One game, 100 words or less – A chance-less aboriginal bisected that showcased an bigger Colorado defense gave way to a quick turn, with poor arresting on an aboriginal additional bisected bend acceptance Clint Dempsey to accord Seattle a 51st minute lead. Reverting to anatomy that underscored a five-match accident band they agitated into the match, the Rapids began aperture chances, with Martins advancing abutting three times over the match's final 40 minutes. Though they were clumsy to bifold their lead, the Sounders still becoming a biased 1-0 victory, one that creates some acting breath allowance at the top of the league.
Goals
Seattle: Clint Dempsey 51′
Colorado: None.
Three moments that mattered:
51′ – Dempsey bare – The aboriginal acceptable adventitious of the bout saw Seattle earn a bend afterwards a brawl put abaft the aegis by Gonzalo Pineda accustomed Brad Evans to analysis debuting goalkeeper Joe Nasco. Off the afterwards corner, Marc Burch forgot he's not best a Sounder, giving Clint Dempsey an accessible advance from the average of the area. Converting into the appropriate ancillary of goal, "Deuce" gave the favorites a 1-0 lead.
58′ – Martins about breach the bar - A aback disturbing Colorado aegis made life worse for itself with a poor approval from Marvell Wynne. Moments later, Obafemi Martins unloaded on a bouncing brawl aloof axial the amends area, which the Nigerian's attempt testing the candor of Nasco's crossbar. Withstanding that test, the south end's woodwork kept it 1-0.
90′ – Nasco keeps it abutting - A bang from Martins from abreast the bend of the amends breadth gave Seattle a adventitious to (finally) bifold its lead, but Nasco afresh came up with a able save, blame the brawl able-bodied wide. Quickly, however, Seattle had the brawl at Clint Dempsey's feet, cartoon addition save from Nasco. Moments later, Seattle's strikers were combining on a counter, and while the advance fizzled aloof axial the final third, the Sounders remained on the bend of their allowance goal.
Lineups
Seattle: Stefan Frei; DeAndre Yedlin, Chad Marshall, Zach Scott, Leo Gonzalez; Brad Evans (Chad Barrett 75′), Osvaldo Alonso, Gonzalo Pineda, Marco Pappa (Lamar Neagle 75′); Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins (Andy Rose 92′)
Colorado: Joe Nasco; Chris Kulte, Thomas Piermayr, Marvell Wynne, Marc Burch; Marlon Harrison (Gabriel Torres 60′), Dillon Powers, Nick LaBrocca, Dillon Serna (Charles Eloundou 79′); Deshorn Brown, Edson Buddle
Three lessons going forward:
1. The breach didn't advice Colorado – During the aboriginal half, the Rapids looked beneath like a aggregation benumbed a five-game slump than an underdog aggravating to survive Seattle. The second half, however, saw them backslide to form. Though the aboriginal 45 account gave Rapids admirers acumen to hope, Colorado's weekend off didn't break the team's problems.
2. Seattle's starting XI seems mostly set – This isn't above news, but it's still account pausing to accede what Seattle will attending like activity forward. Brad Evans has acclimatized in on the appropriate ancillary of midfield, blame Lamar Neagle to the bench. Though a advantageous Djimi TraorĂ© could eventually supplant Zach Scott in axial defense, today's XI looks like the aggregation Sigi Schmid's activity to bet on. Over the aftermost two weeks, that looks like a bet that should appear good.
3. Edges actuality ashen - Deshorn Brown had only one ambition in his aftermost four games, a amount that should accept bigger today at CenturyLink. Adjoin a aback band of Marshall, Scott, and Leo Gonzalez, Colorado had a adventitious to booty advantage of Brown's speed, decidedly on CenturyLink's gridiron-friendly turf. Except for one, maybe two moments in the additional half, that bend was never leveraged, allowing Seattle to enjoy an accessible afternoon at home.
Where this leaves them
- Temporarily, Seattle has a five-point advance in both its conference and Supporters' Shield standings. Regardless of what happens afterwards this weekend in Carson and D.C., the Sounders will afresh be top of the table appear Monday.
- Colorado is still three aback of fifth in the East, but if Vancouver gets a aftereffect tonight adjoin Portland, the Rapids will lose blow with the West's final playoff spot.
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