TUCSON, ARIZ. - Following a 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers on Saturday night at Kino Sports Complex, Seattle Sounders FC fielded a separate group of starting players on Sunday against Columbus Crew SC for the Rave Green's third preseason friendly match of 2018. The contest concluded in a 2-1 loss for Seattle, with VÃctor RodrÃguez finding the scoresheet for Sounders FC in the first half. Colin Biros and Adam Jahn scored for Columbus, with Sunday's match being played at the University of Arizona's Mulcahy Soccer Stadium.
Columbus struck first under the desert sun, as Crew SC Academy player Colin Biros finished past Bryan Meredith to put the Ohio side into a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute of play. Biros was assisted by midfielder Niko Hansen on the goal.
Seattle found an equalizer through RodrÃguez, as the Spanish winger ran onto a lengthy Alex Roldan through ball that split Columbus' defense. RodrÃguez fired his attempt past Columbus goalkeeper Zack Steffen to level the scoreline at one goal apiece. The strike was the winger's second of Seattle's 2018 preseason after scoring against the Club Tijuana U-20 side on January 28.
Like the previous night against Portland, Brian Schmetzer made wholesale changes to his team in the 65th minute - with the exception of RodrÃguez, who made way for Handwalla Bwana at halftime. The remainder of Seattle's side was comprised of the same substitutes that featured Saturday evening at Kino Stadium. Guest player Calle Brown made a key save during a Columbus free-kick to preserve the draw, with the goalkeeper getting down to deny Crew SC's Pedro Santos in the 70th minute.
However, Columbus found its winner in the 78th minute, with substitute Adam Jahn finding the net. Portuguese winger Pedro Santos provided the service for Jahn, sealing the match at 2-1 for Crew SC.
Sounders FC's 2018 preseason presented by adidas continues this coming week in Tucson, with Brian Schmetzer's side returning to the Pacific Northwest on Thursday, February 8. Prior to the MLS regular season starting on March 4, Sounders FC is set to face Salvadoran club Santa Tecla FC in the Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, the region's premier club championship, with the first leg in El Salvador on February 22 and the second leg at CenturyLink Field on March 1. Sounders FC season tickets are still available, including new 2018 seating options in the 300-level, as well single-match tickets for each of Seattle's home matches. For complete information, details and pricing on 2018 Sounders FC season tickets, fans should visit SoundersFC.com/tickets, call 877-MLS-GOAL or email Sales@SoundersFC.com.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 - Columbus Crew SC 2
Sunday, February 4, 2018
Venue:
Mulcahy Soccer Stadium I Tucson, Arizona
Weather:
75 degrees and sunny
Attendance:
Closed-door scrimmage
SCORING SUMMARY
CLB -
Colin Biros (Niko Hansen) 5'
SEA -
Victor RodrÃguez (Alex Roldan) 28'
CLB -
Adam Jahn (Pedro Santos) 78'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA - Ray Saari (caution) 81'
LINEUPS
Seattle Sounders FC- Bryan Meredith (Calle Brown^ 65'); Jordan McCrary^ (Denso Ulysse+ 65'), Marcus Fjørtoft# (Aiden McGlothan^ 65'), Sam Rogers+ (Rodrigue Ele+ 65'), Nouhou (Khai Brisco* 65'); Gustav Svensson - captain (Ray Saari+ 65'), Alex Roldan (Dylan Teves* 65'), Henry Wingo (Ray Serrano* 65'), Victor Rodriguez (Handwalla Bwana 46', Azriel Gonzalez 72'), Magnus Wolff Eikrem (Zach Mathers 65'); Felix Chenkam (Seyi Adekoya 65')
+
Player currently signed to S2 roster
Sounders FC Academy player
#
Unsigned MLS SuperDraft Selection
^
Guest player
Columbus Crew SC - Zack Steffen (Logan Ketterer 46'); Harrison Afful (Connor Maloney 46'), Alex Crognale (Josh Williams 46'), Jonathan Mensah (Lalas Abubakar 46'), Edward Opoku (Hector Jimenez 46'); Ricardo Clark (Sean Zawadzki* 32', Wil Trapp 46'), Mohammed Abu (Luis Argudo* 46'); Niko Hansen (Cristian Martinez 46'), Federico Higuain (Eduardo Sosa 46'), Colin Biros* (Pedro Santos 46'); Gyasi Zardes (Adam Jahn 46')
Unsigned 2018 MLS SuperDraft selection
* Crew SC Academy player