MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes

Published on October 7, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Rivalry week hits the Pacific Northwest as Seattle Sounders FC hosts the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Wednesday and visits the Portland Timbers on Sunday. Sounders FC can clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs and win the Cascadia Cup with a win over Vancouver on Wednesday.

Wednesday's match versus Vancouver is set for 7 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. The match will be televised locally on KONG 6/16 with Ross Fletcher and Kasey Keller on the call, and can also be heard on 710 ESPN Seattle. The Spanish broadcasts are available on KOMO2 and La Gran D 99.3 FM.

Sunday's match against Portland is scheduled for 6 p.m. PT at JELD-WEN Field in Portland. The match will be nationally televised on ESPN with Adrian Healey, Taylor Twellman and Alexi Lalas called the action. The match can also be heard on KTTH with Ross Fletcher and Kasey Keller on the call.

Sounders FC (15-9-6, 51 points) could become the second team to clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs with a win against the Whitecaps. Seattle would also qualify with a San Jose loss or draw. Additionally, Sounders FC is vying for its second Cascadia Cup in the three years it has been contested at the MLS level.

The upcoming two-game week will allow Seattle the opportunity to rebound from Saturday's loss to the Colorado Rapids. The loss snapped Seattle's seven-game unbeaten run and dropped Sounders FC to second in the West and fourth in the race for the Supporters' Shield. Seattle still leads the league with an average of 1.70 points per game.

Sounders FC now returns home where it holds a club record 14-game unbeaten streak. The match will mark the penultimate regular season home game for Sounders FC as the club will play two of its final three matches on the road.

Vancouver (11-11-9, 42 points) visits Seattle battling for playoff survival. A Whitecaps loss and Colorado win on Wednesday night would eliminate the Canadian side from playoff contention. The Whitecaps battled to a dramatic 2-2 home draw with the Portland Timbers on Sunday. Camilo Sanvezzo has scored the team's last four goals, including a highlight-reel twisting volley against the Timbers, and he is now tied for second in MLS with 18 goals, one behind Golden Boot leader Marco Di Vaio.

Portland (12-5-14, 50 points) sits third in the West and is looking to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in club history. Riding a five-match (3-0-2) unbeaten run, the Timbers have vaulted back into the Supporters' Shield race, sitting one point behind Sounders FC. The Portland attack features the top set-up man in MLS as newcomer Diego Valeri leads the league with 12 assists.

Following Sunday's match, Sounders FC will take on the Timbers in MLS Reserve League play on Monday afternoon. Kickoff is set for 2 p.m. PT at JELD-WEN Field and will be streamed live on PortlandTimbers.com.

Seattle will conclude the regular-season campaign with a road match at FC Dallas on October 19 followed by the finale against the LA Galaxy on October 27 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.

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)

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, 11:30 a.m. - Sounders FC at FC Dallas

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

Sounders FC Fast Facts

* 1.70 - Seattle's average of 1.70 points per game is the best in MLS.

* 1st - Sounders FC sits first in the Cascadia Cup standings with seven points through four games.

* 2nd - Seattle is second in the Western Conference and fourth in the race for the 2013 Supporters' Shield.

* 3 - The Sounders have won three Cascadia Cups - 2006, 2007 and 2011.

* 4 - Seattle has the most games remaining (4) in MLS.

* 5 - Following Seattle's previous MLS loss (August 17), the team won its next five matches.

* 13 - Seattle has scored in a club record 13 consecutive games, marking the longest active scoring streak in MLS.

* 15 - Sounders FC is tied for the MLS lead with 15 wins this season.

* 14 - Seattle's 14-game (10-0-4) home unbeaten streak is tied for the longest in MLS this season.

* 48 - Sounders FC is unbeaten in 48 straight games (38-0-10) when scoring first, marking the longest active streak in MLS and second-longest streak in league history.

* 54 - A win for Sounders FC on Saturday would put the club at 54 points, clinching a spot in the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs for the fifth consecutive year.

