Despite dictating play for much of the match and controlling the contest in numerous statistical categories, Seattle Sounders FC (14-9-8, 50 points) played to a scoreless draw versus FC Dallas (12-11-8, 44 points) in midweek action at CenturyLink Field. With tonight's result, Seattle hits the 50-point mark for the third consecutive season, as the club pushes to qualify for its 11th straight Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Seattle has now reached the 50-point threshold in eight of the past nine MLS regular seasons. In the context of the Western Conference standings, Seattle maintains its hold on second place and potential homefield advantage in the postseason, two points ahead of third-place Minnesota United. Los Angeles FC continues to lead the West with 64 points. Sounders FC has just three matches remaining in the regular season, beginning with a forthcoming contest at D.C. United on September 22.
Despite overall advantages in possession (60 percent), duels won (51.5 percent) and total shots (14 to 5), Sounders FC was not able to capture the full three points for the second time in four days. The Rave Green defeated the New York Red Bulls at CenturyLink Field on September 15. Of note, captain Nicolás Lodeiro earned his 100th MLS appearance tonight after joining the club in the summer transfer window of 2016. In those 100 appearances, the Uruguayan has led the team by recording 48 assists and 26 goals.
Stefan Frei and his backline earned their eighth shutout of 2019, but lost Xavier Arreaga to a second yellow card down the stretch, as the Ecuadorian defender was sent off for a challenge on Michael Barrios in the 86th minute. Arreaga is now suspended for the club's next match.
Following back-to-back home contests, Seattle plays its third match inside of a week on Sunday, September 22 at D.C. United (5:00 p.m. PT / JOEtv, YouTube TV, 1090 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). Sunday's match at Audi Field marks Seattle's final regular season contest against Eastern Conference opposition in 2019.
MATCH NOTES
- With tonight's result, Sounders FC remains in second place in the Western Conference with 50 points (14-9-8), 14 points behind Supporters' Shield-leading LAFC. The club is now two points ahead of third-place Minnesota United FC and four points ahead of fourth-place Real Salt Lake.
- With tonight's result, Seattle hits the 50-point mark for the third consecutive season, as the club pushes to qualify for its 11th straight Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Seattle has now reached the 50-point threshold in eight of the past nine MLS regular-seasons.
- Seattle played to its third scoreless draw of the season and first since May 18 at Philadelphia. Tonight also marked the third scoreless draw all-time between Sounders FC and FC Dallas in MLS regular-season play, and the first since September 16, 2017 at Dallas.
- Sounders FC is now 12-7-7 all-time against FC Dallas in MLS regular-season play, including 9-1-2 at home.
- Stefan Frei recorded his eighth shutout of the season and fourth at CenturyLink Field. He now owns 74 shutouts in his MLS career, seventh in league history and one behind sixth-place Matt Reis.
- Seattle's shutout this evening marks the club's first clean sheet since July 27 at Houston.
- Nicolás Lodeiro tonight appeared in his 100th career MLS regular-season game.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 - FC Dallas 0
Wednesday, September 18, 2019
Venue: CenturyLink Field
Referee: Drew Fischer
Assistants: Gianni Facchini, Gjovalin Bori
Fourth Official: Mark Allatin
VAR: Ricardo Salazar
Attendance: 37,722
Weather: 61 degrees and partly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
None
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA - Xavier Arreaga (caution) 24'
DAL - Ryan Hollingshead (caution) 67'
SEA - Xavier Arreaga (ejection) 86'
SEA - Kim Kee-hee (caution) 90'+11'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam, Kim Kee-hee, Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou (VÃctor RodrÃguez 65'); Gustav Svensson, Jordy Delem (Jordan Morris 74'), Cristian Roldan, Nicolás Lodeiro - captain, Joevin Jones; Raúl RuidÃaz (Harry Shipp 90'+3')
Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Saad Abdul-Salaam, Emanuel Cecchini, Luis Silva
Total shots: 14 (Three players, 3)
Shots on goal: 3 (Three players, 1)
Fouls: 12 (Three players, 3)
Offside: 1 (C. Roldan, 1)
Corner-kicks: 4 (Lodeiro, 4)
Saves: 3 (Frei, 3)
FC Dallas - Jesse Gonzalez; Bressan (Reggie Cannon 74'), Matt Hedges, Ryan Hollingshead, Reto Ziegler - captain; Bryan Acosta, Jesus Ferreira (Jacori Hayes 76'), Brandon Servania; Dominique Badji (Santiago Mosquera 81'), Michael Barrios, Paxton Pomykal
Substitutes not used: Jimmy Maurer, Zdenek Ondrasek, John Nelson, Edwin Cerrillo
Total shots: 9 (Barrios, 2)
Shots on goal: 3 (Three players, 1)
Fouls: 16 (Barrios/Pomykal, 4)
Offside: 2 (Badji/Hollingshead, 1)
Corner-kicks: 3 (Barrios, 2)
Saves: 3 (Gonzalez, 3)
