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MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC Secures Second Place in Western Conference with 1-0 Decision Day Win over Minnesota United FC

October 6, 2019 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Roman Torres of Seattle Sounders FC celebrates his goal against Minnesota United FC
Roman Torres of Seattle Sounders FC celebrates his goal against Minnesota United FC
(Seattle Sounders FC, Credit: Mike Fiechtner / Sounders FC)

SEATTLE, WASH. - Román Torres scored his first career MLS goal as Seattle Sounders FC (16-10-8, 56 points) defeated Minnesota United FC (15-11-8, 53 points) on Sunday afternoon in a Decision Day clash at CenturyLink Field. With the result, Sounders FC concludes the 2019 MLS regular season and clinches the second seed in the Western Conference ahead of a First Round matchup with FC Dallas in the 2019 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs on Saturday, October 19. By securing the second seed in the postseason, Seattle is guaranteed homefield advantage up until the Conference Championship. A crowd of 47,297 packed CenturyLink Field on Sunday evening, Seattle's second-highest attended match of the season, as the Rave Green advanced to 24-5-5 all-time in front of crowds over 45,000.

Seattle found the 29th minute marker via Torres for his first goal in a Sounders FC uniform. Nico Lodeiro's initial corner kick was cleared to the right flank and tracked down by Joevin Jones, who sent a long cross to the far post that found Torres for an easy header. It marked Torres' first goal for Sounders FC since signing in the summer of 2015, with the Panamanian international making his first start on Sunday since July 27 after serving a 10-match suspension for violating the MLS SABH policy.

Sounders FC has now concluded the 2019 MLS regular-season campaign, finishing with 56 points (16-10-8), tied for the fourth most in club history. This marks the third consecutive season in which Seattls has finished in second place in the Western Conference.

Stefan Frei recorded his 10th shutout of the season, reaching double digits for third time in his career and first time since 2017. His 76 career shutouts are now tied with Zach Thornton for fifth in league history, while his 116 saves this season also set a new career high.

Minnesota's Osvaldo Alonso returned to CenturyLink Field on Sunday for the first time since signing with Minnesota as a free agent this offseason after 10 seasons in Seattle. Alonso has started all 26 of his appearances this season, recording one goal and two assists. Alonso is Sounders FC's all-time leader in appearances, starts and minutes after signing with the club prior to its inaugural MLS season in 2009, helping Sounders FC to four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup titles (2009-2011, 2014), the 2014 Supporters' Shield and the 2016 MLS Cup championship.

MATCH NOTES

With today's result, Sounders FC clinched the second seed in the Western Conference, with Seattle set to host FC Dallas on Saturday, October 19 at CenturyLink Field. This marks the third consecutive season that Seattle has finished second in the Western Conference.

In his first start since July 27 at Houston, Torres scored the first goal of his MLS career. He has appeared in 66 regular-season contests and 10 postseason games, all with Seattle.

Jones recorded his second assist of the season and his first since August 10 vs. New England.

Today's attendance was 47,297, the second-highest number of the year, behind only the Portland match on July 21 which saw 50,072 fans pack CenturyLink Field.

Sounders FC today improved to 24-5-5 all-time at CenturyLink Field when the attendance number is over 45,000.

Stefan Frei recorded his 10th shutout of the season, reaching double digits for third time in his career and first time since 2017. His 76 career shutouts are now tied with Zach Thornton for fifth in league history, while his 116 saves this season also set a new career high. MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 1 - Minnesota United FC 0

Sunday, October 6, 2019

Venue: CenturyLink Field

Referee: Kevin Stott

Assistants: Mike Rottersman, Eric Boria

Fourth Official: Farhad Dadkho

VAR: Alex Chilowicz

Attendance: 47,297

Weather: 61 degrees and partly cloudy

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA - Román Torres (Joevin Jones) 29'

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

MIN - Ike Opara (caution) 23'

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam, Román Torres, Kim Kee-hee, Brad Smith; Gustav Svensson, Cristian Roldan, Joevin Jones (Jordy Delem 79'), Nicolás Lodeiro - captain (Saad Abdul-Salaam 88'), Jordan Morris; Raúl Ruidíaz (Luis Silva 90')

Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Emanuel Cecchini, Alex Roldan, Harry Shipp

Total shots: 14 (Lodeiro, 3)

Shots on goal: 4 (Four players, 1)

Fouls: 9 (Svensson, 3)

Offside: 2 (Morris, 2)

Corner-kicks: 13 (Lodeiro, 11)

Saves: 1 (Frei, 1)

Minnesota United FC - Vito Mannone; Ike Opara, Michael Boxall, Romain Metanire, Chase Gasper; Osvaldo Alonso - captain, Jan Gregus (Kevin Molino 70'), Ethan Finlay (Robin Lod 83'), Hassani Dotson; Angelo Rodriguez, Darwin Quintero (Mason Toye 71')

Substitutes not used: Dayne St. Clair, Miguel Ibarra, Lawrence Olum, Wilfried Moimbe-Tahrat

Total shots: 8 (Rodriguez, 2)

Shots on goal: 1 (Quintero, 1)

Fouls: 12 (Alonso/Gasper, 3)

Offside: 1 (Finlay, 1)

Corner-kicks: 2 (Gregus/Molino, 1)

Saves: 3 (Mannone, 3)

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Images from this story

Roman Torres of Seattle Sounders FC celebrates his goal against Minnesota United FC
Roman Torres of Seattle Sounders FC celebrates his goal against Minnesota United FC
(Mike Fiechtner / Sounders FC)		   



Major League Soccer Stories from October 6, 2019


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