MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes

Published on October 28, 2013 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Sounders FC Hosts Colorado Rapids Wednesday in MLS Cup Playoffs

Seattle Sounders FC kicks off the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs on Wednesday night when it hosts the Colorado Rapids in the Western Conference Knockout Round. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.

Playoff tickets are available at www.SoundersFC.com or by calling 800-745-3000.

Wednesday's match will be televised locally on KONG 6/16, regionally on ROOT Sports and nationally on NBC Sports Network with Ross Fletcher and Kasey Keller calling the action, and can also be heard live on 97.3 FM. The Spanish broadcasts are available on KOMO2 and La Gran D 99.3 FM.

The winner of Wednesday's single-game elimination round will advance to the Western Conference Semifinals to host the Portland Timbers on Saturday, November 2. The second leg of the two-game, aggregate-goal series will be played at JELD-WEN Field on November 6 or 7.

Sounders FC (15-12-7, 52 points) finished the regular season as the No. 4 seed in the Western Conference, which placed the club into its first-ever Knockout Round match. Seattle has posted three wins with one draw in its past five playoff matches, including a record of 2-0-1 in its last three home playoff outings.

Coming off a 1-1 home draw with the LA Galaxy in the regular-season finale last Sunday, Sounders FC will enter Wednesday's match looking to capture its first MLS Cup. Sounders FC will draw on its postseason experience as one of just three teams to reach the postseason each of the past five seasons.

Winners of the 2010 MLS Cup, the Colorado Rapids (14-11-9, 51 points) return to the playoffs after missing the 2012 tournament. The Rapids won the championship in 2010 as the fifth-place team in the West.

The two sides met three times in regular-season play as Seattle won on the road and drew at home before falling 5-1 at Colorado on October 5, marking the first loss in the series since May 29, 2010.

In the Eastern Conference, the two-time defending runners-up Houston Dynamo will host the Montreal Impact in the Knockout Round on Thursday, October 31 at 5:30 p.m. PT. The winner will advance to the semifinals to face the Supporters' Shield-winners New York Red Bulls.

The other semifinal matchups are already set as Real Salt Lake and the LA Galaxy will face off in the Western Conference Semifinals and Sporting Kansas City and the New England Revolution will battle in the East.

For more information, visit www.SoundersFC.com/playoffs .

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

Wednesday, October 30, 7:30 p.m. - Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids

MLS Cup Playoffs Preview

The 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs field is set following a chaotic final weekend of the regular season. The New York Red Bulls captured the Supporters' Shield with 59 points, and the Portland Timbers finished first in the West with 57 points. Sounders FC, Real Salt Lake and the LA Galaxy return to the playoffs for the fifth straight season while the Colorado Rapids are back in the postseason after missing the 2012 tournament. In the East, Sporting Kansas City and two-time MLS Cup runners-up Houston Dynamo join the New England Revolution and Montreal Impact, who clinched its first playoffs berth.

2013 MLS Cup Playoffs Matchups

Western Conference Knockout Round

Seattle Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids (October 30 at 7:30 p.m.)

Western Conference Semifinals

Portland Timbers vs. Seattle Sounders FC/Colorado Rapids

Real Salt Lake vs. LA Galaxy

Eastern Conference Knockout Round

Houston Dynamo vs. Montreal Impact (October 31 at 5:30 p.m.)

Eastern Conference Semifinals

New York Red Bulls vs. Houston Dynamo/Montreal Impact

Sporting Kansas City vs. New England Revolution

*For more information, visit http://www.mlssoccer.com/mlscup/2013/schedule .

Four Seed's the Charm

Sounders FC will enter the 2013 MLS Cup Playoffs as the fourth seed in the Western Conference, marking the first-ever Knockout Round match in club history. The placement matches Seattle's lowest finish as the club qualified for the 2010 playoffs as the fourth seed. A No. 4 seed has reached the MLS Cup Final three of the past four seasons, including the winners in 2009 and 2012. Overall, the fourth seed from the Western Conference has reached the MLS Cup Final four times, including the Colorado Rapids (1997), LA Galaxy (2005 and 2012) and New York Red Bulls (2008). Additionally, the two teams that played for the 2010 MLS Cup were both three seeds, though Colorado finished fifth in the West and was moved to the Eastern Conference playoffs bracket.

