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MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes

April 14, 2014 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Road-Tested Sounders Visit Chivas USA Saturday

Riding the momentum of consecutive come-from-behind road results, Seattle Sounders FC concludes a three-game road trip at Chivas USA on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.

Saturday's match will be televised on JOEtv (KZJO, channel 22/cable 10) with Ross Fletcher and Kasey Keller calling the action, and can be heard on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM. The match will also be televised live in Spanish on THIS-TV (KOMO2) with Jaime Mendez and Diego Arrioja on the call, and Spanish radio is available on ESPN Deportes 1490 AM with Rene Aleman and Noe Menendez.

Sounders FC (3-2-1, 10 points) moved into a three-way tie for second place in the Western Conference with a comeback 3-2 road win against league-leading FC Dallas on Saturday. Seattle is unbeaten in three (2-0-1) road games this season, scoring a league-high nine away goals, including a club record seven goals in the past two road outings.

Clint Dempsey earned MLS Player of the Week honors for the second consecutive week after scoring a club record five goals over the past two games. His long-range free kick goal is nominated for MLS Goal of the Week. Dempsey leads MLS with six goals, recording a goal or assist in all four appearances this season, and Obafemi Martins leads the league with four assists.

The Seattle attack has scored the second-most goals (12) in MLS this season, setting the club record with goals in each of the opening six games of the season.

Winless in its past five (0-2-3) outings, Chivas USA (1-2-3, 6 points) sits seventh in the West following a comeback road draw at Portland last Saturday. Forward Erick Torres ranks second in MLS with five goals and former Sounders FC midfielder Mauro Rosales has recorded three assists (T-2nd).

Riding an 11-game (7-0-4) unbeaten streak in the series, Sounders FC looks to win its sixth-straight game over Chivas USA. The two sides will meet again at the StubHub Center on September 3 and will conclude the season series at CenturyLink Field on September 27.

Following Saturday's match, Sounders FC will play its first MLS Reserve League match of the season against Chivas USA on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 11 a.m. PT at the StubHub Center.

Sounders FC will return to Seattle for three-straight home games, beginning April 26 against the Colorado Rapids. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.

Tickets for Sounders FC home matches, including the Tottenham Hotspur friendly, are available now at www.SoundersFC.com and 1-877-MLS-GOAL. The 6-Match ticket package is also available now with expanded seating to include the upper bowl at CenturyLink Field.

Competition Schedule (All times Pacific; subject to change)

April 19, 7:30 p.m. - Sounders FC at Chivas USA, StubHub Center

April 26, 1 p.m. - Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids, CenturyLink Field

May 3, 7 p.m. - Sounders FC vs. Philadelphia Union, CenturyLink Field

May 7, 7 p.m. - Sounders FC vs. FC Dallas, CenturyLink Field

May 11, 3 p.m. - Sounders FC at New England Revolution, Gillette Stadium

Dempsey Named MLS Player of the Week for Second Straight Week

Seattle Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey was voted Major League Soccer Player of the Week by the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) for Week 6 of the 2014 MLS season. Dempsey earned the honors for the second-straight week after setting a club record with five goals in the past two matches.

For only the third time in the history of the balloting, Dempsey was the unanimous choice for Player of the Week. It is the second time in club history that a player has earned the honors in consecutive weeks, as Fredy Montero was named Player of the Week in Weeks 1 and 2 of the 2009 season.

Overall, a Sounders FC player has earned Player of the Week honors 31 times in club history. Montero earned the honors a club record six times in his career and Nate Jaqua holds the season record after earning the honors three times in 2009. Three current Sounders FC players have earned Player of the Week honors while playing for the club, including Lamar Neagle (twice in 2011), Brad Evans (2012) and Obafemi Martins (2013).

The MLS Player of the Week is selected each week of the regular season by a panel of journalists from NASR. The group consists of members of print, television, radio and online media. More information and membership information can be found at http://www.soccerreporters.com/.

Dempsey Leading the Way

For the second-straight week, Clint Dempsey has led Sounders FC to a comeback road result. After scoring his first career MLS hat trick at Portland on April 5, Dempsey netted his second career MLS brace at Dallas last Saturday, becoming the only player this season to record two multi-goal games. His five goals in two games set the club record and he currently leads the league with six goals (1.50 goals per game).

