Saturday July 16th the Seattle Sounders FC will rumble with the Colorado Rapids on the Xbox pitch at CenturyLink Field. It’s a rare early 1 PM Pacific kickoff on a Saturday, so don’t be late. The match will be televised nationally on FOX Soccer, and Arlo White can be heard locally on the radio dial at KIRO 97.3 FM, or listen to Arlo online here at MyNorthwest.com.
The MLS champion Colorado Rapids roll into town looking to even the score against the surging Sounders FC. Seattle defeated the Rapids 1-0 on their home turf back on April 22nd. That was the first road victory for the Sounders this season, but the win was marred when Steve Zakuani had his leg fractured in the opening minutes by Brian Mullan. Mullan has served his ten game suspension, paid his fine, and Zakuani is on the road to recovery. It’s still unclear if Mullan will travel or participate in this game.
The Sounders are 3-1-1 all time versus the Rapids. The Rave Green have won both matches at home beating Colorado 3-0 in 2009 and 2-1 last season. Seattle appears to own this series despite the Rapids having taken 18 more shots than the Sounders in those matches. The Sounders lead 8-4 in the all time series aggregate. Fredy Montero leads both teams in goals and assists with three and four respectively. Look for Fredy to keep rounding into form this weekend with another strong outing.
Colorado has a forward of their own finding his groove of late. Connor Casey has scored six of the last eight Rapids goals, and has scored in all but two games since May 28th. Casey has six goals on the season, all of which have come in the past seven weeks. The Seattle center backs will have their work cut out for them as Jhon Kennedy Hurtado is ruled out of the roster with an MCL sprain.
Not all news on the injury front is bad for the Sounders though. Forward O’Brian White has been removed from the disabled list and is immediately eligible to play in this match. I don’t expect to see White in the starting XI, but wouldn’t be surprised to see Sigi throw him up top in the waning minutes. O’BW had surgery on April 27th to have a blood clot removed from his left leg.
Away from injuries and back to the field, Royal Brougham Park should be a real kick in the grass on Saturday. This game against the Rapids marks the first of two home matches to be played on a true grass pitch! Sod was installed last week and the Sounders will play on grass both in this weekend’s game and the upcoming friendly against Manchester United. This is not a first, and hopefully not the last time that grass will be used in this stadium. Both 2009 friendlies versus Chelsea and FC Barcelona, a grass surface was used, as well as a handful of international games played in Seattle. Wishful thinking, but please cross your fingers that the grass sticks around.
Over the past seven weeks Seattle has climbed the league table and currently sits in second place of the Western Division. During that span the club has gone eight games unbeaten, setting a new MLS Sounders FC franchise record. They have earned 35 points with an overall record of 9-4-8 in league play. The team is three points ahead of their 2009 pace and six points better than last season. Against Colorado, the boys wearing the Rave Green will be trying to win three straight home matches for only the second time in the clubs short MLS history.
See you bright and early at Royal Brougham Park!
(image courtesy of soundersfc.com)
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