SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC closed out a three-match homestand on the XBOX Pitch at CenturyLink Field in dramatic fashion on Sunday afternoon, as Seattle (8-3-2, 26 points) secured a 2-1 stoppage-time victory over the visiting New York Red Bulls (4-3-5, 17 points). With the win, Sounders FC retains its lead in the Supporters’ Shield race, with Sigi Schmid’s team one point ahead of Eastern Conference side D.C. United in the race for the best regular-season record in MLS. Additionally, Seattle has a three-point lead in the Western Conference over second-place Vancouver with one game in-hand. Today’s win is Seattle’s fist come-from-behind victory of 2015, and the Rave Green are now unbeaten in seven of their last eight league matches.
New York found the score-sheet first through forward Lloyd Sam, as the Red Bulls attacker headed home a deflected free-kick from teammate Bradley Wright-Phillips. Sam’s goal is the first strike that Sounders FC has conceded at home since March 14 against San Jose, breaking a scoreless streak of four consecutive home tilts in league play. The goal also ended a 2015 league-best 338-minute shutout streak for the Rave Green dating back to a 3-2 loss at Columbus Crew SC on May 9. Overall, Seattle has allowed just four MLS goals at home throughout 2015.
The home side fired back in the 70th minute after knocking on the door throughout the match. Sounders FC winger Marco Pappa slalomed past New York defender Chris Duvall before firing a shot over Red Bull netminder Luis Robles at his near post. The goal is Pappa’s second strike in as many games after lifting his side to a 1-0 win over Colorado on Wednesday. On the season, Pappa now has two goals and five assists.
Sounders FC continued applying pressure down the stretch, culminating in a dramatic stoppage-time winner from forward Chad Barrett. In the 91st minute, fullback Tyrone Mears served a cross from the right flank, finding an advancing Clint Dempsey. The Sounders FC Designated Player got his left foot to the ball, redirecting it across Robles’ goalmouth. Barrett was there at the far post to get a touch on the ball, sealing an emphatic 2-1 victory for the Rave Green in the final moments of the match. The strike was Barrett’s third of the year, with Dempsey providing his team-leading six assist of the campaign.
Following a three-match home swing, Sounders FC heads back on the road on Saturday, June 6 against Western Conference foe Sporting Kansas City (5:30 p.m. PT / JOEtv, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM). The Rave Green will be without captain Brad Evans for that fixture, as it was announced during halftime of tonight’s contest that the Sounders FC defender has been called into Jurgen Klinsmann’s U.S. Men’s National Team side for a pair of international friendlies in Holland and Germany.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – New York Red Bulls 1
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Venue: XBOX Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee: Jose Carlos Rivero
Assistants: Brian Dunn, Mike Kampmeinert
Fourth Official: Kevin Stott
Attendance: 40,194
Weather: Mostly sunny and 70 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
NY – Lloyd Sam 36’
SEA – Marco Pappa (Obafemi Martins) 69’
SEA – Chad Barrett (Clint Dempsey, Tyrone Mears) 90’+1
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
NY – Damien Perrinelle (caution) 51’
NY – Lloyd Sam (caution) 60’
NY – Felipe (caution) 67’
SEA – Osvaldo Alonso (caution) 72’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Tyrone Mears, Brad Evans – C (Zach Scott 75’), Chad Marshall, Dylan Remick; Cristian Roldan (Lamar Neagle 64’), Osvaldo Alonso, Andy Rose, Marco Pappa (Chad Barrett 89’); Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins
Substitutes not used: Troy Perkins, Micheal Azira, Leo Gonzalez, Aaron Kovar
Total shots: 11 (Clint Dempsey, 5
Shots on goal: 3 (3 players tied at 1)
Fouls: 9 (Dylan Remick, 3)
Offside: 1 (Cristian Roldan, 1)
Corner-kicks: 3 (Marco Pappa, 2)
Saves: 4 (Stefan Frei, 4)
New York Red Bulls – Luis Robles; Chris Duvall, Damien Perrinelle, Karl Ouimette, Kemar Lawrence; Lloyd Sam (Anatole Abang 90’+2), Dax McCarty – C, Sacha Kljestan, Felipe Martins, Mike Grella (Dane Richards 76’); Bradley Wright-Phillips
Substitutes not used: Kyle Reynish, Sean Davis, Connor Lade, Roy Miller, Marius Obekop
Total shots: 13 (Grella/Felipe, 3)
Shots on goal: 5 (Mike Grella, 2)
Fouls: 19 (Chris Duvall, 3)
Offside: 1 (Kemar Lawrence, 1)
Corner-kicks: 3 (Felipe, 3)
Saves: 1 (Luis Robles, 1)
