Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids
MLS Regular Season
Saturday, August 30; 1 pm PT; CenturyLink Field
TV/Radio: Q13 FOX; THIS-TV (KOMO2); KIRO Radio 97.3 FM; ESPN Deportes Radio, 1490 AM (Spanish)
For the second time this season, Sounders FC hosts the Colorado Rapids at CenturyLink Field. After a 4-1 victory for Seattle back in April, here are three key matchups if Seattle hopes to extend its eight-game home unbeaten streak against the Rapids on Saturday.
Seattle’s forwards vs. Colorado’s center backs
Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins look to be back in sync after combining for three goals and three assists in a 4-2 win over the Portland Timbers on Sunday. They also notched three goals against the Rapids on April 26. With center back Drew Moor out of action with an ACL injury, that creates more potential opportunities for the goal-scoring duo. Colorado Head Coach Pablo Mastroeni also has to contend with a knee injury to Shane O’Neill that has kept him out of the last seven matches, leaving his options thin. How he chooses to approach the position will dictate how and where those opportunities will come. How Dempsey and Martins capitalize will be a key factor for Seattle.
Deshorn Brown vs. DeAndre Yedlin
The two rising talents have had their share of battles already in their young careers. Brown is a speedy forward that likes to come in at an angle to utilize that speed. Yedlin has the speed to keep up and Seattle has gotten the better of Brown more often than not. However, Brown has a hat trick against Seattle under his belt, scoring three in a 5-1 Rapids win in Colorado last season. If he can rekindle that night, it will be a difficult affair for Seattle.
Seattle Supporters vs. Rapids
For whatever reason, the Rapids have had trouble finding success at CenturyLink Field. In eight all-time meetings between Sounders FC and the Rapids there, Seattle has gone 7-0-1, including a win in the 2013 MLS Cup playoffs. This season, Colorado is 2-7-3 away from Dick’s Sporting Goods Park, and a 4-1 loss to Sounders FC back on April 26 sent the Rapids into a winless streak that has reached nine matches at 0-7-2. Add to that Seattle’s home success this season that saw Sounders FC win six straight matches and an 8-3-1 overall home record, and it’s a recipe for success for the Sounders.
