MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes

Published on March 4, 2014 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Sounders FC Hosts Sporting KC in Season Opener on Saturday

Seattle Sounders FC kicks off Major League Soccer's 19th season on Saturday afternoon against the MLS Cup champion Sporting Kansas City. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.

Saturday's match will be nationally televised on NBC Sports Network with John Strong and Kyle Martino calling the action. The match can also be heard on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM with Ross Fletcher and Kasey Keller on the call, and in Spanish on ESPN Deportes Radio Seattle with Rene Aleman and Noe Menendez.

Sounders FC will open its MLS season at CenturyLink Field for the sixth-straight year, having gone 3-2-0 in the previous five season openers. Three of the team's first four matches will be played at home this season, where Seattle matched its club record with 35 points in 2013 and posted a league-best six-game winning streak.

In Sporting Kansas City, Sounders FC will meet a familiar foe, facing off 10 times over the past five years. Seattle enters the match riding a seven-game (6-0-1) unbeaten streak in the regular-season series, including four stoppage time game-winners. The teams also met in the 2012 U.S. Open Cup final, with Sporting KC taking the trophy following a penalty shootout.

Kansas City remains relatively unchanged from last season's squad, bringing in just two new players to replace four departures. Sporting finished the 2013 regular season as Supporters' Shield runners-up, and completed a successful run towards the club's second MLS Cup.

Saturday's match will again feature a massive crowd as nearly 39,000 packed the stands in last year's season opener. Sounders FC supporters have set the league attendance record each of the club's first five seasons, averaging 44,039 in 2013.

Seattle completed the 2014 preseason last Saturday against D.C. United, battling to a 2-2 draw in the final match of the Carolina Challenge Cup. Over nine preseason matches, Sounders FC went unbeaten at 6-0-3, outscoring opponents 18-8.

The week will be packed with events around Seattle as Sounders FC prepares for kickoff on Saturday. On Monday night, Sounders FC unveiled its new Pitch Black third kits at the CenturyLink Field Pro Shop. The team will also hold its annual kickoff luncheon on Thursday following training at CenturyLink Field. Additional activities will be announced shortly.

A limited number of season-ticket memberships are still available. Single match tickets are also on sale now. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.SoundersFC.com or by phoning 1-877-MLS-GOAL.

Competition Schedule (All times Pacific; subject to change)

March 8, 12 p.m. - Sounders FC vs. Sporting Kansas City at CenturyLink Field

March 15, 1:30 p.m. - Sounders FC vs Toronto FC at CenturyLink Field

March 22, 1 p.m. - Sounders FC at Montreal Impact at Olympic Stadium

March 29, 7 p.m. - Sounders FC vs. Columbus Crew at CenturyLink Field

Season Six Starts Saturday

Saturday's match against Sporting Kansas City will mark Seattle's sixth season in Major League Soccer. After joining the league in 2009, Sounders FC saw instant success, becoming the first MLS team to win three consecutive U.S. Open Cup titles while qualifying for the MLS Cup Playoffs all five seasons. Three players who started in the club's inaugural match are still with the team, including Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans and Zach Scott, and Head Coach Sigi Schmid has been at the helm since Day One. Overall, Sounders FC has played 162 regular-season matches (221 across all competitions), scoring 226 goals (320 across all competitions).

Opening Month

Sounders FC will play four games in the month of March, beginning with Saturday's season opener against Sporting Kansas City. Seattle will stay home for the Week 2 matchup against Toronto FC, marking the Reds first match after acquiring international stars Michael Bradley and Jermaine Defoe. The team will then travel to Montreal for its first road match of the season on March 22, and will return to CenturyLink Field to conclude the month against the Columbus Crew. All four of Seattle's opponents in March belong to the Eastern Conference, and the four matches fall on consecutive Saturdays, including three day games.

CenturyLink Field Fortress

Games at CenturyLink Field are a welcomed sight for Sounders FC players and supporters. Over the past five seasons, Sounders FC has been one of the top home teams in MLS, earning the fifth-most points (35) at home in 2013. Seattle's 2013 home point total matched the best in club history, scoring the second-most goals (29) while allowing the third-fewest goals (15).

Sounders FC posted two lengthy streaks at CenturyLink Field in 2013. The team's 14-game (10-0-4) home unbeaten streak was the third-longest in MLS last season, and the six-game home winning streak was tied for the league's best.

