The Seattle Sounders are visiting the Colorado Rapids on Sunday in their first of two matches this season. Here is everything you need to know:
WHEN AND WHERE: Kickoff is at 5:08 p.m. PT at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.
WHERE TO WATCH: The match will be televised on FOX 13+ and Prime Video.
WHERE TO LISTEN: The match will air on 93.3 KJR FM and El Rey 1360 AM.
2022 RECORDS AND STANDINGS: Sounders: 4-5-1 (13 points, 11th West), Rapids: 4-5-3 (15 points 7th West)
FORM GUIDE (all competitions, most recent first): Seattle: WWLLW, Colorado: LWLLW
PREVIOUS MEETING: The Sounders and Rapids drew 1-1 on Oct. 20, 2021, in Colorado. Dominique Badji gave the hosts the lead in the 66th minute before Cristian Roldan equalized in the 81st to send Seattle home with a road point.
SUSPENSIONS: Sounders defender Alex Roldan will miss out on Sunday after being sent off in Seattle’s win over the Houston Dynamo on Wednesday. Colorado will be without defenders Auston Trusty and Lucas Esteves, who each saw red in the Rapids’ loss at Sporting Kansas City midweek. Of note, Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas will be available after serving a one-game suspension of his own on Wednesday.
WINNING WAYS: The Sounders have 22 wins over the Rapids (including playoffs), the most by any team against a single opponent since Seattle joined MLS in 2009.
ROTATIONS COMING: Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer hinted that there would likely be changes coming to the Starting XI after he rolled out almost the same starting group for the second time in four days in the Houston humidity on Wednesday. Seattle will play at altitude in its third match in eight days before heading home for a tilt with expansion side Charlotte FC next weekend.
RUIDÍAZ ROLLING: With his, and the team’s, full focus on MLS play, Sounders forward Raúl Ruidíaz has found the back of the net in consecutive matches. He scored the opener from the penalty spot last weekend before finishing a beautiful 22-pass buildup in the match-winner against the Dynamo that won Goal of the Week.
SHUTOUT STEFAN: Seattle’s Stefan Frei continues to cement his status in the upper echelon of MLS goalkeepers with his 87th career clean sheet on Wednesday. The 36-year-old is now third all-time in league history in shutouts.
NEW MAN UP FRONT: The Rapids finally got their No. 9 in Gyasi Zardes, the MLS veteran and United States international forward, who was acquired in a trade with Columbus Crew SC on April 22. Zardes, who has 89 goals in nearly 250 career appearances, has a goal and an assist in five matches for his new club.
HOME COOKING: The Rapids are unbeaten at home in 22 consecutive regular season matches (13-0-9), which is tied for the fifth-longest streak in MLS history. Their last loss in Colorado came to Austin FC on April 24, 2021.
CCL CHAMPIONSHIP CELEBRATION
We are celebrating our Concacaf Champions League title on July 9 against the Portland Timbers. Come help us commemorate this historic championship!
