SEATTLE, WASH.- Nelson Valdez's header in the 88th minute sealed a late 1-0 victory for Sounders FC over Sporting Kansas City in the Western Conference Knockout Round, as the club advanced to the Conference Semifinals in the 2016 Audi MLS Cup Playoffs for the third consecutive season. Brian Schmetzer's club now has a quick turnaround, facing-off against Supporters' Shield champion FC Dallas on Sunday, October 30 in the first leg of a two-game, aggregate series to determine which team advances to the Western Conference Championship. Sunday's match kicks-off at 6:30 p.m. PT, with a national broadcast on FS1 in addition to radio coverage on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM and El Rey 1360 AM.
Valdez scored his first MLS goal of the season in the 88th minute, breaking through the deadlock of a tense and tumultuous Knockout Round fixture. The Paraguayan sent the home crowd into a frenzy, leading the line for Seattle and connecting on a Joevin Jones cross to head in the only goal of the contest.
The goal was Valdez's second career postseason strike, joining the company of Osvaldo Alonso, Eddie Johnson, Brad Evans and Clint Dempsey as the only Sounders FC players with multiple postseason goals. Valdez previously scored against in a 3-2 victory over the LA Galaxy in last season's Knockout Round on October 28, 2015.
With the win, Seattle is unbeaten at home since July 13, holding a 7-0-2 mark at CenturyLink Field and outscoring opponents 16-4.
The Rave Green now turn their attention to FC Dallas and the next round of the postseason. The Conference Semifinals are held over two legs, with aggregate goals determining which team moves on to the Conference Championships. In the event that both teams score an equal number of goals over the course of the two matches, the team with the greater number of road goals for the series advances. Should the series be tied for both total goals and away goals, the teams play two 15-minute periods of extra time at the conclusion of the second leg in which away goals do not count. This is followed by penalty kicks, if necessary, to determine the winner.
The second leg is being held on Sunday, November 6 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas. Kickoff time and broadcast details are being announced following the conclusion of the first set of matches.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 - Sporting KC 0
Thursday, October 27, 2016
Venue: Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field
Referee: Ismail Elfath
Assistants: Peter Manikowski, Corey Parker
Fourth Official: Ricardo Salazar
Attendance: 36,151
Weather: Showers and 54 degrees
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA - Nelson Valdez (Joevin Jones) 88'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA - Osvaldo Alonso (caution) 32'
SKC - Seth Sinovic (caution) 63'
SKC - Benny Feilhaber (caution) 71'
SKC - Roger Espinoza (caution) 90'+3'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Tyrone Mears, Román Torres, Chad Marshall, Joevin Jones; Osvaldo Alonso - captain, Erik Friberg (Nelson Valdez 79'), Cristian Roldan, Alvaro Fernandez (Brad Evans 86'), Nico Lodeiro; Jordan Morris
Substitutes not used: Tyler Miller, Zach Scott, Oniel Fisher, Herculez Gomez, Aaron Kovar
Total shots: 10 (Lodeiro/Torres, 3)
Shots on goal: 1 (Valdez, 1)
Fouls: 12 (Torres, 3)
Offside: 2 (Fernandez/Morris, 1)
Corner-kicks: 4 (Lodeiro, 4)
Saves: 7 (Frei, 7)
Sporting KC - Tim Melia; Saad Abdul-Salaam, Seth Sinovic (Jimmy Medranda 90'), Matt Besler, Kevin Ellis, Paulo Nagamura (Jacob Peterson 90'+2'), Soni Mustivar, Benny Feilhaber; Graham Zusi, Roger Espinoza - captain, Dom Dwyer
Substitutes not used: Alec Kann, Ike Opara, Nuno Andre Coelho, Lawrence Olum, Connor Hallisey
Total shots: 12 (Zusi, 3)
Shots on goal: 7 (Feilhaber/Nagamura, 2)
Fouls: 18 (Dwyer, 4)
Offside: 2 (Dwyer/Besler, 1)
Corner-kicks: 5 (Zusi, 3)
Saves: 0
MATCH NOTES
- Sounders FC is set to host FC Dallas in the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinals on Sunday, October 30 at 6:30 p.m. PT. Seattle has an 8-9-4 record all-time in the MLS Cup Playoffs, and fell to FC Dallas on penalties in last season's Semifinal Round.
- Sounders FC is 8-4-3 against Sporting KC in MLS regular season and postseason play. Thursday's match was the first meeting in the postseason between the two sides. Of the 15 matches between the two sides in MLS competition, 14 have been decided by one goal or fewer 13 have had three goals or less combined between the two sides. Seven of Sounders FC's 14 goals in the series have come in the 88th minute or later.
- Forward Nelson Valdez scored his first goal of the season in the 88th minute. It was Valdez's second career postseason strike, joining the company of Osvaldo Alonso, Eddie Johnson, Brad Evans and Clint Dempsey as the only Sounders FC players with multiple postseason goals. Valdez previously scored against in a 3-2 victory over the LA Galaxy in last season's Knockout Round on October 28, 2015.
- Goalkeeper Stefan Frei has recorded a shutout in four of his past eight appearances dating back to September 17.
- Interim Head Coach Brian Schmetzer has posted a 9-2-4 record since taking over managerial duties on July 26.
- Sounders FC is unbeaten at home since July 13, holding a 7-0-2 mark at CenturyLink Field and outscoring opponents 16-4.
