Sounders FC falls 2-1 on the road in Montreal

MONTREAL, QUEB. - Sounders FC (7-4-5, 26 points) dropped a 2-1 result at the Montreal Impact (8-7-3, 27 points) on Wednesday evening at Stade Saputo. Víctor Rodríguez scored his second goal of the season for the visitors, but a late brace by Saphir Taïder gave the home side a come-from-behind victory. The match concludes a four-match road swing for Seattle, who next face the Cascadia rival Portland Timbers in the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on Wednesday, June 12 at Cheney Stadium (7:30 p.m. PT / ESPN+). The club has over three weeks off from MLS action before hosting Vancouver on June 29 (7:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).

After over an hour of scoreless action, Sounders FC broke the deadlock in the 64^th minute on a penalty kick by Rodríguez. After Harry Shipp was fouled attempting to corral a pass inside the area, the Spaniard converted his spot-kick to the upper right corner past Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush. It marked the second goal of the season for Rodríguez, who had missed the previous four matches with a strained hamstring.

Montreal responded 10 minutes later with a penalty kick by Taïder to level the match at 1-1. After drawing a foul by Kelvin Leerdam making a dangerous run in the area, the Algerian converted the ensuing penalty past Stefan Frei. Taïder completed his brace to give Montreal the lead and the eventual victory minutes later, redirecting a cross from Omar Browne for his team-leading seventh goal of the season.

Due to international callups and injuries, Sounders FC had six substitutes available for tonight's match, including two goalkeepers. Midfielder Danny Leyva made his MLS debut as a substitute in the 82^nd minute, becoming the third-youngest player in league history to appear in a match. At 16 years and 31 days, Leyva trails only Freddy Adu (14 years, 306 days) and Alphonso Davies (15 years, 257 days).

Following Wednesday's match, Brian Schmetzer's club takes on the Portland Timbers in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup match on June 12 at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma (7:30 p.m. PT / ESPN+). The Rave Green resume MLS play on Saturday, June 29 vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rrey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

• With tonight's result, Sounders FC is third in the Western Conference with 26 points (7-4-5), two points shy of second-place LA Galaxy and 11 points behind Supporters' Shield-leading LAFC. 

• Seattle is now 2-5-1 all-time against the Impact in regular season play, including a 1-3-1 record in Montreal.

• Víctor Rodríguez scored his second goal of the season with a penalty kick in the 64^th minute. It marked a return to the lineup for the Spaniard after missing the past four matches with a strained hamstring. Rodríguez's last appearance came on May 11 vs. Houston.

• Of Seattle's 10 international callups this week, Jordy Delem and Joevin Jones are available for tonight's match. Delem started in central midfield alongside Alex Roldan for the second consecutive match, while Jones came on as a substitute in the 54^th minute.

• Midfielder Danny Leyva made his MLS debut as a substitute in the 82^nd minute, becoming the third-youngest player in league history to appear in a match. At 16 years and 31 days, Leyva trails only Freddy Adu (14 years, 306 days) and Alphonso Davies (15 years, 257 days).

• Due to international callups and injuries, Sounders FC had six substitutes available for tonight's match, including two goalkeepers.

• Forward Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez made his first appearance on the bench since signing as a Homegrown Player on May 1.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 1 - Montreal Impact 2
Wednesday, June 5, 2019

Venue: Stade Saputo
Referee: Nima Saghafi
Assistants: Nick Uranga, Chris Wattam
Fourth Official: Lukasz Szpala
VAR: Guido Gonzales Jr.
Attendance: 13,037
Weather: 61 degrees and cloudy

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA - Víctor Rodríguez (penalty) 64'
MTL - Saphir Taïder (penalty) 74'
MTL - Saphir Taïder (Omar Browne) 78'

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

MTL- Rudy Camacho (caution) 31'
SEA - Nouhou (caution) 56'
SEA - Jordy Delem (caution) 61'

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam, Saad Abdul-Salaam, Jonathan Campbell, Nouhou; Jordy Delem, Harry Shipp, Alex Roldan (Danny Leyva 82'), Víctor Rodríguez (Henry Wingo 85'), Handwalla Bwana (Joevin Jones 54'); Will Bruin

Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Trey Muse, Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez

Total shots: 2 (Rodríguez/Jones, 1)
Shots on goal: 1 (Rodríguez, 1)
Fouls: 14 (Bruin/Delem, 3)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 3 (Three players, 1)
Saves: 1 (Frei, 1)                               

Montreal Impact - Evan Bush; Victor Cabrera, Zakaria Diallo, Rudy Camacho; Shamit Shome, Ken Krolicki, Michael Azira, Daniel Kinumbe (Harry Novillo 67'); Omar Browne (Anthony Jackson-Hamel 85'), Maximiliano Urruti, Saphir Taider

Substitutes not used: Clement Diop, Karifa Yao, Luca Ricci

Total shots: 10 (Browne, 3)
Shots on goal: 3 (Taider, 2)
Fouls: 19 (Krolicki, 5)
Offside: 1 (Shome, 1)
Corner-kicks: 3 (Browne, 2)
Saves: 0