Dempsey has recorded a goal or assist in all four of his appearances this season, marking the longest active stretch in MLS . Dempsey is the third player to accomplish that feat this season (Obafemi Martins and Erick Torres) . With goals in each of his last three outings, Dempsey has the second-longest scoring streak in MLS this season. His best-ever stretch came in 2005 when he scored five goals with four assists over a six-game stretch to begin the season with the New England Revolution.

Consecutive Games with Goal

Games Player, Team Dates

4 Erick Torres, CHV March 9-March 30

3 Clint Dempsey, SEA March 15-April 12*

3 Robbie Keane, LA March 22-April 12*

3 Vicente Sanchez, COL March 15-March 29*

*Active

Scoring Goals at Record Pace

Sounders FC is scoring goals at record pace in 2014, ranking second in MLS with 12 goals and first with 13 assists. It is the first time in club history that the team has started a season with goals in its opening six matches, and the 12-goal total in Week 6 is the highest in club history. Seattle is one of three teams (FC Dallas and Real Salt Lake) with at least two multi-goal games this season.

Week 6 Goal Totals - club history

Year Goals Multi-goal Games

2014 12 3

2009 9 4

2012 8 3

2010 7 3

2011 6 2

2013 3 0

Three Teams Tied for Second

With its road win last Saturday, Sounders FC jumped into a three-way tie for second place in the Western Conference. Seattle sits three points shy of FC Dallas for the lead in the Supporters' Shield race and its average of 1.67 points per game ranks tied-fifth in MLS. Sounders FC is one of just five teams with three or more wins on the season. Seattle's second-place position in the West is the highest Week 6 placement since the club was in sole possession of second in 2009. Over the past three seasons, Sounders FC has not been in the top three in the conference in Week 6.

Top Road Team in MLS

Seattle has kicked off the 2014 season as one of the elite road teams in MLS. With seven points through three road games, Sounders FC is tied with the Colorado Rapids and Columbus Crew for the league-lead. Seattle ranks first in MLS with nine away goals, three more than any other side. Real Salt Lake (1-0-3) is the only other team with a longer active road unbeaten streak. Seattle has historically been one of the top road teams in MLS, earning the second-most away points (31-28-25, 118 points) since 2009 (LA Galaxy, 122 points).

Top Road Records in MLS - 2014 season

Teams Record (points) Goals (Rank)

Seattle 2-0-1 (7 pts.) 9 (1st)

Colorado 2-0-1 (7 pts.) 4 (T-6th)

Columbus 2-0-1 (7 pts.) 6 (T-2nd)

Salt Lake 1-0-3 (6 pts.) 6 (T-2nd)

Toronto 2-1-0 (6 pts.) 4 (T-6th)

Road Record in Perspective

Seattle's performance in the first three road matches of the 2014 season marks one of the best away stretches in club history. The seven points through the opening three road games ties the club record set in 2012, and a win at Chivas USA would mark the best-ever four-game start on the road. The team has scored multiple goals in three-straight road games for the first time in club history and the seven goals in the past two road games is a club record. The season record for most multi-goal road games is seven (set in 2012) and Seattle has already equaled its 2013 total (3). Sounders FC is also approaching the team record for most three-goal road games in a season (3 times/2011).

Sounders FC will conclude its three-game road stretch at Chivas USA on Saturday, marking the fifth time in club history that the team will play three consecutive away games. Seattle's best-ever record in a three-game road stretch was 2-0-1 from April 20 to May 8, 2013. The team will play four-straight road games for the first time in club history from June 5 to July 5 (Chicago, Chivas USA, D.C. United and Vancouver).