Season Openers at CenturyLink Field

Sounders FC will open its season at CenturyLink for the sixth-straight year, beginning with the club's inaugural MLS match in 2009. Seattle has gone 3-2-0 in the previous five season openers, outscoring opponents 8-3. In the 2013 season opener, Sounders FC fell to the Montreal Impact, 1-nil. The largest opening day crowd was in 2012 when 39,232 watched Sounders FC down Toronto FC, 3-1.

Seattle Season Openers

Year Opponent Result (Attendance) Scoring Summary

3/19/09 New York Red Bulls W, 3-0 (32,608) SEA: Montero (11', 75') Evans (25')

3/25/10 Philadelphia Union W, 2-0 (36,241) SEA: Evans (12'), Montero (43')

3/15/11 LA Galaxy L, 1-0 (36,433) LA: Juninho (58')

3/17/12 Toronto FC W, 3-1 (39,232) SEA: Estrada (17', 51', 63')

TOR: Johnson (62')

3/02/13 Montreal Impact L, 1-0 (38,998) MTL: Arnaud (35')

All The Rave

With the start of the season comes the opportunity for Sounders FC supporters to once again raise the bar for MLS fandom. The crowds at CenturyLink Field have continued to grow every season, setting league attendance records each year with 88 consecutive sellouts.

Seattle Attendance Records

Year Attendance Average

2013 44,039

2012 43,144

2011 38,498

2010 36,173

2009 30,897

Seattle Finishes 2014 Preseason Unbeaten

Sounders FC concluded the 2014 preseason last Saturday with a 2-2 draw against D.C. United in the final match of the Carolina Challenge Cup. Seattle posted an unbeaten record of 6-0-3 in the nine preseason games, outscoring opponents 18-8. The team was held scoreless one time and scored a team-high five goals against the College of Charleston. The Seattle defense held strong throughout preseason, posting a goals against average of 0.89 with two shutouts.

Obafemi Martins and Kevin Parsemain led the team with three goals each, and Dylan Remick registered a team-high three assists. Remick and Jalil Anibaba logged the most minutes (390) and started the most matches (6). Stefan Frei led the goalkeeping group with a 0.68 goals against average as both Frei and Marcus Hahnemann allowed three goals.

2014 Preseason Results:

Date Opponent Result Location

Feb. 5 San Jose Earthquakes W, 2-1 Kino Sports Complex (Tucson, Ariz.)

Feb. 6 Vancouver Whitecaps W, 2-1 Grande Sports World (Casa Grande, Ariz.)

Feb. 8 Portland Timbers D, 0-0 Kino Sports Complex (Tucson, Ariz.)

Feb. 9 Vancouver Whitecaps W, 2-1 Kino Sports Complex (Tucson, Ariz.)

Feb. 22 Charleston Battery W, 2-1 Blackbaud Stadium (Charleston, SC)

Feb. 23 College of Charleston W, 5-0 Patriots Point Athletic Complex (Mt. Pleasant, SC)

Feb. 26 Houston Dynamo D, 1-1 Blackbaud Stadium (Charleston, SC)

Mar. 1 Coastal Carolina W, 2-1 Blackbaud Stadium (Charleston, SC)

Mar. 1 D.C. United D, 2-2 Blackbaud Stadium (Charleston, SC)

2014 Preseason Team Stats

Games (record): 9 (6-0-3)

Goals (total): 18

Goals (single-game high): 5

Goals (single-game low): 0

Goals Allowed (total): 8

Goals Allowed (single-game high): 2

Goals Allowed (single-game low): 0

2014 Preseason Leaders

Goals: Obafemi Martins and Kevin Parsemain (3)

Assists: Dylan Remick (3)

Points: Obafemi Martins and Kevin Parsemain (6)

Games Played: Jalil Anibaba, Dylan Remick and Aaron Kovar (7)

Games Started: Jalil Anibaba and Dylan Remick (6)

Minutes: Jalil Anibaba and Dylan Remick (390)

Goals Allowed: Stefan Frei and Marcus Hahnemann (3)

Goals Against Average: Stefan Frei (0.68)

Shutouts: Stefan Frei and Marcus Hahnemann (1)

Seattle-Kansas City Series Notes

Saturday's match marks the lone meeting of the season between the two sides as Sounders FC looks to extend its seven-game (6-0-1) unbeaten run in the regular-season series. Overall, Seattle has won six of eight all-time meetings, including four victories in second-half stoppage time. Seven of Seattle's 11 goals in the series have come in the final 15 minutes of the match, and just twice has Sounders FC scored in the opening hour. Seattle clinched its first two MLS Cup Playoffs berths at Kansas City, and Sounders FC became the first team to win at Sporting Park, netting two stoppage time goals on August 6, 2011.

