MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes

Published on September 23, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Sounders FC Hosts New York on Sunday Night in Top-of-the-Table Clash

Riding a league-best six-game unbeaten run, Seattle Sounders FC hosts the league-leading New York Red Bulls on Sunday night in a battle for the top spot in the 2013 Supporters' Shield race. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.

Sounders FC will look to become the first team to clinch a berth in the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs. Seattle will clinch a berth with a win over New York and losses by Dallas and San Jose. New York could also clinch a berth depending on other results this weekend.

Sunday's match will be nationally televised on ESPN with Adrian Healey and Taylor Twellman calling the action. The match can also be heard on 97.3 FM with Ross Fletcher and Kasey Keller on the call.

Sounders FC (15-8-5, 50 points) remained atop the Western Conference standings with a hard-fought 1-1 draw at LA Galaxy last Saturday. Eddie Johnson scored his eighth goal of the season as Mauro Rosales matched the club record with his 34th career assist.

The draw extended Seattle's unbeaten streak to six (5-0-1) games, marking the longest active unbeaten streak in MLS. Sounders FC has been the league's hottest team over the second-half of the season, averaging a league-best 2.36 points per game since July 20.

New York (15-9-6, 51 points) has surged in recent weeks, winning its past four outings to jump to first overall in MLS. Led by first-year head coach Mike Petke and international stars Thierry Henry and Tim Cahill, the Red Bulls have taken control of the East with hopes of capturing its first-ever Suppoerters' Shield and MLS Cup.

The two teams have split the series over the past two years, battling to a 2-2 draw in New York last season. Sunday's match will be the only regular-season meeting between the two clubs in 2013.

Along with holding the top two spots in the Supporters' Shield race, Seattle and New York have several similarities. The two sides lead MLS with 26 points over the second-half of the season, and both teams have earned the most home points (33) in 2013.

Neither team features a top 10 goal scorer, but both sides feature a three-pronged attack. Seattle boasts Eddie Johnson, Obafemi Martins and Lamar Neagle-who each have eight goals-while New York is led by Henry (9 goals), Cahill (8 goals) and Fabian Espindola (8 goals).

Following Sunday's match, Sounders FC will conclude the season with five matches in October. Seattle will host the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on October 9 and the LA Galaxy on October 27. Seattle's next match is October 5 at the Colorado Rapids.

Tickets to all remaining Sounders FC home matches are available through SoundersFC.com, all Ticketmaster Outlets, the CenturyLink Field Box Office or by calling 800-745-3000.

Sounders FC Competition Schedule (all times Pacific; subject to change)

Sunday, September 29, 6 p.m. - Sounders FC vs. New York Red Bulls

Saturday, October 5, 7 p.m. - Sounders FC at Colorado Rapids

Wednesday, October 9, 7 p.m. - Sounders FC vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC

Sunday, October 13, 6 p.m. - Sounders FC at Portland Timbers

Saturday, October 19, 12 p.m. - Sounders FC at FC Dallas

Sunday, October 27, 6 p.m. - Sounders FC vs. LA Galaxy

Sounders FC Fast Facts

* 0.33 - Seattle has posted a 0.33 goals against average over the current six-game unbeaten run.

* 1st - Seattle holds the top spot in the Western Conference and is second overall in the Supporters' Shield race.

* 6 - Sounders FC holds the longest active unbeaten streak in MLS at six (5-0-1) games.

* 7 - Seattle will look to win its seventh-straight home game on Sunday night, which would set the record in MLS this season.

* 11 - Seattle has scored in 11 consecutive games, matching the club record for longest scoring streak.

* 13 - Sounders FC currently holds a club record 13-game home unbeaten streak, the second-longest in MLS this season.

* 26 - Seattle and New York lead the league with 26 points over the second half of the 2013 season.

* 33 - Seattle and New York lead the league with 33 points at home.

* 34 - Mauro Rosales' 34 career assists is tied with Fredy Montero for the club record.

* 47 - Sounders FC is unbeaten in 47 straight games (38-0-9) when scoring first.

* 50 - Sounders FC became the first team to earn 50 points this season on Saturday night.

* 43,180 - Seattle's average attendance for the 2013 regular season is 43,180, besting last year's top mark of 43,144. Sounders FC has three home games remaining, and will open the entire stadium for the LA Galaxy match on October 27.

Seattle could become First Team to Clinch Playoffs Berth

Sounders FC has a chance on Sunday to become the first team to qualify for the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs. Seattle will clinch a berth with a win over New York and losses by FC Dallas and San Jose. Seattle is one of just three teams (LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake) to qualify for the playoffs the past four seasons. The Red Bulls also have an opportunity to qualify for the playoffs with several favorable results.