All-Time Record in Three-Straight Road Games - club history

Dates Record (points) GF/GA

Apr. 20-May 8, 2013 2-0-1 (7 pts.) 4/2

Apr. 5 - Apr. 19 1-0-1 (4 pts.) 7/6

Sept. 26-Oct. 17, 2009 2-1-0 (6 pts.) 5/4

Aug. 2-15, 2009 1-2-0 (3 pts.) 2/5

June 24-July 4, 2012 0-1-2 (2 pts.) 3/4

Comeback Sounders

Sounders FC has come-from-behind to get results in its past two outings, a 4-4 draw at Portland and 3-2 win at Dallas. In both matches, Seattle twice came back to secure crucial road points. Saturday's win at Dallas marked the first time since September 7, 2013, that Seattle won when conceding the first goal, and it was first win when trailing at the half since June 8, 2013. Seattle is one of just two teams (Columbus Crew) to win a game when trailing at the half this season.

April Unbeaten Streak Extended

Saturday's win extended Seattle's unbeaten streak in the month of April to 12 games (7-0-5), dating back to April 2, 2011. The team is 10-4-7 in 21 all-time April matches, outscoring opponents 29-21. The Sounders FC roster boasts two of the top five active goal scorers in April as Kenny Cooper has totaled 18 career goals and Clint Dempsey has scored 11 times.

Active Goal Leaders - April

Rank Player Goals

1 Landon Donovan 21

2 Kenny Cooper 18

3 Edson Buddle 12

4 Clint Dempsey 11

Dwayne De Rosario 11

Dynamic Duos Meet Saturday

Two of the league's most dangerous attacking pairs will face off on Saturday as Seattle's Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins meet Chivas' Erick Torres and Mauro Rosales. Dempsey leads the league with six goals and Torres ranks second with five. Similarly, Martins has recorded a league-leading four assists while Rosales is tied second with three. Martins has assisted on three of Dempsey's six goals this season while Rosales has assisted on one of Torres' five tallies.

Seattle Goes for Sixth Straight Win over Chivas USA

Sounders FC has won its past five games against Chivas USA, dating back to October 22, 2011. Seattle has outscored Chivas 17-6 in that span, including six multi-goal games. After dropping its first two contests against Chivas in 2009, Seattle has gone unbeaten in 11 (7-0-4) consecutive meetings. The two losses in the all-time series came on the road as Sounders FC is 3-2-2 at the StubHub Center. The seven all-time wins over Chivas marks the second-most in club history over one opponent (8 wins vs. Colorado). Seattle has also beat FC Dallas and Sporting Kansas City seven times.

Series Notes

* Seattle has outscored Chivas 19-10, holding a 151-122 advantage in total shots.

* Sounders FC has scored 12 goals in seven road games, including one of the team's two club record six-goal games (6-2 win, August 25, 2012)

* Chad Barrett leads all Sounders FC players with four career goals against Chivas. Kenny Cooper has scored three goals, and Brad Evans and Lamar Neagle have each scored twice.

* Erick Torres is the only active Chivas player to score in the series.

* Stefan Frei holds a 1.67 goals against average in six starts against Chivas. Dan Kennedy has posted a 2.13 GAA in the series.

About Chivas USA

Chivas USA sits seventh in the Western Conference with six points through six games, including a 1-1-1 record at home. The team is winless in its past five (0-2-3) outings after winning its first match of the season, a 3-2 home victory over Chicago. Chivas ranks 10th in MLS with nine goals and third with six assists. The team leads the league in fouls committed (102) and cautions (16), and has earned the second-most corner kicks (39).

SEA-CHV Connections

Sounders FC traded Mauro Rosales to Chivas USA on December 11, 2013, in exchange for Tristan Bowen and the No. 2 Allocation Ranking. Rosales is the club's all-time co-leader with 34 career MLS assists and holds the club record with 17 game-winning assists across all competitions. Rosales led Sounders FC with eight assists and 33 appearances in 2013. Bowen played 30 matches over three seasons (2011-13) with Chivas, scoring two goals with four assists. Eriq Zavaleta, Seattle's top pick (10th overall) in the 2013 MLS SuperDraft, was loaned to Chivas USA on February 28. Per intraleague loan rules, Zavaleta cannot play against Seattle this year.

Throw-ins

Clint Dempsey and Sigi Schmid were named to the MLSsoccer.com Team of the Week. Dempsey's free kick goal is nominated for MLS Goal of the Week...Brad Evans and Stefan Frei will both celebrate birthdays on April 20...On April 20, 2013, Obafemi Martins scored his first goal for Sounders FC to lead the team to its first win of the season.

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics

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