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MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC Punches Postseason Ticket with 4-0

October 16, 2017 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Sounders FC Punches Postseason Ticket with 4-0 Drubbing of FC Dallas
Sounders FC Punches Postseason Ticket with 4-0 Drubbing of FC Dallas
(Seattle Sounders FC)

SEATTLE, WASH. - An energetic crowd of 48,478 at CenturyLink Field roared Sounders FC onto victory Sunday afternoon, as Seattle (13-9-11, 50 points) punched its postseason ticket with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Western Conference foe FC Dallas (10-10-13, 43 points) on the penultimate weekend of the 2017 regular season. With the win, Sounders FC secures its berth in the 2017 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, allowing Brian Schmetzer's side to defend its 2016 title, while also preserving the club's active MLS record of nine-consecutive postseason appearances. A first-half goal from Spanish winger Victor Rodriguez sparked Seattle's offensive outburst, with Will Bruin bagging two second-half goals and Lamar Neagle adding a stoppage-time exclamation mark. Sunday's win puts Seattle in control of its own destiny for a first-round bye in the postseason, as a Decision Day home win against Colorado next Sunday would secure second place in the Western Conference.

RodrÃ-guez struck first for Seattle in the 31st minute, receiving a through ball from Clint Dempsey and taking one touch before beating the onrushing Jesse Gonzalez to give the home side a 1-0 lead. It was the second goal of the season for RodrÃ-guez, who signed with Seattle on August 2.

With an assist on the play, Dempsey has four helpers on the season. Sunday marked the Nacogdoches, Texas native's 100th regular-season appearance since signing with Sounders FC in 2013.

With the score still 1-0 past the hour mark, Bruin scored a pair of back-to-back goals to bring his total to 10 on the season, good for second on the team. In the 64th minute, a Dempsey shot attempt was saved by Gonzalez, but Bruin pounced on the rebound and put a shot into the back of the net. Three minutes later, Bruin again took advantage of a loose ball, this time burying an open shot after RodrÃ-guez was dispossessed inside the area. This marks the fourth career double-digit scoring year for Bruin, and his first since 2015. The University of Indiana product now has 60 goals in 208 career appearances.

Neagle made it 4-0 in second half stoppage time, finding the end of a Nicolás Lodeiro cross for a snap-header to seal the deal for the Rave Green. The Federal Way product has three goals this season - two with Seattle - and 28 all-time for Sounders FC, good for fourth in club history. Lodeiro now has 12 assists on the season, first on the team and one shy of the single-season club record held by Mauro Rosales (2011, 2012) and Obafemi Martins (2014).

Stefan Frei recorded his league-leading 12th shutout of the season, eclipsing the previous club record set by Kasey Keller in 2010. Two shutouts ahead of the next-closest goalkeeper in MLS, Frei has clinched the league's 2017 shutout crown.

Seattle continued its home success against FC Dallas, with the club's winning streak against the Hoops at CenturyLink progressing to seven games, with Seattle holding a 24-4 goal advantage in those contests. Sounders FC has outscored FC Dallas 12-0 in the last three regular-season meetings at CenturyLink Field.

Sounders FC concludes the 2017 regular-season campaign next Sunday, October 22 with a Decision Day matchup against the Colorado Rapids on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field (1:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, Univision-Seattle, 107.7 The End, El Rey 1360 AM).

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Sounders FC Punches Postseason Ticket with 4-0 Drubbing of FC Dallas
Sounders FC Punches Postseason Ticket with 4-0 Drubbing of FC Dallas
   



Major League Soccer Stories from October 16, 2017


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