Seattle Sounders FC will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF

- Seattle Sounders FC win vs. New York Red Bulls on Sunday AND

- FC Dallas lose vs. Columbus Crew on Sunday AND

- San Jose Earthquakes lose vs. Chivas USA on Sunday

New York Red Bulls will clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs IF

- New York Red Bulls win vs. Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday AND

EITHER

- Philadelphia Union tie or lose vs. Sporting Kansas City on Friday OR

- Chicago Fire tie or lose vs. Montreal Impact on Saturday

OR

- New York Red Bulls tie vs. Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday AND

EITHER

- Philadelphia Union lose vs. Sporting Kansas City on Friday OR

- Chicago Fire lose vs. Montreal Impact on Saturday

First to 50

With last Saturday's draw at Los Angeles, Sounders FC became the first team to reach 50 points in the 2013 MLS regular season. The New York Red Bulls are the only other team to hit the 50-point mark following a win against FC Dallas on Sunday. Since 2009, just one team (Columbus Crew in 2012) has earned 50 or more points and missed the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Seattle has earned 50 points quicker than ever before, besting the previous top mark in 2011 when it took 29 games to reach 51 points. At the same time, it took Seattle nine games to reach 10 points this season, marking the slowest start in club history.

Battle of the Best

Sunday night's match at CenturyLink Field will feature the top two teams in MLS as the league-leading New York Red Bulls visit West leaders Seattle Sounders FC. It's the second time in three years that the conference leaders have met this late in the season. In the previous meeting, the LA Galaxy defeated the Columbus Crew, 1-0, at Crew Stadium on September 24, 2011.

The Red Bulls overtook the top spot in the Supporters' Shield race with a win on Sunday against FC Dallas. Seattle currently trails New York by one point with two games in hand. A win on Sunday would put Seattle in sole possession of first overall. A draw would put Seattle no lower than second and a loss could drop Seattle no lower than fourth overall. Sunday's matchup will be the second-straight home game that Seattle will host the top team in the Supporters' Shield race.

Unbeaten Streaks on the Line

Two of the hottest teams in MLS will meet on Sunday night, putting the two longest active unbeaten streaks on the line. Unbeaten in its past six (5-0-1) outings, a win on Sunday night would mark Seattle's longest unbeaten streak of the season. The Red Bulls hold the second-longest active unbeaten with wins in its past four outings. Both sides have previously posted long unbeaten streaks this season with Seattle going undefeated over six games from April 13 to May 18 while New York posted a seven-game unbeaten run from April 20 to May 26.

Longest Active Unbeaten Streaks

Team GP Record Start Date

Seattle Sounders FC 6 5-0-1 August 25

New York Red Bulls 4 4-0-0 August 31

Sporting Kansas City 3 3-0-0 August 31

San Jose Earthquakes 3 2-0-1 September 8

Portland Timbers 3 2-0-1 September 7

Seattle Goes for Seventh Straight Home Win

Sounders FC has won its past six home games, outscoring opponents 11-2. The club record six-game home winning streak is tied with San Jose for the longest streak of the season, and Seattle could set the season record in MLS with a win on Sunday. Sounders FC also posted a four-game home winning streak from May 11 to July 3, matching four other teams for the fifth-longest streak of the season. Sounders FC is also riding a club record 13-game (10-0-3) home unbeaten run, and could match San Jose's season record (14 games) with a win or draw on Sunday night.

Longest Home Winning Streaks - 2013

Team Wins Dates

Seattle Sounders FC 6 July 28-present

San Jose Earthquakes 6 June 29-September 8

FC Dallas 5 March 2-April 20

LA Galaxy 5 July 4-August 31

*Five Teams Tied - 4 wins

Home Record in Perspective

Seattle's home record is the best in MLS this season, and the team has already secured the second-highest point total in club history with three home games remaining. The 33 points earned at home tops the Red Bulls by one point for the season lead, and Seattle's +17 home goal differential is best in MLS. Compared to previous seasons, Seattle has already earned more home points than the club's first three years in MLS. Sounders FC is two points from matching the best-ever home point total (35) from 2012 and one win from tying the club record for most home wins in a season.

Best Home Records - 2013

Team GP Record (points) GD (GF/GA)

Sounders FC 14 10-1-3 (33 pts.) 17 (26/9)

New York 15 10-2-3 (33 pts.) 15 (27/12)

San Jose 15 9-1-5 (32 pts.) 8 (20/12)

Portland 14 9-1-4 (31 pts.) 16 (27/11)

*Three Teams Tied - 30 points

Second-half Sounders

Sounders FC has been one of the league's top teams over the second-half of the season. Since hitting the midway mark of the 2013 campaign, Seattle has earned the most points (26) despite playing the fewest matches. Sounders FC has won a league-best eight matches while losing just once in 11 outings. Seattle's average of 2.36 points per match in the second-half of this season is the top mark in club history, besting the 2011 average of 2.24 points per match. Over the past four years, Sounders FC has averaged 1.97 points per match over the second-half of the season, which is 0.59 points per match better than the first-half average (1.38). The most outstanding second-half runs came in 2010 when the team won 10 of its final 15 games and in 2011 when the team won 12 of the final 17 games.

