MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes

Published on June 3, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Seattle Sounders FC returns to the Pacific Northwest following a three-match road trip to host the Vancouver Whitecaps FC in the second Cascadia Cup contest of the season. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.

The match will be nationally broadcast on NBC Sports Network with Arlo White and Kyle Martino on the call. Ross Fletcher and Kasey Keller will call the match on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, and the match is also available in Spanish on La Gran D 99.3 FM.

Sounders FC (5-4-3, 18 points) extended its unbeaten streak versus Chivas USA to nine games (5-0-4) with a 2-nil win last Saturday at The Home Depot Center. Sounders FC is the best team in MLS over the past seven games with five wins and one draw, and currently sits two points out of a Western Conference playoff spot with games in hand.

With consecutive four-goal games in the last two CenturyLink Field outings, Sounders FC will look to extend its four-game home unbeaten streak against the rival Whitecaps FC. The match will be the first of the season that Sounders FC will open seating to include the entire stadium, having gone 6-0-2 in games featuring a crowd of more than 40,000 with a plus-14 goal differential.

Vancouver (4-4-4, 16 points) earned a late 2-1 road victory over the New York Red Bulls last Saturday, netting two second-half strikes after conceding an own goal just after the break. Unbeaten in the last three outings (2-0-1), the Whitecaps FC will look for its first Cascadia Cup win of the MLS-era, going winless in 11 matches against Sounders FC (0-2-3) and the Portland Timbers (0-4-2).

Seattle earned two road draws and a shutout home victory in the 2012 season series against Vancouver. The two sides will meet again on July 6 at Vancouver and October 9 in Seattle. Saturday's match will be the 130th all-time meeting between Seattle and Vancouver soccer teams, dating back to 1974, with Seattle holding the advantage at 62-46-21.

Sounders FC is teaming up with The UPS Store to collect books and funds to support the Toys for Tots Literacy Program at the match versus Vancouver. Donate new books at The UPS Store or at CenturyLink Field on June 8.

The Whitecaps FC match is included in the Sounders FC 4-Match ticket packages, which are available by phone at 1-877-MLS-GOAL or online at www.SoundersFC.com . Single-match tickets to Sounders FC home matches are available through SoundersFC.com, all Ticketmaster Outlets, the CenturyLink Field Box Office or by calling 800-745-3000.

On Tuesday, June 11, CenturyLink Field will host the U.S. Men's National Team in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Panama. Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. PT. Tickets to the qualifier are available through Ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster by phone (800-745-3000) and the CenturyLink Field Box Office.

Time Change Reminder

Saturday's match against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC was originally scheduled for 1 p.m. but was rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. to allow fans to access both stadiums. The Seattle Mariners host the New York Yankees at 1:10 p.m.

Best in MLS: Seattle Top Team over Past Seven

Sounders FC has the best record in MLS over the past seven matches. At 5-1-1, Seattle is two points clear of Montreal, New England and New York, averaging 2.29 points per game in that span. Sounders FC also holds the second-best goal differential and has scored the second-most goals over the past seven games.

Best Record Over Past Seven MLS Matches

Team Record (points) Goal Differential

Sounders FC 5-1-1 (16 pts.) +9 (14/5)

New England 4-1-2 (14 pts.) +10 (13/3)

Montreal 4-1-2 (14 pts.) +5 (16/11)

New York 4-1-2 (14 pts.) +3 (10/7)

Salt Lake 4-2-1 (13 pts.) +6 (14/8)

Portland 3-0-4 (13 pts.) +6 (12/6)

LA Galaxy 4-3-0 (12 pts.) +7 (13/6)

Colorado 3-1-3 (12 pts.) +2 (9/7)

Dallas 3-1-3 (12 pts.) +2 (10/8)

Top Dozen: Seattle Posts Second-best Start in Club History

Sounders FC has earned 18 points through the first 12 matches of the 2013 MLS regular season, marking the second-best record in club history. In both 2009 and 2011, Seattle earned 17 points through the opening dozen matches, and the top mark was set last season at 23 points.

Record through First 12 Matches

Year Record (points)

2012 7-3-2 (23 pts.)

2013 5-4-3 (18 pts.)

2011 4-3-5 (17 pts.)

2009 4-3-5 (17 pts.)

2010 4-5-3 (15 pts.)

