SEATTLE, WASH. – A late goal from Colorado Designated Player Kevin Doyle handed Seattle Sounders FC (10-9-2, 32 points) just its third loss at CenturyLink Field in 2015, as the Rapids (5-6-9, 24 points) escaped the Emerald City with a narrow victory on Saturday evening. Tonight’s contest concludes the season series between the two Western Conference clubs, with Seattle claiming two victories earlier in the season. Based on other results from around Major League Soccer on Saturday, today’s loss drops Sounders FC to fifth in the Western Conference, with six teams currently separated by three points or less. Seattle now trails conference leader FC Dallas by three points through 21 MLS games for the Rave Green.
Saturday’s contest marked the 2015 debut for new Sounders FC signing Erik Friberg after the Swede was officially added to Seattle’s roster last week. Friberg logged his first Sounders FC minutes since October 1, 2011 against New England during the midfielder’s first stint with Seattle during the 2011 MLS campaign.
Marco Pappa also made his return to Sigi Schmid’s side on Saturday as a substitute in the 64th minute, following his time at the 2015 CONACAF Gold Cup with Guatemala. Pappa last appeared for the Rave Green in a 90-minute outing against Portland on June 28.
Despite keeping 54 percent of the match’s possession and completing 74 percent of their passes, the Rave Green were ultimately undone by Doyle’s strike in the 84th minute of play. The Irish international received a long ball from Jared Watts before splitting Seattle’s defense and finishing at Troy Perkins’ far post. The goal is Doyle’s second strike in three matches, with the Rapids currently sustaining a three-match winning streak.
The Rave Green return to MLS play with a cross-continent trip to Quebec, where Sounders FC is set to face the Montreal Impact on Saturday, July 25. Regional television coverage is being provided by JOEtv, with KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and El Rey 1360 AM carrying the match on the radio throughout Western Washington.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – Colorado Rapids 1
Saturday, July 18, 2015
Venue: Baldomero Toledo
Referee: Adam Garner
Assistants: Eduardo Mariscal
Fourth Official: Kevin Terry Jr.
Attendance: 40,403
Weather: Clear and 86 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
COL – Kevin Doyle (Jared Watts) 84’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
COL – Lucas Pittinari (caution) 12’
SEA – Erik Friberg (caution) 30’
SEA – Tyrone Mears (caution) 71’
COL – Michael Harrington (caution) 79’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Troy Perkins; Tyrone Mears, Chad Marshall, Zach Scott – captain, Leo Gonzalez; Osvaldo Alonso, Andy Rose, Erik Friberg (Gonzalo Pineda 59’); Cristian Roldan, Lamar Neagle (Chad Barrett 78’), Thomàs (Marco Pappa 64’)
Substitutes not used: Charlie Lyon, Darwin Jones, Jimmy Ockford, Dylan Remick
Total shots: 9 (3 players tied at 2)
Shots on goal: 3 (3 players tied at 1)
Fouls: 9 (Rose/Friberg, 2)
Offside: 5 (Neagle, 3)
Corner-kicks: 6 (Mears, 3)
Saves: 1 (Perkins, 1)
Colorado Rapids – Clint Irwin; James Riley, Drew Moor, Jared Watts, Michael Harrington; Sam Cronin – captain, Lucas Pittinari (Dillon Powers 28’), Marcelo Sarvas; Charles Eloundou (Juan Ramirez 75’), Kevin Doyle, Vicente Sanchez
Substitutes not used: Zac MacMath, Marc Burch, Joseph Greenspan, Marlon Hairston, Nick LaBrocca,
Total shots: 13 (Sanchez, 4)
Shots on goal: 2 (Doyle, 2)
Fouls: 10 (3 players tied at 2)
Offside: 4 (4 players tied at 1)
Corner-kicks: 7 (Sanchez, 6)
Saves: 3 (Irwin, 3)
MATCH NOTES
- Seattle Sounders FC is now in fifth place in the MLS Western Conference with a 10-9-2 record. For just the second time in club history, Sounders FC has lost five of its past six matches.
- Tonight’s match marked the 2015 season debut for Erik Friberg, who re-signed with Sounders FC in June after making 26 appearances in his first stint with the club in 2011. It was his first league appearance for the Rave Green since playing 79 minutes in a 2-1 win at New England on October 1, 2011.
- Troy Perkins made his first home start with Sounders FC. The goalkeeper also started last week’s match at the Chicago Fire and played 46 minutes off the bench in the most recent home tilt against D.C. United on July 3.
- Tonight’s result ended a five-match winning streak against the Colorado Rapids. Overall, Seattle is 13-3-2 against the Rapids and won the season series at 2-1-0.
- Coming on in the 64th minute, Marco Pappa played in his first MLS match since returning from the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup. His last appearance came in 90 minutes of action at Portland on June 28.
