Svensson and Lodeiro Provide the Goals as Sounders FC Moves Onto MLS Western Conference Championship

Published on October 24, 2019 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release

SEATTLE, WASH. - Second-half goals from Gustav Svensson and Nicolás Lodeiro propelled Seattle Sounders FC to a postseason victory over Real Salt Lake on Wednesday night in front of 37,722 fans at CenturyLink Field. With the win, the Rave Green advance to Major League Soccer's Western Conference Championship for the third time in four seasons, where Sounders FC awaits the winner of tomorrow night's match between Los Angeles FC and the LA Galaxy. The match is slated for Tuesday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m. PT (ESPN / ESPN Deportes). With homefield advantage based upon regular-season point totals, Seattle can only host its next match in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs if the Galaxy prevails on Thursday evening. Following tonight's match, Sounders FC is now 14-2-3 all-time at home in the postseason, including 11-0-1 in its last 12 matches.

Despite conceding nearly 63 percent of the match's possession to RSL in the first half of play, Seattle generated multiple clear-cut chances, but was not able to find a way past veteran goalkeeper Nick Rimando. In what proved to be his final professional match, the RSL mainstay recorded seven total saves in a hard-fought game.

The Rave Green finally broke the deadlock and Rimando's clean sheet in the 64th minute, as Nicolás Lodeiro earned his 14th total assist of 2019 via his signature service during a corner kick. Midfielder Gustav Svensson scored his second postseason goal of his MLS career, firing a header past Rimando at the RSL goalkeeper's near post, sending the home fans into a frenzy.

The crowd reached fever pitch in the 81st minute, when RSL conceded its second goal of the evening, this time with Lodeiro unleashing a deft shot from just inside the 18-yard-box and into the back of the net. Fullback Brad Smith sprung the attack, finding the feet of Raúl Ruidíaz, with the Peruvian providing final service to Lodeiro.

With tonight's result, Seattle is set to play in the Western Conference Championship for the fifth time in the last eight seasons, including the third time in the past four campaigns. In both 2016 and 2017, Brian Schmetzer's side advanced to MLS Cup, winning the league title in 2016.

MATCH NOTES

With tonight's result, Sounders FC advances to the Western Conference Championship to face the winner of tomorrow's match between LAFC and the LA Galaxy. The Western Conference Championship is set for Tuesday, October 29 at 7:00 p.m. PT on ESPN and ESPN Deportes.

Seattle is set to play in the Western Conference Championship for the fifth time in the last eight seasons, including the third time in the past four campaigns.

Sounders FC is now 14-2-3 all-time at home in the playoffs, including 11-0-1 in its last 12 matches.

Seattle has posted a clean sheet in five of its last seven playoff victories.

Sounders FC tonight won its 11th consecutive match in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs at CenturyLink Field. The streak is the second-longest in league history behind D.C. United, which won its first 12 home playoff games in club history. The Sounders FC winning streak started on November 30, 2014, with a Western Conference Championship second leg victory vs. the LA Galaxy.

Sounders FC tonight improved to 3-1-1 all-time against Real Salt Lake in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, including a 2-0-1 record at CenturyLink Field.

Nicolás Lodeiro has now recorded two goals and two assists in his last three playoff matches. Tonight, he recorded a goal and an assist in the same playoff game for the first time in his career. His goal was the sixth of his playoff career, which ranks him tied for first in Sounders FC history with Clint Dempsey. Tonight's assist was the fourth of his playoff career, which ranks him second in Sounders FC history, behind only Joevin Jones (6).

Gustav Svensson's goal was his first of the season and his first since October 21, 2018 in a 3-2 win at Houston. The marker was the second of his playoff career, as he also scored on November 21, 2017 in a 2-0 win at Houston in the first leg of the Western Conference Championship.

Stefan Frei recorded his ninth career playoff shutout, extending his own club record and gaining sole position of fourth place in league history.

Raúl Ruidíaz now ranks tied for third in assists in Sounders FC playoff history with three. He has now recorded an assist in consecutive games for the second time this season (also: August 23 at Portland and September 1 vs. LA Galaxy).

Brad Smith's assist was the first of his playoff career. He ranked third on the club and first among defenders with six assists during the regular season. MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 2 - Real Salt Lake 0

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Venue: CenturyLink Field

Referee: Alan Kelly

Assistants: Nick Uranga, Kathryn Nesbitt

Fourth Official: Rubiel Vazquez

VAR: Jon Freemon

Attendance: 37,722

Weather: 52 degrees and partly cloudy

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA - Gustav Svensson (Nicolás Lodeiro) 64'

SEA - Nicolás Lodeiro (Raúl Ruidíaz, Brad Smith) 81'

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

RSL - Nedum Onuoha (caution) 28'

SEA - Nicolás Lodeiro (caution) 82'

RSL - Everton Luiz (ejection) 83'

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam, Román Torres (Xavier Arreaga 49'), Kim Kee-hee, Brad Smith; Gustav Svensson, Cristian Roldan, Joevin Jones (Víctor Rodríguez 62'), Nicolás Lodeiro - captain, Jordan Morris (Jordy Delem 71'); Raúl Ruidíaz

Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Nouhou, Harry Shipp, Luis Silva

Total shots: 20 (Ruidíaz, 8)

Shots on goal: 10 (Ruidíaz, 4)

Fouls: 9 (Lodeiro/Leerdam, 2)

Offside: 2 (Morris/ Ruidíaz, 1)

Corner-kicks: 9 (Lodeiro, 9)

Saves: 1 (Frei, 1)

Real Salt Lake - Nick Rimando; Donny Toia, Nedum Onuoha, Justen Glad, Aaron Herrera; Kyle Beckerman - captain (Sebastian Saucedo 80'), Everton Luiz, Jefferson Savarino, Albert Rusnak; Corey Baird (Joao Plata 73'), Damir Kreilach (Sam Johnson 76')

Substitutes not used: Andrew Putna, Kelyn Rowe, Brooks Lennon, Marcelo Silva

Total shots: 7 (Savarino/Kreilach, 2)

Shots on goal: 1 (Kreilach, 1)

Fouls: 19 (Herrera, 4)

Offside: 2 (Savarino, 2)

Corner-kicks: 2 (Rusnak, 2)

Saves: 7 (Rimando, 7)

Seattle Sounders FC advanced to the Western Conference Championship to face the winner of LAFC and the LA Galaxy (Mike Fiechtner / Sounders FC)

Major League Soccer Stories from October 24, 2019

• Real Salt Lake Goalkeeper Nick Rimando Claims 2019 MLS Save of the Year Presented by Allstate - Real Salt Lake
• Real Salt Lake's Nick Rimando Garners MLS Save of the Year Presented by Allstate - MLS
• Wilmer Cabrera Will Not Return with the Montreal Impact - Club de Foot Montreal
• Earthquakes Sign Florian Jungwirth to New Multi-Year Contract - San Jose Earthquakes
• Vito Mannone Named 2019 Goalkeeper of the Year - Minnesota United FC
• Minnesota United FC's Vito Mannone Voted Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year - MLS
• Toronto FC (2) - New York City FC (1) Post Game Summary - Toronto FC
• Svensson and Lodeiro Provide the Goals as Sounders FC Moves Onto MLS Western Conference Championship - Seattle Sounders FC
• Real Salt Lake Suffers 2-0 Defeat to Seattle Sounders FC in Western Conference Semifinals - Real Salt Lake
• Seattle and Toronto Advance to Audi 2019 MLS Cup Playoffs Conference Finals - MLS

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