On Track: Sounders on 1.5 Points Per Game

The recent string of results has upped Seattle's average to 1.5 points per game, which ranks fifth in the West and eighth overall. Since 2009, just one team (Columbus Crew-2012) has missed the playoffs after averaging at least 1.5 points per game during the regular season. Sounders FC has averaged more than 1.5 points per game each of its first four seasons. The team's best average was in 2011 (1.85 PPG) and the lowest was in the inaugural campaign (1.57 PPG).

OBAGOAL: Martins Strikes Again

When Obafemi Martins calmly chipped the onrushing Dan Kennedy in the 22nd minute of last Saturday's match, he became the fastest player to score four goals in club history. Martins has scored four goals in 317 minutes over his first seven appearances, besting both Blaise Nkufo and Fredy Montero's marks. Sounders FC has won all four matches in which Martins has scored, and he currently leads the league in goals per 90 minutes (0.98) and ranks third in scoring percentage with four goals on nine shots (44.4).

Fastest to Four Goals - Club History

Player GP Minutes Year

Obafemi Martins 7 317 2013

Blaise Nkufo 7 582 2011

Fredy Montero 8 594 2009

Goals per 90 minutes - MLS

Player Team Mins. Goals Average

Obafemi Martins SEA 366 4 0.98

Kenny Miller VAN 303 3 0.89

Warren Creavalle HOU 310 3 0.87

Jonathan Osorio TOR 313 3 0.86

Robbie Keane LA 523 5 0.86

Marco Di Vaio MTL 955 9 0.85

Jack McInerney PHI 1159 10 0.78

Mike Magee CHI* 979 7 0.64

Alvaro Saborio RSL 565 4 0.64

Diego Fagundez NE 722 5 0.62

Minimum: 2 goals

*Current team listed

Carrasco Continues String of Starts

Servando Carrasco has started six straight games, the second-longest string of consecutive starts of any Seattle field player. The 24-year-old midfielder is approaching his career-high of seven games started and 689 minutes, set in 2011, and also recorded his first MLS assist earlier this season. Overall, the team has gone 4-1-1 this season with Carrasco in the Starting XI, and has gone 15-6-7 in his 28 all-time appearances for Sounders FC.

Vancouver Rivalry Dates to 1974

Saturday will mark the 130 th meeting between Seattle and Vancouver soccer teams in league, cup and friendly play since the Sounders and Whitecaps first collided on June 9, 1974 at the old Empire Stadium in a North American Soccer League match.

Seattle holds the all-time advantage at 62-46-21. Following the demise of the Sounders after nine years in the NASL, a new club, FC Seattle, made its debut on June 10, 1984, at Memorial Stadium against the Whitecaps. FC Seattle earned a 2-2 draw in the first match with Vancouver and scored its first victory against the 'Caps, 2-1, on August 4 at B.C. Place.

After the NASL folded, Vancouver formed the 86ers and began to play in the Canadian Soccer League in 1987, and faced FC Seattle in seven friendlies beginning that season through 1990. The rivalry was renewed in 1994 when the Sounders joined the 86ers in the A-League. Vancouver adopted the Whitecaps brand once again beginning in 2001, and soon after supporters groups from Seattle, Portland and Vancouver founded the Cascadia Cup, a three-way competition to determine Pacific Northwest supremacy amongst the Sounders, Timbers and Whitecaps. In the 209 all-time games against Portland and Vancouver soccer teams, Seattle reigns supreme with 103 wins, 74 losses and 32 draws .

Seattle vs. Vancouver All-Time Series

1974-83: NASL - Sounders 13 wins; Whitecaps 17 wins; 1 draw

1984: Friendlies - FC Seattle 1 win; Whitecaps 0 wins; 1 draw

1987-90: WSL/Friendlies - FC Seattle 3 wins; 86ers 3 wins; 0 draws

1994-08: USL-1 - Sounders 43 wins; 86ers/Whitecaps 25 wins; 16 draws

2011-present: MLS/Friendlies - Sounders 2 wins; Whitecaps 1 win; 3 draws

Totals: 129 matches played - Seattle 62 wins, Vancouver 46 wins; 21 draws

2013 Cascadia Cup Update

The current Cup-holders Portland Timbers have taken the early lead with draws in their first two Cascadia Cup matches of the season. Seattle and Vancouver are level with one draw, and the Timbers lead the group with three goals scored. After playing four of six away last season, Sounders FC will have home-field advantage with four Cascadia Cup contests at CenturyLink Field in 2013. The Timers will host just two rivalry games while the Whitecaps are split with three home and three away.