Since the Knockout Round was introduced in 2011, two teams have advanced to reach the MLS Cup Final while the other two teams lost in the conference semifinals. Last season marked the first time that two Knockout Round teams reached the championship match as the fourth seed in the Western Conference (LA Galaxy) and fifth seed in the Eastern Conference (Houston Dynamo) played for MLS Cup.

Knockout Sounders

With hopes to survive and advance, Sounders FC will draw from its success in other knockout tournaments in the chase for MLS Cup. In the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup - a single-game elimination tournament - Seattle has won 18 of 21 matches while losing just once in regulation (18-1-2 all-time). Sounders FC has also had success in knockout games in the CONCACAF Champions League. Seattle has played in the tournament's knockout round the past two seasons, falling to Mexico's Santos Laguna in the 2011 quarterfinals and eliminating Tigres in 2012.

Sounders FC has played in four tournament play-in rounds in club history. In its inaugural campaign, Sounders FC advanced past Real Salt Lake, 4-1, and the Colorado Rapids, 1-0, in the U.S. Open Cup play-in rounds. Seattle has also twice played in the Champions League play-in game, advancing past El Salvador's Metapan in 2010 and Panama's San Francisco in 2011.

Fast and Furious: Seattle Faced with Quick Turnaround

Sounders FC faces a quick turnaround with Wednesday's game coming just 72 hours after Sunday's final whistle. Seattle has had experience playing games on short rest this season as 13 of the team's 39 games across all competitions where played on four days or fewer rest. The team has gone 5-6-2 in those games, including back-to-back wins over Kansas City and San Jose in May and Chivas USA and Chicago in September. Seattle has also had three games in one week several times in club history, going 18-10-8 and outscoring opponents 49-43.

Seattle's CenturyLink Fortress

Sounders FC has been one of the most dominant home teams in MLS this season, and will use its home-field advantage on Wednesday against the Colorado Rapids. Seattle matched its best home record in club history with a record of 10-5-5 (35 points), marking the fifth-highest home point total in MLS in 2013. The Rapids have struggled away from home this season, going 4-8-5 (17 points) with a minus-seven goal differential on the road. Colorado has lost its past three road matches by shutout, including 3-nil at Vancouver last Sunday.

Seattle has hosted five MLS Cup Playoffs matches, going 2-1-2 all-time with two wins and a draw in the past three matches while conceding just one goal. In 2009, Sounders FC held Houston scoreless at home in the first leg and, in 2010, the Galaxy's Edson Buddle scored a golazo at CenturyLink Field in the opening match. Seattle has twice hosted Real Salt Lake in a playoff match, winning 2-0 in 2011 and drawing 0-0 last season. Sounders FC also beat the LA Galaxy, 2-1, in the second leg of the 2012 Western Conference Championship.

Sounders FC Postseason Leaders

Seattle has played 10 all-time matches in the MLS Cup Playoffs, posting a record of 3-5-2. Sounders FC has outshot its opponents, 130-109, but has been outscored, 6-11. Sounders FC has been held scoreless six times and has kept four clean sheets for a 1.06 goals against average. Overall, 15 current Sounders FC players have appeared in the playoffs for Seattle, including seven players who started the team's last playoff match. Seattle's six postseason goals have been scored by six different players. Osvaldo Alonso has played every minute of Seattle's 10 playoff matches, and he leads all active players with 15 shots. Zach Scott is the only player to record a goal and assist in the postseason, leading the club with three points in the MLS Cup Playoffs. The largest attendance for a Sounders FC playoff match was 44,575 for the 2012 Western Conference Championship against the LA Galaxy.

