Jordan Morris scored his second goal in as many games and Stefan Frei made a dramatic penalty kick save, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Seattle Sounders’ three-game unbeaten streak alive in a 3-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.
Jermaine Jones scored his second goal in as many games off a set piece in the 20th minute and Luis Solignac added an easy finish in the 51st minute for the Rapids, who won for just the fourth time in 19 regular season games all-time against Seattle. Veteran Irish striker Kevin Doyle added a goal in the 86th minute off a cross from Dennis Castillo after the Sounders pulled within a goal late in the match.
It was something of a frustrating night for the Sounders (2-4-1, 7 pts.), who lost for the first time in four games and dropped to 0-2 on the road this season. Forced to play without Designated Players Clint Dempsey (groin) and Nelson Valdez (hamstring) for the first time in 2016, the Sounders also subbed out midfielder and assists-leader Andreas Ivanchitz in the 50th minute due to an apparent muscle tweak.
Morris rallied the shorthanded Sounders in the 63rd minute, however, with the second goal of his celebrated rookie season. The Mercer Island native took the ball at the top of the box, juked Rapids defender Mekeil Williams to the right and snapped a shot to the back post to cut the lead to 2-1.
Frei kept that scoreline intact just five minutes later with his first save on a penalty kick in three attempts this season. The Rapids earned the chance after Sounders forward Herculez Gomez was whistled for grabbing Rapids defender Bobby Burling on a corner kick, but Frei coolly steered a Shkelzen Gashi penalty kick wide after guessing right on the shot.
The Sounders struggled to find the final touch over the final 15 minutes of the match in search of the equalizer, however, and Doyle iced the game with a volley that apparently drew the ire of Brad Evans. The Sounders captain was issued a red card for abusive language in the 86th minute while arguing the goal, just the second ejection of his MLS career and first since joining the Sounders in 2009.
The Sounders’ best scoring chance of the first half came midway came from Gomez, making his first start since joining the club late last month. The veteran forward snapped a header off a cross from Oalex Anderson on net, but Rapids goalkeeper Zac MacMath parried the ball in the air before making the save.
Morris also had a chance in the 59th minute, but MacMath tipped a a shot from distance wide of the far post.
The Sounders return to action at home against Columbus Crew SC on Saturday, April 30.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Colorado Rapids 3
Saturday, April 23, 2016
Venue: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez
Assistants: Adam Garner, Kyle Longville
Fourth Official: Younes Marrakchi
Attendance: 17,294
Weather: Mostly cloudy and 66 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
COL – Jermaine Jones (Shkelzen Gashi) 20’
COL – Luis Solignac (Dominique Badji, Mekeil Williams) 51’
SEA – Jordan Morris (Cristian Roldan) 63’
COL – Kevin Doyle (Dennis Castillo, Sam Cronin) 86’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
COL – Dominique Badji (caution) 1’
COL – Mekeil Williams (caution) 14’
COL – Jermaine Jones (caution) 20’
COL – Eric Miller (caution) 47’
SEA – Brad Evans (ejection) 86’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Tyrone Mears, Brad Evans, Chad Marshall, Joevin Jones; Osvaldo Alonso, Cristian Roldan, Andreas Ivanschitz (Erik Friberg 50’); Oalex Anderson (Dylan Remick 77’), Jordan Morris, Herculez Gomez (Aaron Kovar 71’)
Substitutes not used: Tyler Miller, Zach Scott, Darwin Jones
Total shots: 13 (Alonso, 4)
Shots on goal: 5 (Alonso/Morris, 2)
Fouls: 11 (Gomez, 3)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 5 (Kovar, 2)
Saves: 6 (Frei, 6)
Colorado Rapids – Zac MacMath; Mekeil Williams, Bobby Burling, Eric Miller (Dennis Castillo 60’), Axel Sjoberg; Dominique Badji (Kevin Doyle 78’), Sam Cronin, Jermaine Jones (Dillon Powers 87’), Micheal Azira, Shkelzen Gashi; Luis Solignac
Substitutes not used: Conor Doyle, Chris Froschauer, Dilllon Serna
Total shots: 14 (Jones/Gashi, 4)
Shots on goal: 9 (4 players tied with 2)
Fouls: 16 (Jones, 4)
Offside: 1 (Jones, 1)
Corner-kicks: 5 (Gashi, 5)
Saves: 4 (MacMath, 4)
