CHESTER, PENN. - Concluding a stretch of three matches in eight days, Sounders FC (7-1-5, 26 points) played to a scoreless draw with the Philadelphia Union (7-3-3, 24 points) on Saturday evening at Talen Energy Stadium. Seattle earned seven points during its busy three-match stretch, following home wins over the Houston Dynamo last Saturday and Orlando City SC on Wednesday. Brian Schmetzer's club continues its four-match road swing next Sunday at Sporting Kansas City (3:00 p.m. PT / FS1, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).
The Rave Green earned the road point despite being outshot 20-6 and holding just 32 percent of possession. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei made six saves in his second consecutive shutout, giving him five on the season and 71 in his career, good for seventh in league history. Frei kept the Union off the scoreboard on a number of occasions, including a point-blank save in the 58th minute on a Kacper Pryzbylko header inside the area, as well as a fingertip save in the 73rd minute to prevent a Haris Medunjanin free kick from curling inside the top corner of the far post.
Dealing with a number of injuries and managing minutes amongst the busy stretch, Brian Schmetzer organized his team in a 5-3-2 formation. Jonathan Campbell made his Sounders FC debut as a third centerback alongside Román Torres and Kim Kee-hee, while Saad Abdul-Salaam and Nouhou started in place of regular fullbacks Kelvin Leerdam and Brad Smith. Alex Roldan made his first start of 2019 in midfield alongside Cristian Roldan and Jordy Delem, in addition to Will Bruin replacing Raúl RuidÃaz at striker for Saturday's match.
Following Saturday's match, Sounders FC continues its four-match road swing next Sunday, May 26 against Sporting Kansas City at Children's Mercy Park, with a national television broadcast on FS1.
MATCH NOTES
- With tonight's result, Sounders FC is now 7-1-5 on the season, good for 26 points through 12 matches so far in 2019. The Rave Green are currently second place in the Western Conference, four points shy of first-place Los Angeles FC.
- Seattle is now 4-5-3 all-time against the Union in MLS regular season play, including a 0-3-3 record at Talen Energy Stadium.
- With 26 points, Sounders FC is tied for its best start through the first 12 games of the season in club history. The Rave Green also earned 26 points though 12 games in 2014 and 2015, recording an 8-3-2 record in each season. Seattle's one loss through 12 games is two fewer than any other season in club history.
- Sounders FC finishes its stretch of three games in eight days with seven points (2-0-1), following home wins over the Houston Dynamo last Saturday and Orlando City SC on Wednesday.
- The Rave Green are now 1-1-3 on the road in 2019, with three more home matches on the horizon before against Sporting Kansas City, FC Dallas and the Montreal Impact before returning to CenturyLink Field on June 29 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC.
- Brian Schmetzer organized his team in a 5-3-2 formation, with Jonathan Campbell making his Sounders FC debut as a third centerback alongside Román Torres and Kim Kee-hee. Saad Abdul-Salaam and Nouhou started in place of regular fullbacks Kelvin Leerdam and Brad Smith, while Alex Roldan made his first start of 2019 in midfield alongside Cristian Roldan and Jordy Delem.
- Stefan Frei made six saves en route to his fourth shutout of the season and 71st in his MLS career, good for seventh all-time. He currently sits second in league-wide with 45 saves on the season.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 - Philadelphia Union 0
Saturday, May 18, 2019
Venue: Talen Energy Stadium
Referee: Marcos de Oliveira
Assistants: Jose Da Silva, Eric Boria
Fourth Official: Lorant Varga
VAR: Jose Carlos Rivero
Attendance: 18,540
Weather: 70 degrees and clear
SCORING SUMMARY
None
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA- Nouhou (caution) 56'
PHI - Kacper Przybylko (caution) 72'
PHI - Fabrice-Jean Picault (caution) 83'
SEA - Jonathan Campbell (caution) 86'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Saad Abdul-Salaam, Kim Kee-hee, Román Torres, Jonathan Campbell, Nouhou (Kelvin Leerdam 71'); Cristian Roldan, Jordy Delem (Handwalla Bwana 76'), Alex Roldan; Nicolás Lodeiro - captain, Will Bruin (Raúl RuidÃaz 79')
Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Brad Smith, Harry Shipp, Henry Wingo
Total shots: 6 (Six players, 1)
Shots on goal: 1 (Bruin, 1)
Fouls: 14 (Nouhou, 3)
Offside: 3 (Bruin, 3)
Corner-kicks: 4 (Lodeiro, 4)
Saves: 6 (Frei, 6)
Philadelphia Union - Andre Blake; Raymon Gaddis, Jack Elliott, Auston Trusty, Kai Wagner; Alejandro Bedoya, Haris Medunjanin, Jamiro Monteiro, Brenden Aaronson (Fabrice-Jean Picault 77'); Kacper Przybylko, Sergio Santos (Ilsinho 57')
Substitutes not used: Carlos, Aurelien Collin, Fabinho, Anthony Fontana, Michee Ngalina
Total shots: 20 (Monteiro, 7)
Shots on goal: 6 (Monteiro, 3)
Fouls: 11 (Monteiro, 3)
Offside: 3 (Santos, 3)
Corner-kicks: 6 (Medunjanin, 3)
Saves: 1 (Blake, 1)