Top Records in Second-half of Season - 2013

Team GP PTS Record

Sounders FC 11 26 8-1-2

New York 13 26 8-3-2

Colorado 13 25 7-2-4

San Jose 13 23 7-4-2

Kansas City 12 22 7-4-1

LA Galaxy 12 21 6-3-3

Houston 12 20 6-4-2

A Look Ahead

Seattle has six games remaining in the regular season, including three at home and three on the road. Sunday's match against New York is the final Eastern Conference meeting of the season. Four of the final six opponents currently hold a playoff spot while Vancouver and Dallas are on the bubble in the West. Seattle's record against the remaining opponents is 6-1-2, and the team already has at least one win against four of the teams. Overall, Seattle is 5-5-3 this season against teams currently in a playoff position.

Rosales Ties Club Record

Mauro Rosales became Seattle's co-leader with 34 career assists when he found Eddie Johnson for the lone goal last Saturday at Los Angeles. Rosales ranks second in MLS since 2011 with 34 assists, and leads the group with an average of 0.54 assists per 90 minutes. His eight assists this season rank fifth in MLS and his five game-winning assists are tied for first. Rosales is on pace to lead Seattle in assists for the third consecutive year.

Rosales' 34 career assists have resulted in goals for 12 different players, with Eddie Johnson receiving more helpers (10) from Rosales than any other player. Rosales has recorded the most helpers against the Colorado Rapids (5), followed by Chivas USA and LA Galaxy (4). Rosales has recorded 20 assists at CenturyLink Field, and his four at the StubHub Center are the most among opponent stadiums. Just five of his 34 assists were second assists.

Most Assists since 2011

Player, Team Assists Assists per 90

Brad Davis, HOU 36 0.45

Mauro Rosales, SEA 34 0.54

Graham Zusi, KC 29 0.36

Dwayne De Rosario, DC 26 0.36

Landon Donovan, LA 25 0.40

Sounders Get Defensive

Seattle's defense has been stifling during the current six-match (5-0-1) unbeaten streak. The club has recorded four clean sheets, shutting out powerful attacking sides Portland and Salt Lake, who rank first and fifth in goals scored, respectively. Sounders FC has outscored opponents 8-2 over the past six matches for a 0.33 goals against average, bringing the season average to 1.00 (second in MLS). Seattle's 11 shutouts also rank second in the league.

Hurtado in the Back

One of the keys to Seattle's stingy defensive form is center back Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, who has started five times in the six-game unbeaten run. His most recent performance at Los Angeles was one of the strongest in his five-year MLS career as he and the backline held one of the best goal scorers in MLS history, Robbie Keane, to no shots. Hurtado also led the team with six clearances and seven interceptions against the Galaxy. Sounders FC is unbeaten in Hurtado's past seven (5-0-2) starts.

Series Preview: Sounders FC vs. New York Red Bulls

Sunday's match against the New York Red Bulls marks the lone meeting of the season between the two teams. Sounders FC leads the all-time series with a 3-2-2 record, including a come-from-behind draw in the previous meeting last July. Seattle has held strong at home, earning two wins with one draw in the three all-time meetings at CenturyLink Field. The two home wins featured seven total goals as Sounders FC downed the Red Bulls, 3-0, in the club's first-ever MLS match in 2009, and also ousted New York, 4-2, in the previous home meeting in 2011, highlighted by Roger Levesque's second-half brace and famous "scuba dive" goal celebration.

* Seattle has outscored New York, 11-7, including four goals in the opening 15 minutes.

* Seattle has scored multiple goals in three of the seven all-time meetings, including two straight multi-goal games.

* Two active Sounders FC players (Brad Evans and Osvaldo Alonso) have scored against New York.

* Michael Gspurning is yet to face NYRB after missing the 2012 meeting due to injury. New York starting keeper Luis Robles is also yet to play in the series.

* The two teams met in the 2013 FC Tucson Desert Diamond Cup on February 20. Seattle beat New York, 2-0, with goals from Alex Caskey and Mario Martinez.

Flashback to Inaugural Game

Sounders FC hosted the New York Red Bulls in the club's inaugural MLS game on March 19, 2009. Fredy Montero staked Seattle to an early lead and Brad Evans added a first-half tally as Seattle took a 2-nil halftime lead. Montero completed his brace in the 75th minute as Sounders FC won its first-ever MLS match, 3-0, in front of a crowd of 32,608 at CenturyLink Field.

Four of Seattle's starters for the inaugural match are still with the team. Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Zach Scott started across the backline, and Alonso and Evans partnered in the midfield. In addition, Steve Zakuani-the top selection in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft-made his debut in the 68th minute. Mike Petke, the current head coach of New York, started the match and played the full 90 minutes for the Red Bulls.

Throw-ins

Defender Zach Scott will serve a one-game suspension for his red card ejection last Saturday at Los Angeles. Scott has received four yellow card cautions and will receive a suspension on his next yellow card. He has three remaining games before receiving the good behavior incentive...Leo Gonzalez has four yellow cards and is one game from receiving his good behavior incentive. Djimi Traore will be suspended on his next yellow card. He can no longer use his good behavior incentive.

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 23, 2013


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