2013 Cascadia Cup Standings

Team GP Record Goal Differential

Portland Timbers 2 0-0-2 0 (3/3)

Vancouver Whitecaps 1 0-0-1 0 (2/2)

Seattle Sounders FC 1 0-0-1 0 (1/1)

2013 Cascadia Cup Schedule/Results

Date Location Match

March 16 CenturyLink Field Sounders FC 1 vs. Portland Timbers 1

May 18 BC Place Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 vs. Portland Timbers 2

June 8 CenturyLink Field Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

July 6 BC Place Sounders FC at Vancouver Whitecaps FC

August 3 JELD-WEN Field Portland Timbers vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

August 25 CenturyLink Field Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers

October 6 BC Place Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs. Portland Timbers

October 9 CenturyLink Field Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

October 13 JELD-WEN Field Sounders FC at Portland Timbers

Sea of Rave Green

With seating expanded to include the entire stadium, Saturday's match is sure to be another memorable meeting between Seattle and Vancouver. On June 20, 1983, a record crowd of 60,342 packed BC Place for the first sporting event, Vancouver's 2-1 victory over Seattle. Nearly 20 years later, on July 28, 2002, the first event at Qwest Field drew a USL-1 record 25,515 for the Sounders' 4-1 win over the Caps. Last August, a crowd of 55,718 packed CenturyLink Field for Seattle's 2-0 win.

Four of the top attendances for soccer games in Seattle were last season, including regular-season meetings against the LA Galaxy, Vancouver Whitecaps FC and Portland Timbers. The largest attendance for a MLS match in Seattle was 66,452 last October against Portland and the largest attendance for a soccer game in the Pacific Northwest was 67,052 in the 2011 friendly versus Manchester United.

Seattle Top Attendances

Attendance Date Teams (Competition)

67,052 July 20, 2011 Sounders FC vs. Manchester United (friendly)

66,848 August 5, 2009 Sounders FC vs. Barcelona (friendly)

66,830 August 9, 2006 Real Madrid vs. DC United (friendly)

66,722 July 22, 2003 Manchester United vs. Celtic (friendly)

66,452 October 7, 2012 Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers (MLS)

65,289 July 18, 2009 Sounders FC vs. Chelsea (friendly)

64,140 October 15, 2011 Sounders FC vs. San Jose (MLS)

60,908 August 5, 2012 Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy (MLS)

58,218 April 9, 1976 Sounders vs. New York (NASL)

56,416 April 16, 2008 Mexico vs. China (friendly)

56,256 August 25, 1977 Sounders vs. Los Angeles (NASL)

55,718 August 18, 2012 Sounders FC vs. Vancouver (MLS)

53,309 July 18, 2012 Sounders FC vs. Chelsea (friendly)

Big Crowds, Big Wins

The big crowds at CenturyLink Field have translated to big wins for Sounders FC. In games with an attendance of more than 55,000, Sounders FC is 4-0-0, outscoring opponents 11-1. The offense has put on a show in all four matches, scoring at least two goals in each game, including 3-nil and 4-nil wins last season. The defense has also played strong, posting three shutouts, allowing just one goal to MLS scoring leader Chris Wondolowski in 2011. The team is also undefeated (6-0-2) in MLS games featuring a crowd of more than 40,000, holding a plus-14 goal differential (20 goals scored with six goals allowed).

Pro Shop Re-Opening

Saturday's match will be the first time that fans can access the newly remodeled Pro Shop at CenturyLink Field. The re-opening ceremonies begin on Friday with a ribbon cutting ceremony with Peter McLoughlin. On Saturday, the Sounders FC weekly radio show on 710 AM ESPN Seattle will be live from the Pro Shop at 8 a.m. Later that day, Sound Wave will perform at 6 p.m. at the Pro Shop prior to the Sounders FC match at 7:30 p.m. Seattle goalkeeper Michael Gspurning and defender Djimi Traore will appear at the Pro Shop on Sunday. Visit www.SoundersFC.com/ProShop for more information and special offers.

A Last for Mr. White

Arlo White will call Saturday's match for NBC Sports Network, marking his final Sounders FC game before taking over play-by-play duties for the Premier League. His final MLS match will be Philadelphia-Dallas on June 29 at PPL Park in Chester, Penn. The former Voice of Sounders FC, White called Seattle matches for the 2010 and 2011 seasons before joining NBC as the lead MLS play-by-play announcer.

