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MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC Gets Back on Track with 4-0 Victory over Colorado Rapids

September 29, 2018 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Raul Ruidiaz scored a brace and Nicolas Lodeiro (10) of Seattle Sounders FC recorded a goal and two assists against the Colorado Rapids
Raul Ruidiaz scored a brace and Nicolas Lodeiro (10) of Seattle Sounders FC recorded a goal and two assists against the Colorado Rapids
(Seattle Sounders FC, Credit: Mike Fiechtner / Seattle Sounders FC)

SEATTLE, WASH. - Seattle Sounders FC (14-11-5, 47 points) cruised to a 4-0 win over the Colorado Rapids (6-18-6, 24 points) on Saturday afternoon in front of a home crowd of 40,042 inside CenturyLink Field. Two goals from Raúl Ruidíaz, a spot-kick from Nicolás Lodeiro and a fourth and final strike from Víctor Rodríguez led the way for Seattle, as the Rave Green snapped a two-match losing streak and concluded the month of September with a win. Following the conclusion of the match, Seattle moved to fourth in the Western Conference, level on points with Portland but ahead of the Timbers via the total wins tie-breaker (14 victories to Portland's 13). Sounders FC trails third-place Los Angeles FC by just three points after LAFC's loss today in Chicago, but fifth-place Portland and sixth-place Real Salt Lake both have matches tonight and on Sunday, respectively. Following the conclusion of its single-season league record of nine consecutive victories with a loss to Philadelphia on September 19, Seattle finishes the month of September with a record of 3-2-0 (nine goals scored, five conceded).

FIFA World Cup veterans Lodeiro and Ruidíaz combined to open the scoring for Sounders FC, with the Uruguayan pouncing on a loose ball inside Colorado's area in the 22nd minute. Fellow midfielder Cristian Roldan initially recovered the ball from the edge of the six-yard-box before Lodeiro played an incisive ball to Ruidíaz, with the Peruvian banging his shot past Colorado goalkeeper Tim Howard. The strike marked Ruidíaz's six goal in 12 games for the Rave Green since joining the club during the summer transfer window, while Lodeiro bagged his team-leading 10th assist on the play.

Lodeiro played the role of scorer to kickstart the second half, as the 29-year-old earned himself a spot-kick after charging through Colorado's eighteen-yard-box and being brought down Kellyn Acosta. The Uruguayan stepped to the penalty spot and converted past an outstretched Howard, securing his team-leading eighth goal of 2018.

Ruidíaz found his second goal of the day in the 73rd minute, with Rodríguez initiating the attack before finding an onrushing Lodeiro bursting through Colorado's area. The playmaker held onto the ball while allowing Ruidíaz to make his run, allowing for another near-post finish past Howard. Lodeiro's 11th assist of the season puts him within one helper of his single-season assist high in 2017, when the Uruguayan had 12 in regular-season play.

Rodríguez captured his second goal of the campaign and his first strike since June 30 with a right-footed attempt from the edge of the area in the 80th minute. Kelvin Leerdam started the attack, playing a give-and-go with the Spaniard before the fourth and final goal of the day.

Seattle now turns its attention to the month of October, as the Rave Green conclude the regular season and look toward the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. First up is a home date with the Houston Dynamo on Monday, October 8. Kickoff for that contest is slated for 7:30 p.m. PT, with regional television coverage being provided by JOEtv, in addition to regional streaming via YouTube TV. Sports Radio 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM have the call on local radio.

MATCH NOTES

Sounders FC is now 14-11-5 on the season, and currently sits in fourth place in the Western Conference with 47 points, level with Portland but holding the total-wins tiebreaker. Seattle sits six points shy of first-place FC Dallas with just four matches remaining in the 2018 MLS regular season.

The win snapped a two-match losing streak for Seattle and gets Brian Schmetzer's club back on track for the home stretch of the 2018 campaign. Prior to the losing skid, Sounders FC achieved a league-record nine consecutive matches and a 12-match unbeaten run (10-0-2) dating back to July 4.

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 12-4-3 record in MLS action.

Seattle's 14 wins this season match its total from each of the past two seasons when the club has reached the MLS Cup Final.

