SEATTLE, WASH.- Three second-half goals inside eight minutes propelled Seattle Sounders FC to an emphatic 3-0 victory over FC Dallas in the first leg of the 2016 MLS Western Conference Semifinals on Sunday night. 37,073 fans braved the elements at CenturyLink Field, lifting their side to a pivotal victory, as Nico Lodeiro bagged a brace and Nelson Valdez captured his second goal in as many games following his match-winning strike in Thursday's Knockout Round victory over Sporting Kansas City. Sounders FC is now unbeaten at home since July 13, holding an 8-0-2 mark at CenturyLink Field and outscoring opponents 19-4 in that span. Additionally, Interim Head Coach Brian Schmetzer has posted a 10-2-4 record since taking over managerial duties on July 26.
Following tonight's result, Seattle and Dallas prepare to do battle in a week's time, with the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals slated for Sunday, November 6 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Kickoff for that contest is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. PT, with FS1 and FOX Deportes providing national television coverage, in addition to KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and El Rey 1360 AM covering the match for regional radio throughout Western Washington.
Wet and windy conditions in the Pacific Northwest on Sunday evening provided the backdrop for a spirited opening exchange between the two sides, with both teams enjoying a handful of decent chances throughout the first half. One of Seattle's best opportunities came in the 27th minute during a Lodeiro corner-kick, as a loose ball was corralled by Erik Friberg. The Swede put an attempt on-frame, only for Dallas captain Matt Hedges to provide a goal-line clearance, keeping the match scoreless heading into the intermission.
It was after the break that the home side exploded for three goals to seal the match, with Valdez continuing his hot hand following Thursday's winning Knockout Round strike against Sporting Kansas City. The Paraguayan made a far-post run in the 55th minute, connecting on a Joevin Jones cross from the left flank. Valdez slammed home a header for his second goal in three days, with Jones reprising the role of creator after providing the assist on Thursday night. Valdez ties Clint Dempsey for the most postseason game-winners in club history. His three career goals in the MLS Cup Playoffs tie the club mark set by Osvaldo Alonso, Eddie Johnson and Dempsey.
The Rave Green piled on the pressure just five minutes later, this time with Jordan Morris leading the attack. After a bursting run down the left flank, the Mercer Island native squared a ball across Dallas' six-yard-box to the feet of Lodeiro, with the Uruguayan slotting the attempt past goalkeeper Chris Seitz at his far post.
Seattle compounded things in the 58th minute, with Jones once again springing an attack, this time from a deep-lying defensive position via a long, weighted through ball to Lodeiro. The Uruguayan beat the offside trap, streaking into Dallas' area and beating Seitz at his near-post to make the score-line 3-0. With his two postseason goals for the Rave Green tonight, Lodeiro now has six total tallies for the Rave Green since joining the club midway through the 2016 season. He is the first player in Sounders FC history to record a postseason brace.
Seattle now prepares for the second leg of the series, which is being held on Sunday, November 6 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas (6:00 p.m. PT / FS1, FOX Deportes, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM). The Conference Semifinals are held over two legs, with aggregate goals determining which team moves on to the Conference Championships. In the event that both teams score an equal number of goals over the course of the two matches, the team with the greater number of road goals for the series advances. Should the series be tied for both total goals and away goals, the teams play two 15-minute periods of extra time at the conclusion of the second leg in which away goals do not count. This is followed by penalty kicks, if necessary, to determine the winner.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 3 - FC Dallas 0
Sunday, October 30, 2016
Venue: Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Assistants: Chris Strickland, Danny Thornberry
Fourth Official: Fotis Bazakos
Attendance: 37,073
Weather: Showers and 52 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA - Nelson Valdez (Joevin Jones) 50'
SEA - Nicolás Lodeiro (Jordan Morris) 55'
SEA - Nicolás Lodeiro (Joevin Jones) 58'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
DAL - Maynor Figueroa (caution) 85'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Tyrone Mears, Chad Marshall, Zach Scott, Joevin Jones (Oniel Fisher 83'); Osvaldo Alonso - captain (Brad Evans 79'), Nico Lodeiro, Erik Friberg, Jordan Morris; Nelson Valdez (Herculez Gomez 56')
Substitutes not used: Tyler Miller, Aaron Kovar, Michael Farfan, Tony Alfaro
Total shots: 11 (Lodeiro/Morris, 3)
Shots on goal: 7 (3 players, 2)
Fouls: 5 (Gomez, 2)
Offside: 4 (Morris, 3)
Corner-kicks: 2 (Lodeiro, 2)
Saves: 3 (Frei, 3)
FC Dallas - Chris Seitz; Maynor Figueroa, Matt Hedges - captain, Walker Zimmerman (Mauro Rosales 73'), Atiba Harris; Kellyn Acosta, Victor Ulloa (Tesho Akindele 66'), Carlos Gruezo, Ryan Hollingshead; Michael Barrios, Maximiliano Urruti (Carlos Ruiz 80')
Substitutes not used: Jesse Gonzalez, Aubrey David, Norberto Paparatto, Juan Esteban Ortiz
Total shots: 11 (4 players, 2)
Shots on goal: 3 (3 players, 1)
Fouls: 12 (Gruezo, 4)
Offside: 1 (Urruti, 1)
Corner-kicks: 6 (Acosta, 5)
Saves: 4 (Seitz, 3)
MATCH NOTES
- Sounders FC is set to face FC Dallas in the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals on Sunday, November 6 at 6:00 p.m. PT. Seattle has a 9-9-4 record all-time in the MLS Cup Playoffs, and has met FC Dallas in the Conference Semifinals in each of the past three postseasons.
- Sounders FC is 2-2-0 against FC Dallas across all MLS competitions in 2016, with the Rave Green outscoring the Hoops 8-0 in Seattle.
- In Seattle's eight all-time multi-goal postseason matches, the club has bagged two goals within a six-minute span on five occasions. On Sunday, Sounders FC recorded three goals in eight minutes for the first time in its postseason history and the second time overall in MLS competition (vs. Colorado on April 26, 2014; 45'+1', 47', 52').
- Forward Nelson Valdez scored the game-winner for the second consecutive match, tying Clint Dempsey for the most postseason game-winners in club history. His three career goals in the MLS Cup Playoffs tie the club mark set by Osvaldo Alonso, Eddie Johnson and Dempsey.
- Midfielder Nico Lodeiro added two goals in the second half, becoming the first player in club history to a record a postseason brace.
- Joevin Jones recorded two assists on Sunday evening after setting-up Valdez's strike on Thursday against Sporting Kansas City, setting the franchise record with three career postseason assists. He has registered an assist on three of Seattle's four goals this postseason.
- Defender Zach Scott made his 350th career appearance as a Sounder across all leagues and competitions on Sunday with 90 minutes of action. The longtime Seattle player began his career with the USL Sounders in 2002, and earlier this year announced his intentions to retire at the conclusion of the season.
- Goalkeeper Stefan Frei has recorded a shutout in five of his past nine appearances dating back to September 17. His three career postseason clean-sheets set a new franchise record.
- Interim Head Coach Brian Schmetzer has posted a 10-2-4 record since taking over managerial duties on July 26.
- Sounders FC is unbeaten at home since July 13, holding an 8-0-2 mark at CenturyLink Field and outscoring opponents 19-4.
