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MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Game Notes - Sounders FC at Chicago Fire

September 23, 2010 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


The Seattle Sounders FC concludes its long and winding road in Chicago on Saturday before settling in at home for the majority of its remaining matches. The Rave Green, defeated 2-3 at Mexico's Monterrey in CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday, returns to league action with MLS playoff implications at the Chicago Fire on Saturday at 5 p.m. PT.

Saturday's game at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois will be broadcast on KONG 6/16, KIRO 97.3 FM, THIS-TV and Homero 1210 AM.

With its chances to advance out of Champions League Group C dwindled after dropping its fourth straight, 2-3 at Monterrey, Sounders FC must win in its final two CCL dates and relies on some additional help to stay mathematically alive. Its final two Group C matches are against Honduras' Marathón on September 29 and Costa Rica's Saprissa on October 19; both are on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field.

It's a much brighter picture for the Sounders FC with regard to the MLS Cup Playoffs. An emphatic 4-0 victory at Eastern Conference leader Columbus last week kept Seattle in the fourth and final wild card playoff position.

Sounders FC (10-9-6, 36 points) is sixth in the West on goal difference, but has lost only once (6-1-3) in its last 10 league matches. Chicago, featuring former Seattle midfielder Freddie Ljungberg, is struggling to remain in the postseason hunt. The Fire (6-9-8, 26 points) is fifth in the East and winless (0-2-2) in four games since losing, 2-1, on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field on August 28. It was the first win in the series after two draws a year ago.

The Rave Green is 4-5-3 on the road with three of those wins coming in the last five games. Chicago is 3-2-6 at home.

Seattle sent shockwaves through the MLS landscape on Saturday, dealing the Crew its worst home loss in five years. Furthermore, the three goals of striker Blaise Nkufo may signal the awakening of a potentially ferocious three-pronged attack featuring the Swiss international as well as Fredy Montero and Steve Zakuani.

Beginning September 29 when it hosts Marathón at 7 p.m. PT in the Champions League, Sounders FC plays three in a row at home. On October 2 at 12:30 p.m. PT Toronto FC comes to town and Columbus arrives on October 5 for a rematch, this time in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final at 7 p.m. PT.

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 23, 2010


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