* 61 - Sounders FC would win the Supporters' Shield with 61 points; earning 10 of the 12 remaining points.

* 82 - Sunday will mark the 82nd all-time meeting between Seattle and Portland soccer teams since 1975.

* 132 - Wednesday will mark the 132nd all-time meeting between Seattle and Vancouver soccer teams since 1974.

MLS Cup Playoffs: In with a Win

Sounders FC could become the second team to clinch a berth in the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs with a win against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Wednesday night. Seattle could also qualify with any result if the San Jose Earthquakes lose or tie against the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night. If neither result happens on Wednesday, Seattle could clinch with a win against Portland on Sunday. The New York Red Bulls became the first team to clinch a berth with a late 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution on Saturday.

Seattle currently sits second in the Western Conference, one point behind Real Salt Lake with two games in hand. Just four points separate the top five teams in the West, and Seattle's four games remaining are more than any conference opponent. Sounders FC is tied with three teams for the league-lead with 15 wins - the first tiebreaker for the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Eight of the nine teams in the West are still eligible to qualify for the playoffs as Chivas USA is the lone side already eliminated. Only five Western Conference opponents will be in action this week as the MLS schedule features just seven matches, including two Sounders FC games.

Western Conference Standings

Team Points GP Record

Salt Lake 52 32 15-10-7

Sounders FC 51 30 15-9-6

Portland 50 31 12-5-14

Los Angeles 48 31 14-11-6

Colorado 48 31 13-9-9

San Jose 44 31 12-11-8

Vancouver 42 31 11-11-9

Dallas 41 31 10-10-11

MLS Cup Playoffs Notes

Ten clubs will qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs - the top five in points from each conference at the end of the regular season. The 4th- and 5th- place teams will play a single knockout game, the winner of which will advance to the Conference Semifinals and face the 1st-place team in the conference. The Conference Semifinals will be decided by a two-game, aggregate-goal format. The Conference Championships will be decided by a two-game, aggregate-goal format. MLS Cup will be hosted by the finalist that finished the regular season with the most points in the standings.

Tiebreaking Procedures

When two or more teams are tied in the standings on points, the following tiebreakers will be used in the sequence below, until one team ranks ahead of the other(s):

1. Most Wins

2. Goals For

3. Goal Differential

4. Fewest Disciplinary Points

5. Road Goals

6. Road Goal Differential

7. Home Goals

8. Home Goal Differential

9. Coin Toss (2 teams) or Drawing of Lots (3 or more)

Supporters' Shield: Two Points from League Lead

Sounders FC continues its push for the 2013 Supporters' Shield, sitting two points behind the league-leading New York Red Bulls with two games in hand. Seattle currently sits fourth overall behind Real Salt Lake (52 points) and Sporting Kansas City (51 points), yet holds the top points per game average in MLS (1.7). Sounders FC would win the Supporters' Shield with 61 points; earning 10 of the possible 12 remaining points.

Sounders FC is vying to become the fourth expansion team in league history to win the Supporters' Shield. The Chicago Fire won in its sixth season (2003). The Miami Fusion won in four seasons (2001). And the San Jose Earthquakes returned from a two-year hiatus in 2008 to win the Shield in 2012. Nine of the 10 expansion teams since 2005 are yet to win the award, including 2013 contenders Real Salt Lake and Portland Timbers.

The Supporters' Shield is an annual award given to the team that finishes the regular season with the highest point total. The winner also receives home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, including MLS Cup.