A Kick in the Grass

Saturday will mark the second time that Sounders FC has played a competitive match on a temporary grass surface at CenturyLink Field. On July 16, 2011, Seattle beat the Colorado Rapids, 4-3, four days before the international friendly with Manchester United. There was also a temporary grass surface installed for friendlies with Chelsea (2009 and 2012) and Barcelona (2009).

International Break

With more than 40 MLS players on international duty, Saturday's Cascadia Cup match is one of just five league matches in Week 16. The Philadelphia Union and Columbus Crew kick things off with a Wednesday match. New England-DC United, Chicago-Portland and Salt Lake-Los Angeles also play games this week. Seattle's Eddie Johnson and Brad Evans are two of 11 MLS players called into U.S. National Team camp for the upcoming qualifiers, and Mario Martinez joins four other MLSers on the Honduras roster.

Johnson Earns 50th Cap, Evans Shines

When Sounders forward Eddie Johnson entered the U.S. friendly in the 56th minute yesterday, it marked his 50th cap for the U.S. He played a combined 79 minutes in friendlies last week versus Belgium (May 30) and Germany (June 2). In all, Johnson has scored 14 goals for country.

Midfielder Brad Evans has logged 111 minutes over the two recent friendlies, including a start at right back against Germany as he was one of five field players to play the full 90 minutes. Evans has nine caps for the national team, with his first senior team appearance in the 2009 Gold Cup in Seattle.

World Cup Qualifier Comes to Seattle

The U.S. Men's National Team will play a 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Panama at CenturyLink Field on June 11 at 6:30 p.m. PT. The match will be the second World Cup Qualifier ever played in Seattle as the USMNT beat Canada, 2-0, on October 20, 1976, in front of a crowd of 17,675 at the Kingdome. CenturyLink Field previously hosted the USMNT for the CONCACAF Gold Cup in 2005 and 2009.

Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.com, Ticketmaster by phone (800-745-3000) and the CenturyLink Field Box Office. The seating configuration for the match will be capped at 42,000 fans in consideration of traffic and parking concern. The Seattle Mariners host the Houston Astros at 7:10 p.m.

U.S. Men's National Team in Seattle

* The last time the USA played at CenturyLink Field was on July 4, 2009, during a 4-0 victory against Grenada in the opener of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

* The USA is 6-2-1 all-time in Washington and has won five straight.

* The 4-0 margin of victory in the USMNT's last outing at CenturyLink Field tied for its largest margin of victory in the state of Washington. The USMNT also beat Honduras 4-0 on March 2, 2002, at SAFECO Field.

* The U.S. is currently on a five-game winning streak in Seattle, outscoring its opponents 16-1 in goal differential during that span.

* In the 4-1 victory against Cuba in the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup, current USMNT veterans Clint Dempsey and DaMarcus Beasley each tallied goals.

* Out of all the home venues for World Cup Qualifying, CenturyLink Field is the only one in which the USMNT has played in more than once and never lost or tied, with a record of 4-0-0.

2014 FIFA World Cup - Group Standings

Team GP Record (points) GF/GA

Panama 3 1-0-2 (5 pts.) 5/3

Costa Rica 3 1-1-1 (4 pts.) 4/3

United States 3 1-1-1 (4 pts.) 2/2

Honduras 3 1-1-1 (4 pts.) 4/5

Mexico 3 0-0-3 (3 pts.) 2/2

Jamaica 3 0-1-2 (2 pts.) 1/3

Summer of Soccer at CenturyLink Field

Saturday's Cascadia Cup match kicks off a summer of soccer at CenturyLink Field as Seattle will host a variety of events over the next three months. Three days after the Vancouver match, the U.S. Men's National Team visits Seattle for the highlight event of the summer in a World Cup qualifier against Panama. The U.S. squad features Sounders FC forward Eddie Johnson and midfielder Brad Evans. CenturyLink Field will also host a CONCACAF Gold Cup doubleheader in July, pitting Mexico against Canada in the second match. Sounders FC will host five other MLS matches at CenturyLink Field before the end of August, concluding with a Cascadia Cup match against the Portland Timbers. Overall, CenturyLink Field will host nine soccer matches in less than three months, including teams from five different countries and across three different competitions.