Six current Sounders FC players have appeared in an MLS Cup Final. Marcus Hahnemann started for the Colorado Rapids in a 2-1 loss to D.C. United in the 1997 championship game. Patrick Ianni won the 2006 and 2007 MLS Cups with the Houston Dynamo. Clint Dempsey was on the New England Revolution team that reached the MLS Cup Final in 2005 and 2006, and Shalrie Joseph reached the final three times with the Revs from 2005-07. Brad Evans won the championship in 2008 with Sigi Schmid's Columbus Crew side, and Adam Moffat started the past two finals for the Houston Dynamo.

Colorado Playoffs History

The Colorado Rapids have reached the MLS Cup Playoffs for the 12th time in club history. The Rapids' most memorable achievement was winning the 2010 MLS Cup over FC Dallas, 2-1 at BMO Field. Colorado also reached the championship game in its first-ever postseason appearance in 1997, falling 2-1 to D.C. United at RFK Stadium. In the other nine playoff appearances, the Rapids were eliminated in the quarterfinals six times and lost in the semifinals three times. The last playoff match for Colorado was the second leg of the 2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals on November 2, 2011. Colorado lost the road match against Sporting Kansas City, 2-0, after falling behind 2-nil in the first leg.

Colorado Rapids Series Notes

Sounders FC has been dominant in the series with the Colorado Rapids, going 8-2-2 in the 12 all-time meetings. Seattle's eight-game (7-0-1) unbeaten streak - including seven straight wins from July 25, 2010 to April 20, 2013 - was recently snapped in a 5-1 loss at Dick's Sporting Goods Park on October 5. Seattle earned a 1-nil away win on April 20 in the first meeting of the season and a 1-1 home draw on July 20. The two sides also met in the 2009 U.S. Open Cup play-in round as Sounders FC advanced, 1-0.

* Sounders FC holds a 20-15 goal advantage, including 12-9 in the second half of games.

* Seattle has scored the bulk of its goal in the middle interval of each half, including five goals from the 16-30 minute mark and seven goals from the 61-75 minute mark.

* Eddie Johnson leads all active players with seven career goals against the Colorado Rapids, including three goals in the Seattle-Colorado series. Overall, seven active Sounders FC players have scored in the series.

* Mauro Rosales leads all active players in the series with five assists, including two in a 2-1 win at CenturyLink Field on July 7 last season.

* Wednesday's matchup marks the first time the two teams have met in the MLS Cup Playoffs.

Flashback to Playoffs Past

2009 Western Conference Semifinals

Leg One: October 29, 2009 - Sounders FC 0 vs. Houston Dynamo 0, CenturyLink Field, Seattle (35,807)

SEA - None

HOU - None

Lineup: Kasey Keller, James Riley, Patrick Ianni, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez, Freddie Ljungberg, Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Steve Zakuani, Nate Jaqua, Fredy Montero.

Leg Two: November 8, 2009 - Sounders FC 0 at Houston Dynamo 1 AET, Robertson Stadium, Houston (27,465)

SEA - None

HOU - Brian Ching 96'

Lineup: Kasey Keller, James Riley, Tyrone Marshall, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez, Freddie Ljungberg, Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Steve Zakuani, Nate Jaqua, Fredy Montero.

2010 Western Conference Semifinals

Leg One: October 31, 2010 - Sounders FC 0 vs. LA Galaxy 1, CenturyLink Field, Seattle (35,521)

SEA - None

LA - Edson Buddle (Omar Gonzalez) 38'

Lineup: Kasey Keller, James Riley, Jeff Parke, Patrick Ianni, Leo Gonzalez, Sanna Nyassi, Osvaldo Alonso, Nathan Sturgis, Steve Zakuani, Blaise Nkufo, Fredy Montero.

Leg Two: November 7, 2010 - Sounders FC 1 at LA Galaxy 2, The Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif. (27,000)

SEA - Steve Zakuani (Nate Jaqua) 86'

LA - Edson Buddle (David Beckham) 19', Omar Gonzalez (David Beckham) 27'

Lineup: Kasey Keller, James Riley, Tyrone Marshall, Patrick Ianni, Leo Gonzalez, Sanna Nyassi, Osvaldo Alonso, Nathan Sturgis, Steve Zakuani, Blaise Nkufo, Fredy Montero.