Sounders FC won its fourth straight against Colorado and now leads the MLS regular season series at 17-5-2, including a 10-2-1 record at CenturyLink Field. Including its three wins in the postseason, Seattle has 20 wins against the Rapids in MLS play, its most against any opponent.

Raúl Ruidíaz recorded his second brace for Sounders FC since signing this summer, giving the Peruvian seven goals in 12 MLS appearances, second on the team behind Lodeiro's eight. Seattle is now 10-2-0 in matches in which Ruidíaz has appeared.

Nicolás Lodeiro recorded a goal and two assists on Saturday, extending his team lead in each category to eight and 11, respectively. His eight goals establish a new career high with Sounders FC, while his 11 assists are one shy of his MLS career high set last season, and two shy of the club's single-season club record of 13 held by Mauro Rosales (2011, 2012) and Obafemi Martins (2014). His 31 career regular-season assists for Seattle are three shy of the club's all-time record of 34 held by Rosales and Fredy Montero.

Cristian Roldan recorded his seventh assist of the season, second on the team and increasing his career high.

Víctor Rodríguez scored his second goal of the season on Saturday in just his 10th start. The Spaniard now has five goals and five assists in 26 appearances (including postseason) since signing with Seattle last summer.

Stefan Frei needed just one save to record his seventh shutout of the season and 66th in his MLS career. His 1.00 goals against average this season leads MLS is a current career high for seasons in which Frei has made at least 20 appearances.

Seattle's 32 goals allowed this season is tied with the New York Red Bulls for the fewest in MLS this season. MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 4 - Colorado Rapids 0

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Venue: Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field

Referee: Nima Saghafi

Assistants: Corey Rockwell, Felisha Mariscal

Fourth Official: Fotis Bazakos

VAR: Ramy Touchan

Attendance: 40,042

Weather: 69 degrees and partly sunny

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA - Raúl Ruidíaz (Nicolás Lodeiro, Cristian Roldan) 22'

SEA - Nicolás Lodeiro (penalty) 52'

SEA - Raúl Ruidíaz (Nicolás Lodeiro, Víctor Rodríguez) 73'

SEA - Víctor Rodríguez (Kelvin Leerdam) 80'

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

COL - Kortne Ford (caution) 25'

SEA - Osvaldo Alonso (caution) 33'

COL - Tommy Smith (caution) 38'

COL - Jack Price (caution) 40'

COL - Enzo Martinez (caution) 54'

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam, Kim Kee-hee, Chad Marshall, Nouhou; Gustav Svensson (Handwalla Bwana 85'), Osvaldo Alonso - captain (Jordy Delem 77'), Cristian Roldan, Nicolás Lodeiro, Víctor Rodríguez; Raúl Ruidíaz (Will Bruin 75')

Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Alex Roldan, Román Torres, Waylon Francis

Total shots: 18 (Rodríguez, 5)

Shots on goal: 7 (Rodríguez, 3)

Fouls: 15 (Lodeiro, 3)

Offside: 1 (Ruidíaz, 1)

Corner-kicks: 5 (Lodeiro, 5)

Saves: 1 (Frei, 1)

Colorado Rapids - Tim Howard; Deklan Wynne, Tommy Smith, Danny Wilson, Kortne Ford (Marlon Hairston HT); Jack Prive, Dillon Serna, Nana Boateng (Niki Jackson 16'), Kellyn Acosta; Giles Barnes, Enzo Martinez (Johan Blomberg 70')

Substitutes not used: Zac MacMath, Yannick Boli, Cole Bassett, Axel Sjoberg

Total shots: 8 (Serna, 3)

Shots on goal: 1 (Smith, 1)

Fouls: 15 (Acosta, 4)

Offside: 1 (Barnes, 1)

Corner-kicks: 4 (Acosta, 4)

Saves: 3 (Howard, 3)

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics




Images from this story

Raul Ruidiaz scored a brace and Nicolas Lodeiro (10) of Seattle Sounders FC recorded a goal and two assists against the Colorado Rapids
Raul Ruidiaz scored a brace and Nicolas Lodeiro (10) of Seattle Sounders FC recorded a goal and two assists against the Colorado Rapids
(Mike Fiechtner / Seattle Sounders FC)		   



Major League Soccer Stories from September 29, 2018


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