Supporters' Shield Standings

Team Points (PPG) Record

New York Red Bulls 53 (1.66) 15-9-8

Real Salt Lake 52 (1.63) 15-10-7

Sporting Kansas City 51 (1.65) 15-10-6

Seattle Sounders FC 51 (1.70) 15-9-6

Portland Timbers 50 (1.61) 12-5-14

Cascadia Cup: Win or Draw to Regain Trophy

Sounders FC can win the 2013 Cascadia Cup with a win or draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Wednesday night. A loss to Vancouver would force Seattle to win in Portland on Sunday to capture the Cup. The Timbers have been eliminated from contention for the trophy. Sounders FC is the lone team with two games remaining after Vancouver hosted Portland in a dramatic 2-2 draw on Sunday. Both of Seattle's wins in the 2013 tournament have come at home, downing Vancouver, 3-2, on June 8 and Portland, 1-0, on August 25.

Seattle won the Cascadia Cup in its first year in MLS in 2011, and the Timbers took the 2012 Cup. The regional competition was founded in 2004 by the largest supporters groups of the three Pacific Northwest clubs - the Emerald City Supporters, Timbers Army and Vancouver Southsiders. Overall, Sounders FC has won the Cascadia Cup three times (2006, 2007 and 2011).

2013 Cascadia Cup Standings

Team GP Record (points) Goal Differential

Seattle Sounders FC 4 2-1-1 (7 pts.) 0 (5/5)

Vancouver Whitecaps 5 1-1-3 (6 pts.) +1 (9/8)

Portland Timbers 5 0-1-4 (4 pts.) -1 (6/7)

2013 Cascadia Cup Schedule/Results

Date Match Location

March 16 Seattle 1 vs. Portland 1 CenturyLink Field

May 18 Vancouver 2 vs. Portland 2 BC Place

June 8 Seattle 3 vs. Vancouver 2 CenturyLink Field

July 6 Seattle 0 at Vancouver 2 BC Place

August 3 Portland 1 vs. Vancouver 1 JELD-WEN Field

August 25 Seattle 1 vs. Portland 0 CenturyLink Field

October 6 Vancouver 2 vs. Portland 2 BC Place

October 9 Seattle vs. Vancouver CenturyLink Field

October 13 Seattle at Portland JELD-WEN Field

Cascadia Cup Notes

All nine regular season MLS matches between the three clubs will be included. The team with the most points after all matches is the winner.

Tiebreaking Procedures:

1.) Greater number of points earned in matches between the teams concerned

2.) Greater goal difference in matches between the teams concerned

3.) Greater number of goals scored in matches between the teams concerned

4.) Reapply first three criteria if two or more teams are still tied

5.) Greater goal difference in all cup matches

6.) Greater number of goals scored in all cup matches

7.) Smaller number of disciplinary points in all cup matches (yellow 1 point, red 2 points)

Vancouver Series Notes

Sounders FC holds a 3-1-3 record against the Whitecaps in MLS play, including a home win and road loss this season. The previous meeting, a 2-0 loss in Vancouver on July 6, marked Seattle's first loss to the Whitecaps in MLS. Sounders FC is 2-0-1 at home in the series, scoring at least two goals per game at CenturyLink Field. In the previous home match, Sounders FC earned its first comeback win of the season after Lamar Neagle scored the winner in the 81st minute.

* Nine of Seattle's 12 goals have been scored in the final 30 minutes of the match.

* Six of Vancouver's nine goals have been scoring in the opening 30 minutes of the match. The other three were scored in the final 15 minutes.

* Sounders FC has outshot Vancouver 105-83, including 39-25 on goal

* Seattle has scored multiple goals in five of the seven meetings, and has been held scoreless twice.

* Vancouver has scored two goals in both meetings this season. Overall, the Whitecaps have scored nine goals in five Cascadia Cup games this season and have conceded eight.

All-Time Series with Vancouver

Wednesday will mark the 132nd 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 63-47-21. 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. In the 212 all-time games against Portland and Vancouver soccer teams, Seattle reigns supreme with 105 wins, 75 losses and 32 draws.

