1 (Hoesen, 1)

Corner-kicks: 2 (Calvillo/Yueill, 1)

Saves: 5 (Marcinkowski, 5)

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics




Images from this story

Seattle Sounders FC celebrate Fan Appreciation Day
Seattle Sounders FC celebrate Fan Appreciation Day
(Lindsey Wasson / Seattle Sounders FC)		   

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