2013 Summer Schedule at CenturyLink Field

June 8, 7:30 p.m. - Cascadia Cup: Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

June 11, 6:30 p.m. - 2014 FIFA World Cup Qualifier: United States vs. Panama

July 3, 7 p.m. - Sounders FC vs. DC United

July 11, 5:30 & 8 p.m. PT - ONCACAF Gold Cup: Panama vs. Martinique & Mexico vs. Canada

July 20, 1 p.m. - Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids

July 28, 8 p.m. - Sounders FC vs. Chivas USA

August 3, 7:30 p.m. - Sounders FC vs. FC Dallas

August 25, 7 p.m. - Cascadia Cup: Sounders FC vs. Portland Timbers

Vancouver Series Notes

Sounders FC is unbeaten against Vancouver in MLS play at 2-0-3, scoring multiple goals in four of the five meetings while holding two shutouts. Eight of Seattle's nine goals in the series have been scored in the final 45 minutes, with four goals scored in the final quarter hour. Brad Evans and Mauro Rosales lead all players with two assists in the five all-time meetings. In the previous meeting at CenturyLink Field, Sounders FC won 2-nil in front of a crowd of 55,718.

About Vancouver

Martin Rennie's club is seventh in the Western Conference, just two points behind Seattle and 12 points shy of Dallas for first place. While Vancouver is unbeaten (3-0-3) at home, the 'Caps have struggled on the road, going 1-4-1 with a minus-5 goal differential. Overall, Vancouver is 4-26-10 in 40 all-time road games. The Whitecaps have not lost in their last three outings (2-0-1), including wins over the LA Galaxy and New York Red Bulls.

Whitecaps FC Notables

Vancouver's attack is powered by forwards Kenny Miller and Camilo, who lead the club with three goals apiece. Miller, a Scottish international who joined Whitecaps FC last season, has appeared in just four matches in 2013 and is second in MLS with 0.89 goals per 90 minutes. Camilo, in his third MLS season, has three goals, including a goal and an assist in a 2-2 draw versus Portland on May 18. He leads all active Vancouver players with two goals against Sounders FC and has 20 goals and 11 assists in 71 career MLS games. Striker Darren Mattocks has two goals and an assist in six starts this season after posting seven goals in 15 starts as a rookie in 2012.

Midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker, who joined Vancouver in the offseason after a standout career in England, has started 10 of 11 games and registered an assist in a 3-1 win at Los Angeles on May 11. Defender Lee-Young Pyo, who made 33 appearances in his first MLS season in 2012, has played in all 12 games this season and had an assist in the season opener against Toronto FC.

'Caps Connections

Vancouver keeper Joe Cannon is from nearby Sun Valley, Idaho. Two Vancouver players attended Steve Zakuani's alma mater Akron. Zakuani played with Michael Nanchoff for two seasons and barely missed playing with Darren Mattocks, who won the College Cup as a freshman in 2010. Additionally, Sounders FC broadcast analyst Alan Hinton has been on both sides of the Seattle-Vancouver rivalry, both in the NASL and A-League days. In 1978 during his final season as a player (and his first year as an assistant coach), Hinton established a league record with 30 assists and scored his penultimate goal in a win over Seattle. In 1980, Hinton became head coach of the Sounders, leading them to a NASL-record 25 wins that season, the Trans-Atlantic Cup title in 1981 and a Soccer Bowl appearance in 1982. Two years later Hinton took over as head coach in Vancouver and his Whitecaps played the first game against FC Seattle.

U23 Unbeaten Since Open Cup Loss

Sounders U23 (2-2-1, 7 points) picked up their first two wins in the 2013 PDL Season after a pair of 1-0 results last week over rivals Washington Crossfire and Vancouver Whitecaps FC U23. Blake Wise scored the lone goal on Friday against Crossfire and Luis Esteves scored the winner on Sunday against Vancouver, jump-starting a campaign after beginning the season without a win in three games. Sounders U23 has not lost since being eliminated from the 2013 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup by the Charlotte Eagles on May 21.

Academy Sweeps Timbers in Rose City

Sounders FC Academy swept Cascadia rival Portland Timbers Academy with a couple of shutouts Saturday down in Portland. First, the U18's (16-5-6, 54 points) saw a goal and assist each from both David Olsen and Henry Wingo en route to a 3-0 win, giving them four wins in their last five. The U16's (17-3-7, 58 points) extended their unbeaten streak to nine games (8-0-1) with a 2-0 win thanks to goals from Vic Mansaray and Elliot Havens.

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from June 3, 2013


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