2011 Western Conference Semifinals

Leg One: October 29, 2011 - Sounders FC 0 at Real Salt Lake 3, Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah (17,067)

SEA - None

RSL - Alvaro Saborio (Chris Wingert, Javier Morales) 41', Alvaro Saborio (Javier Morales) 53', Ned Grabavoy 88'

Lineup: Kasey Keller, James Riley, Jeff Parke, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez, Lamar Neagle, Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Alvaro Fernandez, Sammy Ochoa, Fredy Montero.

Leg Two: November 2, 2011 - Sounders FC 2 vs. Real Salt Lake 0, CenturyLink Field, Seattle (36,021)

SEA - Osvaldo Alonso (penalty kick) 56', Lamar Neagle (Fredy Montero) 61'

RSL - None

Lineup: Kasey Keller, Zach Scott, Jeff Parke, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez, Erik Friberg, Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Alvaro Fernandez, Mike Fucito, Fredy Montero.

2012 Western Conference Semifinals

Leg One: November 2, 2012 - Sounders FC 0 vs. Real Salt Lake 0, CenturyLink Field, Seattle (34,941)

SEA - None

RSL - None

Lineup: Michael Gspurning, Adam Johansson, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Jeff Parke, Marc Burch, Mauro Rosales, Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Christian Tiffert, Sammy Ochoa, Fredy Montero.

Leg Two: November 8, 2012 - Sounders FC 1 at Real Salt Lake 0, Rio Tinto Stadium, Sandy, Utah (19,657)

SEA - Mario Martinez (Fredy Montero, Brad Evans) 81'

RSL - None

Lineup: Michael Gspurning, Adam Johansson, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Jeff Parke, Marc Burch, Mario Martinez, Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Christian Tiffert, Fredy Montero, Eddie Johnson.

2012 Western Conference Championship

Leg One: November 11, 2012 - Sounders FC 0 at LA Galaxy 3, The StubHub Center, Carson, Calif. (27,000)

SEA - None

LA - Robbie Keane (Landon Donovan, Sean Franklin) 46+, Mike Magee (Sean Franklin, Robbie Keane) 64', Robbie Keane (Christian Wilhelmsson) 67'

Lineup: Michael Gspurning, Adam Johansson, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Jeff Parke, Zach Scott, Mario Martinez, Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Alex Caskey, Christian Tiffert, Fredy Montero.

Leg Two: November 18, 2012 - Sounders FC 2 vs. LA Galaxy 1, CenturyLink Field, Seattle (44,575)

SEA - Eddie Johnson (Zach Scott) 12', Zach Scott (Christian Tiffert) 57'

LA - Robbie Keane (penalty) 68'

Lineup: Michael Gspurning, Adam Johansson, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Jeff Parke, Zach Scott, Christian Tiffert, Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Steve Zakuani, Fredy Montero, Eddie Johnson.

MLS Cup Playoffs Format 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.

Knockout Round - Single match elimination between No. 4 and No. 5 seeds at home venue of No. 4 seed on October 30 or 31. Winner advances to the Conference Semifinals to face top seed.

Conference Semifinals - Two-game, aggregate-goal series to be played between No. 1 seed/Knockout Round winner and No. 2 seed/No. 3 seed. First leg is hosted by the lower seed with the second leg at the higher seed's home venue. First leg begins November 2 or 3 with the second leg on November 6 or 7. Winners advance to Conference Championship.

Conference Championship - Two-game, aggregate-goal series to be played between Conference Semifinals winners. First leg is hosted by the lower seed with the second leg at the higher seed's home venue. First leg begins November 9 or 10 with the second leg on November 23 or 24. Winner advances to MLS Cup.

MLS Cup - Single match championship played between the Western Conference and Eastern Conference champions. The match will be played at the home venue of the team with the higher regular season point total on December 7.

*If the score is tied after 90 minutes of play in the Knockout Round, second leg of Conference Semifinals or Conference Championship, or MLS Cup, two 15-minute extra time periods will be played in their entirety, followed by kicks from the penalty mark, if necessary.

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