Seattle vs. Vancouver All-Time Series

Year: Competition - Record

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 3 wins; Whitecaps 2 wins; 3 draws

Totals: 131 matches played - Seattle 63 wins, Vancouver 47 wins; 21 draws

Portland Series Notes

Sounders FC has faced the Portland Timbers seven times in MLS, holding a 3-1-3 advantage. Seattle is unbeaten at home with two wins and two draws, including a 1-0 home win on August 25 in front of 67,385 - the largest-ever for a soccer game in Seattle and second-largest attendance in MLS history for a standalone match. The two sides also battled to a 1-1 draw on March 16 at CenturyLink Field. Overall, Sounders FC is unbeaten in its past four outings against Portland, as the lone loss came on the road on June 24, 2012.

* Seattle has outscored Portland, 11-7, all-time in MLS play, including eight second-half tallies.

* Sounders FC has scored at least one goal in every game, including two three-goal games.

* Seattle has held Portland scoreless twice.

* Seattle twice knocked Portland out of the U.S. Open Cup Third Round: 2-1 at PGE Park on July 1, 2009, and 4-3 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw at PGE Park on June 30, 2010.

* Eddie Johnson leads all active players with three goals, and Rodney Wallace leads all Timbers players with two tallies.

* The two sides met in the 2013 preseason as Portland won, 1-0, in a training game in Tucson, Ariz. on February 5.

All-Time Series with Portland

The rivalry between Seattle and Portland soccer teams dates back nearly four decades when the Sounders and Timbers first met in the NASL in 1975. The sides went on to battle each other in the WSL, USL and U.S. Open Cup before reuniting in Major League Soccer in 2011. Seattle holds the all-time series lead with 41 wins, 28 losses and 11 draws in 81 all-time matches.

All-Time Series Record

Year: Competition - Record

1975-82: NASL - Sounders 13 wins; Timbers 8 wins

1985-90: WSL - FC Seattle 5 wins; FC Portland/Timbers 6 wins; 2 draws

2001-08: USL-1 - Sounders 20 wins; Timbers 13 wins; 5 draws

2009-10: U.S. Open Cup - Sounders FC 1 win; Timbers 0 wins; 1 draw

2011-12: MLS - Sounders FC 3 wins; Timbers 1 win; 3 draws

Totals: 81 matches played; Seattle 42 wins; Portland 28 wins; 11 draws

Rivalry Week in the Pacific Northwest

This week marks the first time in club history that Sounders FC will play the Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps FC in a four-day span. Seattle previously played the two Cascadia Cup rivals a week apart last season. Sounders FC earned a scoreless draw at Vancouver on September 29, 2012, and returned home to defeat Portland, 3-0, on October 7.

National Team Call-ups during Rivalry Week

The three Cascadia Cup rivals will all miss several key players this week due to international call-ups. Sounders FC will be without midfielder Brad Evans and forward Eddie Johnson as the duo joined the U.S. National Team on Sunday for two upcoming World Cup Qualifiers. Vancouver defender Johnny Leveron (Honduras) and forward Darren Mattocks (Jamaica) have both joined their national teams for World Cup Qualifiers and will miss Wednesday's match. Midfielder Russell Teibert (Canada) and defender Carlyle Mitchell (Trinidad & Tobago) will join their national teams for friendlies following Wednesday's match against Seattle. Portland forward Ryan Johnson and defender Alvas Powell will join Jamaica and defender Rodney Wallace will join Costa Rica for two World Cup Qualifiers and will miss Sunday's match.

Home Unbeaten Streaks: Seattle Looks to Extend Run and Snap Portland's

Sounders FC has the opportunity to extend its club record 14-game home unbeaten streak on Wednesday and snap Portland's 13-game home unbeaten streak on Sunday. Seattle's 14-game (10-0-4) streak is tied with San Jose for the longest in MLS this season while Portland sits just one game behind with a 13-game (10-0-3) home unbeaten streak.

Wednesday's match will feature the top home team in MLS against the 13-best road team. Vancouver has gone 3-8-4 on the road this season with a minus-seven goal differential. The Whitecaps have earned a draw and win in the past two road matches, including a 3-nil win at Montreal.

