The Seattle Sounders are hosting the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. Here is everything you need to know.
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 7 p.m. PT at CenturyLink Field (TICKETS).
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on JOEtv and YouTube TV.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2019 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 1-0-0 (3 points, 1st West), Rapids: 0-0-1 (1 point, 5th West).
ALL-TIME HISTORY: The Sounders are 17-5-2 all time against the Rapids, including a 10-2-1 mark at home.
PREVIOUS MEETING: Seattle hosted Colorado in September 2018, demolishing the visitors 4-0 and sparking a five-match win streak to close out the regular season. The Rave Green put on an offensive clinic at CenturyLink Field, as Raúl Ruidíaz bagged a brace and Víctor Rodríguez and Nicolás Lodeiro rounded out the scoring. With all three players getting a goal or an assist in Week 1 against FC Cincinnati, the team will hope to repeat the exploits of its last meeting with the Rapids.
DECADE OF DOMINANCE: The Sounders have more wins against Colorado (17) than any other MLS opponent, with FC Dallas second on the list (12). Since joining the league in 2009, the Rave Green have faced the Rapids in 13 home fixtures, scoring 26 goals while conceding just 9 times.
THANK YOU, SIGI: Prior to the Sounders’ 2019 MLS season-opener on Saturday, the club honored the life and legacy of former Head Coach Sigi Schmid by posthumously awarding him a Golden Scarf. Schmid’s family, including former Sounders Head Scout Kurt Schmid, received the scarf ion his behalf.
MORRIS’ MAGICAL RETURN: Sounders forward Jordan Morris made his first start at CenturyLink Field in 538 days on Saturday and capped his comeback with a brace. The Mercer Island native was voted MLS Player of the Week for his dominant showing in Seattle’s 4-1 win over FC Cincinnati.
MIDFIELD MAESTROS: Speaking of MLS accolades, Rodríguez and Lodeiro joined Morris on the MLS Team of the Week for their roles in dismantling Cincinnati. Lodeiro, who once again put on a masterclass in off-the-ball movement, set the tempo for the match and provided a pair of assists. Swapping wings throughout the match, Rodríguez launched several dangerous counterattacks and had a field day against Cincy’s outside backs, as he supplied two assists and three more key passes.
MR. 100: With the three points on Saturday, Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei recorded his 100th MLS win. Throughout his time in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle’s No. 24 has blended remarkable consistency with absurd highlight-reel saves.
CASCADIA DOUBLE-HEADER: Colorado and Portland played a match in conditions that made the #SeattleSnowpocalypse look like a light dusting, which makes it difficult to draw any tactical conclusions from the match. However, first-choice center back Axel Sjöberg was sent off during the Week 1 contest and will be suspended for this weekend, setting up Ruidíaz for a favorable matchup against a depth defender.
REVAMPED RAPIDS: Designated Player Shkëlzen Gashi is gone, as are Edgar Castillo and Marlon Hairston. But in their stead come major reinforcements in forwards Diego Rubio and Kei Kamara, midfielders Benny Feilhaber and Nicolás Mezquida and defender Keegan Rosenberry. Throw in the addition of Brazilian rookie Andre Shinyashiki, who scored the stoppage-time equalizer against Portland last week, and the Rapids boast as potent a team as they’ve had in recent memory.
FINAL TIM[E]: Ahead of the 2019 MLS campaign, Rapids goalkeeper and USMNT stalwart Tim Howard announced this would be his final professional season. Howard, 39, is a veteran of two World Cups, and he’ll play his final regular-season match in Seattle on Saturday.
