The Seattle Sounders visit the Colorado Rapids on Saturday in the second and final meeting between the sides during the 2019 MLS regular season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is set for 6:00 p.m. PT at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on JOEtv and YouTube TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 1090 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2019 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 13-8-7 (46 points, 2nd West), Rapids: 8-14-6 (30 points, 11th West)
FORM GUIDE (most recent first): Seattle: WWDLD, Colorado: WLDLW
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 18-5-2 all-time against the Rapids, including a 7-3-1 mark on the road.
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Sounders defeated the Rapids 2-0 at CenturyLink Field in Week 2 of the 2019 MLS campaign. Rave Green right back Kelvin Leerdam handed Seattle an early lead in the 5th minute, pouncing on a poor clearance in the Colorado box and guiding his volley into the bottom corner. Three minutes later, Raúl Ruidíaz doubled the lead as he calmly swept a pass from Víctor Rodríguez past Rapids goalkeeper Tim Howard. Colorado managed to carve out some decent half chances without truly threatening Stefan Frei’s goal, while Ruidíaz and Harry Shipp each had quality opportunities to expand Seattle’s lead.
THERE ARE SO MANY YOUTHS: The Rapids have gone all in on the #PlayYourKids movement this season, handing almost 3,000 MLS minutes to young Homegrowns Sebastian Anderson (17), Cole Bassett (18) and Sam Vines (19).
JORDAN’S FLU GAME: When the Sounders visited the Rapids in the 2016 MLS Western Conference final, Sounders Homegrown forward Jordan Morris iced the series with a goal in the 56th minute at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park. The Sounders won the match 1-0, and the series 3-1 on aggregate, to advance to MLS Cup.
REVAMPED RAPIDS: There will be some new faces for the Rapids from the last time these two sides met, as Lalas Abubakar and Jonathan Lewis have bolstered the defense and the attack, respectively.
PLAYOFF IMPLICATIONS: While the Rapids are all but eliminated from the 2019 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs, the Western Conference tilt will affect Seattle’s seeding. Currently second in the West, the Rave Green established a four-point gap with the seventh-placed LA Galaxy after the 2-1 win at CenturyLink Field in Week 26.
NEXT MAN UP: This match was originally scheduled for earlier in the season but had to be pushed back due to inclement weather. Falling during the international window, the Sounders will be without the services 10 First Team players due to national team call-ups.
WILD FINISH: Three of Seattle’s final six matches come against Western Conference opponents that currently occupy one of the seven playoff positions.