The teams have also met twice in U.S. Open Cup play. In Seattle's first run to the championship in 2009, Sebastien Le Toux converted a penalty attempt in the 89th minute to oust Kansas City from the quarterfinals. The teams met again in the 2012 final, trading goals in the final six minutes of regulation to force overtime before Kansas City won, 3-2, in a penalty shootout.

The Late, Late Show

Sounders FC has scored four game-winners against Sporting Kansas City in second-half stoppage time. The late drama began in 2010 when Mike Fucito knocked in the 92nd minute winner, followed by Jeff Parke's 93rd minute winner in May of 2011 and goals from Mauro Rosales and Lamar Neagle in stoppage time to win in August of 2011. Djimi Traore continued the trend last season when he scored the latest goal in club history - a 94th minute score to steal a 1-nil victory.

Sporting KC Notables

Sporting Kansas City returns many of the same players for the 2014 season. The team replaced retired goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen by trading for Andy Gruenebaum, and forward Teal Bunbury was traded to New England. Kansas City's defense has been among the league's elite with U.S. National Team defender Matt Besler and MLS Cup MVP Aurelien Collin. Kansas City remains strong in the midfielder with U.S. internationals Graham Zusi (6 goals and 8 assists in 2013) and Benny Feilhaber (3 goals and 4 assists in 2013). The forward group features several dangerous pieces with Claudio Bieler (5 goals and 6 assists in 2014 preseason) and C.J. Sapong (18 goals and 9 assists since 2011), and third-year forward Dom Dwyer returns after scoring the game-winner in the 2013 Eastern Conference Championship.

Academy Update: Sounders Continue to Roll

The Sounders FC Academy teams both extended unbeaten runs on Sunday at Starfire. The U-18s won 6-nil over San Diego Surf and remain third in the Northwest Division, four points behind De Anza Force with one game in hand. The U-18s have won five straight matches, outscoring opponents 21-2 over that span. David Olsen and Seyi Adekoya lead the team with eight goals.

The U-16 team also won big, downing San Diego Surf, 4-0, behind a hat trick from Victor Mansaray. The win extended their unbeaten streak to six games (5-0-1), having outscored opponents 15-1 over the past six games. The U-16s are now first in the Northwest Division with 2.12 points per game.

Both teams return to USSDA action on March 15 against Crossfire Premier at Starfire. The U-18s will play the U-17 U.S. National Team on Monday, March 10.

Sounders FC Revealed New Third Kits on Monday

Sounders FC revealed its new 2014 third kit on Monday at the CenturyLink Field Pro Shop. The Pitch Black kit features a black top with radiant green trim, shorts and socks. For the sixth straight season, Sounders FC will don its Rave Green kit as the team's primary jersey and the Cascade Shale returns as the secondary kit for the fourth straight season. The Pitch Black jersey marks the third alternate kit in team history.

Sounders FC Kit History

Year Primary Secondary Third

2009 Rave Green Sounder Blue None

2010 Rave Green Sounder Blue Electricity

2011 Rave Green Cascade Shale Electricity

2012 Rave Green Cascade Shale Super Cyan

2013 Rave Green Cascade Shale Super Cyan

2014 Rave Green Cascade Shale Pitch Black

Kickoff Luncheon on Thursday

Sounders FC will host the fifth annual Kickoff Luncheon at CenturyLink Field on Thursday, March 6 from 12:30-1:45 p.m. Guests have the opportunity to attend a Sounders FC team training session and the team kickoff luncheon where guests sit side-by-side with and get to know Sounders FC players, coaches, owners and executives.

Proceeds from the luncheon ticket sales and event silent auction benefit the five Sounders FC Community Partners: America SCORES Seattle, Boys & Girls Clubs (King County and Bellevue), Special Olympics Washington, Washington Global Health Alliance and Washington Youth Soccer.

For more information, visit www.SoundersFC.com.

Throw-ins

Clint Dempsey turns 31 on March 9...The Sounders FC reserves will play the University of Washington Men's soccer team on Sunday, March 9. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. PT at Husky Soccer Stadium...The broadcast team for THIS-TV (KOMO2) will be Jaime Mendez and Diego Arrioja.

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics

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