The Seattle Sounders will play their ninth home opener on Sunday (4 p.m. PT; FS1, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS) when they welcome the New York Red Bulls to CenturyLink Field.
The Sounders are 5-3 in the season’s first home match and have outscored their opponents 12-4. This is the second time the Sounders have played the Red Bulls in the home opener after hosting New York in Seattle’s inaugural MLS match in 2009.
The Sounders’ best performance in a home opener came from David Estrada, whose hat trick led Seattle to a 3-1 win over Toronto FC in 2012. His three total goals are tied for the most in Sounders home openers with Fredy Montero, who scored two in 2009 and bagged another a year later.
The most exciting home opener came in 2014 when a Chad Barrett goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time gave Seattle a 1-0 win over defending champions Sporting Kansas City.
Below are quick recaps of the previous eight home openers with links to the full article:
2009: Won 3-0 over the New York Red Bulls
Fredy Montero recorded a brace and Brad Evans notched a goal of his own to send the Sounders to a convincing victory in front of more tan 32,000 fans in their inaugural MLS match. Washington native Kasey Keller recorded a shutout in goal.
2010: Won 2-0 over the Philadelphia Union
In what felt much like the opener in 2009, Montero and Evans each scored and Keller recorded another clean sheet to help the Sounders take down the Union.
2011: Lost 1-0 to the LA Galaxy
Juninho scored a long-range effort in the 58th minute off a pass from Todd Dunivant to send the Sounders to their first home-opening loss in three years. Seattle had 11 shots, six of which were on frame, but couldn't find the back of the net.
2012: Won 3-1 over Toronto FC
In front of more than 38,000 fans, David Estrada recorded the third hat trick in Sounders history to lift Seattle past Toronto. Estrada struck in the 17th, 51st and 63rd minutes, canceling out Ryan Johnson’s lone tally in the 62nd.
2013: Lost 1-0 to the Montreal Impact
The Impact defeated the Sounders behind a 35th-minute goal from Davy Arnaud and sent Seattle to only its second home-opening loss in five years. Brad Evans and Eddie Johnson each hit the crossbar in the second half, but Seattle could not sneak a goal past Troy Perkins in net.
2014: Won 1-0 over Sporting KC
Chad Barrett matched the latest Sounders goal in the team’s MLS history when his 94th-minute tally gave Seattle a 1-0 win over defending champions Sporting Kansas City. Sean Okoli’s cross from the right side found the head of Clint Dempsey, but his shot ricocheted off the crossbar. Dempsey corralled the rebound and poked it to Barrett, who finished from close range.
2015: Won 3-0 over the New England Revolution
Seattle opened the 2015 season in front of nearly 40,000 fans and defeated the reigning Eastern Conference champions the New England Revolution. Dempsey scored twice on either side of an Obafemi Martins strike to pace Seattle.
2016: Lost 1-0 to Sporting Kansas City
Sporting defender Nuno Andre Coelho scored the game-winner in the 72nd minute when his long-range shot skipped off the wet surface and past Stefan Frei. Seattle played with 10 men for the final 49 minutes of the match after Oniel Fisher was issued a red card for a sliding challenge on Connor Hallisey.
