SEATTLE, WASH. - Sounders FC (1-4-2, 5 points) and Columbus Crew SC (4-3-3, 15 points) played to a scoreless draw in front of 39,515 fans at CenturyLink Field on Saturday afternoon. Playing with a man-advantage and registering 16 total shots to Columbus' three, Seattle was unable to find a go-ahead goal throughout the contest. The scoreless draw was Seattle's first at home since March 31, 2017 against Atlanta United FC. The Rave Green move to 5-4-4 all-time against Columbus in MLS play.
One of the match's major events took place early on, as Columbus was reduced to 10 men in the 15th minute of play when Pedro Santos was shown a red card for serious foul play. He went in high during a challenge, and the bottom of his left cleat hit Sounders FC midfielder Alex Roldan in the face in front of the Seattle bench.
Seattle had its best chance of the day in the 73rd minute. Will Bruin found Clint Dempsey in front of Zach Steffen's goal, but the Columbus goalkeeper was able to make the save at point-blank range. Steffen and his backline neutralized a Seattle's attack that maintained 64.2 percent of the game's total possession and completed 616 passes to Crew SC's 200.
Brian Schmetzer's club faces a quick turnaround, with Sounders FC returning to action on Wednesday, May 9 at Toronto FC in an MLS Cup rematch. The clubs square off at BMO Field at 4:30 p.m. PT in front of a national television audience on FS1. Regional coverage is being provided by YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM and El Rey 1360 AM. Seattle caps with week with a cross-continent flight back to the Pacific Northwest, traveling to Portland for the club's first Cascadia Cup clash of the season on Sunday, May 13 (1:00 p.m. PT / ESPN, YouTube TV, 950 AM KJR, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH NOTES
- With the draw, Sounders FC is now 1-4-2 on the season and currently sits in a tie for 12th place in the Western Conference with five points.
- Sounders FC is now 5-4-4 against Columbus Crew SC in MLS play, including a 2-2-3 record at CenturyLink Field. Saturday's match marked the lone regular season meeting of the campaign between the two sides.
- Kim Kee-hee made his second MLS start (and first at home) on Saturday after Román Torres was ruled out due to a right hamstring strain. The South Korean defender started last Sunday's match at Los Angeles FC and previously played 16 minutes at FC Dallas on March 18 in his MLS debut. He also logged 55 minutes at Chivas Guadalajara in Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League play on March 14.
- Henry Wingo made his second appearance of the season when he came on for Nouhou in the 77th minute. The second-year Homegrown Player previously played 90 minutes against LAFC in the season opener on March 4.
- Sounders FC is now 22-3-8 at CenturyLink Field (regular season and postseason) since Brian Schmetzer took over as Head Coach in July of 2016.
- With the start today, Chad Marshall recorded his 376th career MLS regular-season appearance, two behind Steve Ralston for fifth in league history. It was also his 121st start for Seattle, moving him ahead of Leo Gonzalez for fourth in club history.
- Stefan Frei made two saves en route to his first shutout of the season and the 60th in his MLS career, second among active players to Nick Rimando, who is the league's all-time leader with 139. It was also Frei's 138th regular-season appearance with Seattle, moving him ahead of Leo Gonzalez for third on the club's all-time leaderboard.
- Sounders FC's 45 crosses in today's match marked a season-high for the club.
- Columbus' red card in the 15th minute was the first ejection of the season for a Seattle opponent and the 35th since Sounders FC entered the league in 2009.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 - Columbus Crew SC 0
Sunday, May 5, 2018
Venue:
Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee:
Hilario Grajeda
Assistants:
Jonathan Johnson, Eduardo Mariscal
Fourth Official:
Alejandro Mariscal
VAR:
Rosendo Mendoza
Attendance:
39,515
Weather:
Clear and 64 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
None
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CLB -
Pedro Santos (ejection) 15'
SEA
- Osvaldo Alonso (caution) 30'
CLB
- Wil Trapp (caution) 54'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam, Chad Marshall (Handwalla Bwana HT), Kim Kee-hee, Nouhou (Henry Wingo 76'); Osvaldo Alonso - captain, Gustav Svensson, Cristian Roldan, Clint Dempsey, Alex Roldan (Magnus Wolff Eikrem 63'); Will Bruin
Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Jordy Delem, Lamar Neagle, Jordan McCrary
Total shots:
17 (Dempsey, 6)
Shots on goal:
1 (Dempsey, 1)
Fouls:
10 (Kim, 3)
Offside:
0
Corner-kicks:
5 (C. Roldan, 3)
Saves:
2 (Frei, 2)
Columbus Crew SC - Zach Steffen; Milton Valenzuela, Lalas Abubakar, Josh Williams, Hector Jimenez; Wil Trapp - captain, Ricardo Clark (Mohammed Abu 66'), Federico Higuain, Pedro Santos, Cristian Martinez (Alex Crognale 31'); Gyasi Zardes (Adam Jahn 78')
Substitutes not used: Jon Kempin, Mohammed Abu, Mike Grella, Luis Argudo, Connor Maloney
Total shots:
5 (Zardes, 2)
Shots on goal:
2 (Jimenez/Zardes, 1)
Fouls:
10 (Zardes, 3)
Offside:
0
Corner-kicks:
0
Saves:
1 (Steffen, 1)
