SEATTLE, WASH. – Seattle Sounders FC (5-9-1, 16 points) fell by a final score of 2-0 to New York City FC (6-5-6, 24 points) on Saturday afternoon at CenturyLink Field. Frank Lampard and Ronald Matarrita supplied the goals on either side of halftime for the visitors, as Patrick Vieira’s side secured a win in its first trip to the Emerald City since joining MLS in 2015. A crowd of 47,537 was on-hand for Seattle’s first full-stadium match of 2016, with Seattle Mayor Ed Murray honored with a Golden Scarf before the match as part of the club’s Pride Day proceedings. Sounders FC Head Coach Sigi Schmid was also recognized pre-match for becoming the first manager in MLS history to cross the 500-match barrier in MLS regular-season play.
New York City FC struck before the halftime whistle through Lampard, with the former England international receiving a lofted pass from R.J. Allen before putting an attempt past Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei. His second goal of 2016, Lampard’s tally was scrutinized for handball claims, but ultimately referee Alan Kelley deemed that the goal was legitimate. The play began on an NYCFC corner-kick that was taken by former Italian National Team stalwart Andrea Pirlo in the 38th minute of play.
Matarrita made it 2-0 in the 87th minute, slotting home a loose ball inside Seattle’s area after Frei came off his line to thwart an onrushing David Villa. Matarrita was there to clean-up the rebound following a touch from Mikey Lopez, cementing NYCFC’s grasp on all three points from the contest.
Sounders FC now turns its attention to a two-match week, with the Rave Green heading to Utah for a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup clash with Real Salt Lake on Tuesday, June 28 (7:00 p.m. PT / Live-streamed on SoundersFC.com). Sigi Schmid’s side then heads to BMO Field for an Eastern Conference clash against Toronto FC on Saturday, July 2 (4:30 p.m. PT / JOEtv, ROOT SPORTS, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – New York City FC 2
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Venue: Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee: Alan Kelly
Assistants: Mike Rottersman, Kyle Atkins
Fourth Official: Juan Guzman
Attendance: 47,537
Weather: Partly cloudy and 68 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
NYC – Frank Lampard (R.J. Allen) 38’
NYC – Ronald Matarrita (Mikey Lopez) 87’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
NYC – Thomas McNamara (caution) 42’
NYC – Andoni Iraola (caution) 75’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Tyron Mears, Brad Evans – captain, Chad Marshall, Dylan Remick (Nelson Valdez 57’); Osvaldo Alonso, Erik Friberg, Andreas Ivanschitz (Oalex Anderson 77’); Aaron Kovar (Cristian Roldan 66’), Jordan Morris, Joevin Jones
Substitutes not used: Tyler Miller, Zach Scott, Michael Farfan, Herculez Gomez
Total shots: 11 (Morris, 4)
Shots on goal: 2 (Marshall, 2)
Fouls: 9 (Mears/Remick, 2)
Offside: 4 (Four players, 1)
Corner-kicks: 4 (Ivanschitz, 4)
Saves: 4 (Frei, 4)
New York City FC – Josh Saunders; Jefferson Mena, R.J. Allen, Frederic Brillant, Ronald Matarrita; Thomas McNamara (Ethan White 77’), Andrea Pirlo, Andoni Iraola, Jack Harrison (Khiry Shelton 89’), Frank Lampard (Mikey Lopez 84’); David Villa
Substitutes not used: Eirik Johansen, Mehdi Ballouchy, Diego Martinez, Tony Taylor
Total shots: 10 (Lampard/Villa, 4)
Shots on goal: 6 (Villa, 4)
Fouls: 15 (Allen/Villa, 4)
Offside: 2 (McNamara/Matarrita, 1)
Corner-kicks: 5 (Pirlo, 4)
Saves: 2 (Saunders, 2)
MATCH NOTES
- Sounders FC is now 5-9-1 in the 2016 MLS Regular Season, including a 4-4-0 record at home.
- After the loss, Sounders FC is now 1-1-0 all-time against New York City FC. Last season, the Rave Green won 3-1 at Yankee Stadium in the first matchup between the two sides.
- With an attendance of 47,537, Sounders FC is 15-3-3 all-time in front of home crowds above 45,000.
- With back-to-back 2-0 losses, Sounders FC is amidst its second two-game scoreless streak of 2016.
- Head Coach Sigi Schmid used the same Starting XI in consecutive matches for the first time this season.
- As part of Sounders FC’s Pride Day pre-match ceremonies, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray was presented with a Golden Scarf, a club tradition which recognizes an individual and their connection to the community. In addition, Head Coach Sigi Schmid received a plaque from Owner Adrian Hanauer for becoming the first coach in MLS history to reach 500 games coached versus the New York Red Bulls on June 18.