Seattle is 1-1-1 at Portland's JELD-WEN Field, earning a 1-1 draw in the previous visit on September 15, 2012. The team's lone road win came in the first visit to Portland on July 10. The past three matches in the series have been played at CenturyLink Field as Sunday's trip will be the first visit to Portland in 13 months.

Best Home Records - 2013

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

Sounders FC 15 10-1-4 (34 pts.) 17 (27/10)

Portland 15 10-1-4 (34 pts.) 17 (28/11)

New York 16 10-2-4 (34 pts.) 15 (29/14)

LA Galaxy 15 10-2-3 (33 pts.) +23 (31/8)

Longest Home Unbeaten Streaks - 2013

Team GP Record Start Date

Seattle 14 10-0-4 March 16-present

San Jose 14 9-0-5 March 10-present

Portland 13 10-0-3 April 6-present

Dallas 10 7-0-3 March 2-July 4

Vancouver 10 7-0-3 March 2-July 27

Rapid Response: Sounders Rebound Quick

Sounders FC will look to respond quickly on Wednesday night after dropping last Saturday's result to the Colorado Rapids. In Seattle's previous two MLS losses, the team went on four-game (3-0-1) and seven-game (5-0-2) unbeaten streaks. Following the 3-1 defeat at Houston on August 17, Sounders FC won its next five outings. After the 1-0 loss at San Jose on July 13, Sounders FC won three of its next four games. Seattle has lost by three or more goals four times in club history. Against Los Angeles on May 26, Sounders FC fell, 4-0, and responded with three wins in the next four outings. In the previous three big losses, Seattle went a combined 2-5-5 in the four matches immediately following.

Wednesday Night Goings On

The Sounders FC have several activities for the October 9 match versus the Vancouver Whitecaps FC, which is dedicated to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer research and treatment during the month of October. The match will be played with a commemorative pink adidas Prime 2013 Official Match Ball accompanied by pink corner flags, pink goal nets and pink Soccer Kicks Cancer field boards. Players and referees will also wear pink ribbon patches, pink adidas sweat bands and pink shoe laces. Gatorade has donated pink sideline towels to support the campaign and coaching staffs have been provided with pink MLS WORKS knit scarves.

Fans will be greeted at the gates by volunteers from the local chapter of Zeta Tau Alpha (ZTA) who will distribute 10,000 pink ribbons. Limited edition Breast Cancer Awareness scarves and pins will be available throughout the month with a pledge to donate 10% of the sales to the local chapter of Gilda's Club. Fans can find these items at the two Pro Shop locations, CenturyLink Field and 4th Avenue and Pike Street, or at SoundersFC.com. In addition, the CenturyLink Field arch lights will be pink Wednesday and Thursday nights throughout the month of October.

Sounders FC also invites fans to participate in a soccer equipment drive on Wednesday. Sounders FC and Washington Youth Soccer will be collecting new and gently used soccer gear and equipment and/or cash donations at all gates and the Pro Shop located on the west side of the stadium. All donations will support Washington Youth Soccer's Soccer for Success program. The program provides free after-school soccer programs to over 500 children in 11 elementary schools in the Highline, Tukwila, Kent, and Auburn school districts. The most needed soccer gear and equipment includes jerseys, shorts, pinnies, soccer cones, shin guards and soccer shows/cleats.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening and kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Throw-ins

On October 12, 2012, Eddie Johnson became the first Sounders FC player to play for the United States in a World Cup Qualifier, scoring both goals in a 2-1 win over Antigua and Barbuda...On October 17, 2009, Sounders FC became the first expansion team since 1998 to clinch a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs with a 3-2 win over Kansas City...Defender Zach Scott will serve a two-game suspension after receiving his fifth yellow card of the season and an ejection on Saturday. Scott will be eligible to return for the FC Dallas match on October 19...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 October 7, 2013


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