SEATTLE, WASH. – Riding a first-half Marco Pappa strike to victory on Wednesday evening, Seattle Sounders FC (7-3-2, 23 points) defeated Western Conference opponent Colorado (2-3-7, 13 points) 1-0, moving the Rave Green to the top of the conference ahead of this weekend’s round of matches. With the win, Sounders FC now has a two-point advantage over second-place FC Dallas. Tonight’s victory improves Seattle’s overall record to 13-2-2 all-time against the Rapids, including an 8-0-1 mark at CenturyLink Field. The Rave Green are unbeaten in MLS play in six of their past seven contests, with Sigi Schmid’s side concluding a three-match home stretch on Sunday against the New York Red Bulls in front of nationally televised audience on ESPN2. Kickoff for that match is slated for 2:00 p.m. PT.
Pappa delivered Sounders FC into an early lead in the 15th minute of play, as the Guatemalan winger settled a loose ball just outside Colorado’s area before firing a perfectly placed curler past Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin. The strike is Pappa’s first goal of the 2015 campaign, accompanying the midfielder’s five assists through 10 MLS appearances.
Tonight’s match marked the 150th time Brad Evans played in a Sounders kit during league play. He ranks second in club history to Osvaldo Alonso in appearances, starts and minutes. Evans, along with goalkeeper Stefan Frei, surpassed the 1,000-minute mark in tonight’s fixture for the 2015 season. The pair has appeared in each of the club’s 1,080 minutes in 2015. Frei also recorded his seventh clean-sheet of the 2015 season. He moves into first place in MLS wins (seven) and shutouts (seven), while maintaining his top rank in saves (48).
Returning to action in just four days to close a three-match homestand, Sounders FC next welcomes the New York Red Bulls to CenturyLink Field on Sunday, May 31 (2:00 p.m. PT / ESPN2, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Colorado Rapids 0
Wednesday, May 27, 2015
Venue: XBOX Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee: Ricardo Salazar
Assistants: Jeff Hosking, Kyle Atkins
Fourth Official: Alejandro Mariscal
Attendance: 39,757
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 72 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Marco Pappa 15’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
COL – Jared Watts (caution) 44’
SEA – Osvaldo Alonso (caution) 55’
SEA – Brad Evans (caution) 64’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Tyrone Mears, Brad Evans – C, Zach Scott, Leo Gonzalez; Cristian Roldan (Chad Barrett 70’), Osvaldo Alonso, Andy Rose, Marco Pappa (Lamar Neagle 74’); Clint Dempsey (Micheal Azira 89’), Obafemi Martins
Substitutes not used: Troy Perkins, Aaron Kovar, Chad Marshall, Dylan Remick
Total shots: 15 (Marco Pappa, 4)
Shots on goal:= 5 (Marco Pappa, 3)
Fouls:= 12 (Osvaldo Alonso, 5)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks:= 3 (Marco Pappa, 3)
Saves:= 4 (Stefan Frei, 4)
Colorado Rapids – Clint Irwin; Michael Harrington, Bobby Burling – Captain, Jared Watts, Marc Burch; Sam Cronin, Lucas Pittinari, Gabriel Torres (Juan Ramirez 45’); Dillon Powers (Vicente Sanchez 74’), Kevin Doyle (Charles Eloundou 83’), Luis Solignac
Substitutes not used: Zac MacMath, Dominique Badji, Drew Moor
Total shots: 16 (Sam Cronin, 3)
Shots on goal: 4 (4 players tied at 1)
Fouls: 14 (Lucas Pittinari, 3)
Offside:< 1 (Kevin Doyle, 1)
Corner-kicks: 5 (Vicente Sanchez, 3)
Saves: 4 (Clint Irwin, 4)
MATCH NOTES
- Wednesday’s result pushed Seattle Sounders FC to a 7-3-2 record. The Rave Green now rank first in the Western Conference with 23 points and seized the lead for the Supporters’ Shield.
- The win against Colorado improves Seattle’s record to 13-2-2 all-time against the Rapids, including an 8-0-1 mark at CenturyLink Field. Colorado has fallen victim to Sounders FC (13) and Head Coach Sigi Schmid (27) more times than any other club in the league. It was the first road loss for Colorado all season.
- Sounders FC leads MLS in fewest goals allowed (nine) and is tied for the best mark in most goals scored (18). As a result, its plus-9 goal differential is the best across both conferences.
- Marco Pappa netted his first goal of the season, becoming the fifth player to score for Sounders FC in 2015. It was his seventh scoring tally for the club in the regular season and 33rd in his MLS career.
- Tonight’s match marked the 150th time Brad Evans played in a Sounders kit during league play. He ranks second in club history to Osvaldo Alonso in appearances, starts and minutes. Evans, along with goalkeeper Stefan Frei surpassed the 1,000-minute mark in tonight’s fixture for the 2015 season. The pair has appeared in each of the club’s 1,080 minutes in 2015.
- Cristian Roldan earned his first home start and third overall start against the Rapids. The University of Washington product has made eight appearances in the midfield for Sounders FC during his rookie campaign.
- Stefan Frei recorded his seventh clean-sheet of the 2015 season. He moves into first place in MLS wins (seven) and shutouts (seven), while maintaining his top rank in saves (48).
