SEATTLE, WASH. - Sounders FC (3-7-2, 11 points) downed D.C. United (2-5-4, 9 points) by a final score of 2-1 in front of 39,465 fans under the lights at CenturyLink Field on Saturday night. Beneath rainy Seattle skies, the Rave Green fought to overturn a one-goal deficit in the second half, with Nicolás Lodeiro and Magnus Wolff Eikrem finding the back of the net to lead their side to victory. The win stops a three-match slide in MLS play dating back to May 13, with the club moving to 9-2-2 all-time versus D.C. United, and 5-1-1 at CenturyLink Field against the Black & Red.
D.C. United broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, as forward Darren Mattocks crashed Seattle's goalmouth, converting a rebounded attempt after Stefan Frei denied Paul Arriola's initial headed attempt inside his six-yard-box. Zoltán Stieber initiated the attack from United's left flank, serving a cross into Seattle's area that initiated the chaotic turn of events.
Loderio answered bac just three minutes later, with the veteran playmaker lacing a left-footed shot from the top of United's 18-yard-box, with the belted attempt flying past the outstretched arms of D.C. goalkeeper David Oustad. Fullback Kelvin Leerdam took a long throw-in that rattled around inside United's area, with the ball falling squarely to the Uruguayan's feet. Tonight's match was Lodeiro's first start for the Rave Green since April 29 at LAFC, following the midfielder's return from a toe fracture and national team camp with the Uruguayan Federation. The goal was Lodeiro's first strike of 2018.
Seattle continued pushing forward for the remainder of the match, finding the eventual winner in the 83rd minute of play through Wolff Eikrem. The Norwegian headed home a Cristian Roldan cross following Ozzie Alonso's unlocking of United's defense. The strike was Wolff Eikrem's first in Major League Soccer, with the midfielder previously scoring in a 4-0 win over Santa Tecla on March 1 in 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League play.
Sounders FC gets back on the road Monday with a cross-country trip to New Jersey, where the New York Red Bulls await Brian Schmetzer's side for a showdown at Red Bull Arena on Wednesday, June 13. Kickoff for the contest is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. PT, with JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 AM KJR and El Rey 1360 AM providing regional coverage throughout Western Washington.
MATCH NOTES
- With the result, Sounders FC snaps a three-match losing streak and moves to 3-7-2 on the season, currently 10th place in the Western Conference with 11 points.
- Sounders FC is 9-2-2 all-time against D.C. United in MLS regular-season action, including a 5-1-1 record at CenturyLink Field.
- Nicolás Lodeiro scored his first goal of the season in the 57th minute. The Uruguayan made his first start for Sounders FC since April 29 due to a foot injury and international duty.
- Lodeiro's strike ended Seattle's 363-minute scoreless streak, tied for the longest in club history.
- Magnus Wolff Eikrem scored his first MLS regular-season goal with the 83rd-minute winner. The Norwegian previously scored in a 4-0 win over Santa Tecla on March 1 in 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League play.
- Osvaldo Alonso came on as a second-half substitute, marking his first appearance since May 5, completing his return from a left quad strain that occurred in training following the Columbus match on May 5. Seattle's captain recorded his second assist of the season on Wolff Eikrem's game-winner.
- Clint Dempsey registered seven shots in Saturday's contest, giving him 413 total with Seattle and passing Fredy Montero for the most in club history.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 - D.C. United 1
Saturday, June 9, 2018
Venue:
Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee:
Sorin Stoica
Assistants:
Ian Anderson, Jose Da Silva
Fourth Official:
Daniel Radford
VAR:
Younes Marrakchi
Attendance:
39,465
Weather:
56 degrees and rain
SCORING SUMMARY
DC
-
Darren Mattocks 53'
SEA -
Nicolás Lodeiro 57'
SEA -
Magnus Wolff Eikrem (Cristian Roldan, Osvaldo Alonso) 83'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA - Osvaldo Alonso (caution) 70'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam (Magnus Wolff Eikrem 69'), Chad Marshall, Kim Kee-hee, Nouhou; Cristian Roldan, Nicolás Lodeiro - captain, Harry Shipp, Clint Dempsey, Victor Rodriguez (Osvaldo Alonso 65'); Will Bruin (Tony Alfaro 88')
Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Alex Roldan, Waylon Francis, Henry Wingo
Total shots:
15 (Dempsey, 7)
Shots on goal:
6 (Dempsey, 2)
Fouls:
10 (Three players, 2)
Offside:
1 (Shipp, 1)
Corner-kicks:
5 (Lodeiro, 5)
Saves:
5 (Frei, 5)
D.C. United - David Ousted; Frederic Brillant, Steven Birnbaum - captain, Joseph Mora (Bruno Miranda 86'), Oniel Fisher; Junior Moreno, Paul Arriola, Zoltan Stieber, Yamil Asad; Luciano Acosta, Darren Mattocks
Substitutes not used: Steve Clark, Patrick Mullins, Jalen Robinson, Chris Durkin, Ian Harkes, Jared Jeffrey
Total shots:
13 (Mattocks, 4)
Shots on goal:
6 (Mattocks, 2)
Fouls:
13 (Acosta/Fisher, 3)
Offside:
3 (Brillant, 2)
Corner-kicks:
7 (Stieber, 5)
Saves:
4 (Ousted, 4)
