TUKWILA, WASH. - Seattle Sounders FC 2 (6-6-2, 20 points) defeated OKC Energy FC (5-6-2, 17 points) by a score of 3-2 on Monday evening at Starfire Stadium. Midfielder Zach Mathers scored two goals in the first half to give the Rave Green an early lead, but Energy FC roared back despite playing with 10 men for the final 65 minutes of the match. S2 pulled through, though, with a dramatic 90th-minute winner by forward David Olsen. S2, which now sits in a tie for third place in the Western Conference alongside Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC, visits Orange County SC on Saturday, June 24 (5:00 p.m. PT / Live-Streamed on SoundersFC.com).
Mathers opened the scoring in the 14th minute, with the assist credited to defender Brian Nana-Sinkam. Nana-Sinkam found Mathers just outside the top of the area, where the Duke product took a heavy touch and then blasted a shot that took a quick bounce off the turf and soared into the top left corner of the net. S2 nearly doubled its lead a minute later, when Irvin Parra's shot, as well the ensuing follow-up attempt by forward Felix Chenkam, ricocheted off the post in quick succession.
Former Sounders FC forward Andy Craven, who was given his MLS Cup ring prior to the match by S2 Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson, almost equalized the score in the 32nd minute, but goalkeeper Tyler Miller made a diving save to preserve the 1-0 lead. Four minutes later, referee Chipalo Street showed Miguel Gonzalez straight red for hands-to-the-face while trying to break free from a yellow-card challenge from S2 midfielder Ray Saari.
In the 38th minute, Mathers completed his brace with a penalty-kick goal. After midfielder Irvin Parra was brought down in the area, Mathers slotted his kick from the spot inside the left post to extend the 2-0 lead.
Energy FC midfielder Alex Dixon scored in the 70th minute to cut S2's lead in half. On a counterattack, midfielder Philip Rasmussen sent a cross to the center of the 18-yard-box, where he found a streaking Dixon, who knocked in the goal from close range.
The visiting side equalized in the 86th minute on a converted penalty by Craven. Nana-Sinkam was called for a handball in the area while making a sliding challenge, which led to Craven's equalizer from the spot. That score-line didn't hold for long, though, as S2's Olsen avenged a couple missed scoring opportunities from earlier in the match with the game-winning goal in the 90th minute.
Playing out of the back, Miller rolled a short ball to Sam Rogers, who passed it back to Nana-Sinkam. The Stanford product sent a deep ball to the right side of the field for Lorenzo Ramos. Ramos played a quick 1-2 with Francisco Narbon, then delivered a cross to Olsen on the left flank. The former Sounders FC Academy star took advantage of the one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper, curling his shot to the far post and into the back of the net.
S2 held on to the 3-2 lead for the three minutes of stoppage time, although Saari was sent off with his second yellow card of the evening in the final moments. The club returns to action on Saturday on the road against Orange County SC. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. PT.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 |3 - 2| OKC Energy FC
Monday, June 19, 2017
Venue: Starfire Stadium
Referee: Chipalo Street
Assistants: Jason Hutchinson, Joe Tompkins
Fourth Official: Jeff Arthurholtz
Attendance: 963
Weather: 68 degrees and mostly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA - Zach Mathers (Brian Nana-Sinkam) 14'
SEA - Zach Mathers (penalty) 38'
OKC - Alex Dixon (Philip Rasmussen) 70'
OKC - Andy Craven (penalty) 86'
SEA - David Olsen (Lorenzo Ramos) 90'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA - Irvin Parra (caution) 33'
SEA - Ray Saari (caution) 35'
OKC - Miguel Gonzalez (ejection) 35'
OKC - Coady Andrews (caution) 54'
OKC - Michael Daly (caution) 76'
OKC - Juan Pablo Guzman (caution) 78'
SEA - Ray Saari (caution, ejection) 90'+3'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC 2 - Tyler Miller; Denso Ulysse, Sam Rogers, Rodrigue Ele, Brian Nana-Sinkam; Ray Saari, Francisco Narbon, Zach Mathers, Charles Renken (Lorenzo Ramos 69'), Irvin Parra; Felix Chenkam (David Olsen 66')
Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Riley Grant, Milo Barton
Total shots: 17
Shots on goal: 5
Corner-kicks: 2
Saves: 3
OKC Energy FC - Cody Laurendi; Mickey Daly, Michael Harris, Coady Andrews, Anthony Wallace, Juan Guzman; Alex Dixon, Philip Rasmussen, Chad Bond (Daniel Gonzalez 60'); Miguel Gonzalez, Andy Craven
Substitutes not used: CJ Cochran, Jacob Lissek, Richard Dixon, Jose Barril, Luis Martinez, Daniel Jackson
Total shots: 12
Shots on goal: 5
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 2
