The Colorado Rapids (14-6-9, 51 points) return home to DICK’S Sporting Goods Park on Wednesday, October 20 to take on the Seattle Sounders (17-6-6, 57 points) for the third time in the 2021 regular season. Kickoff is set for 7:00 PM.
Past Matchups
This season, the Rapids have yet to top Seattle after drawing with the Sounders 1-1 at home on Independence Day, then traveling to Lumen Field earlier this month to fall 3-0. In the July 4th draw, Sounders defender Alex Roldan started the scoring off in the 41st minute to put Seattle up one, but Michael Barrios drove home an equalizing shot in the 57th minute to rally the Rapids back, earning his third goal of the season in the process. The road trip to Lumen Field on October 3rd held a different result, as the Rapids were unable to find their form and Seattle’s Cristian Roldan, Jimmy Medranda and João Paulo netted a goal apiece. The loss ended the Rapids’ 12-match unbeaten streak and their six-match road unbeaten streak after they were reduced to 10 men when Lucas Esteves was shown a straight red card in the 61st minute; his one-game suspension was successfully appealed.
Current Form
The Sounders travel to Commerce City with a road loss in their rearview mirror after falling to Houston Dynamo FC, 2-1, over the weekend. After falling behind by two goals early on, Medranda capitalized off of a corner clearance in the 41st minute to halve the Sounders’ deficit, but Seattle was ultimately unable to find a draw or victory at PNC Stadium. Before traveling to Houston, the Sounders clinched a spot in the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs in their 4-1 defeat of the Vancouver Whitecaps. Despite this, Seattle’s spot at the top of the Western Conference ahead of the playoffs could be in jeopardy as it heads into its matchup with No. 3 Colorado on Wednesday and No. 2 Sporting KC over the weekend.
Key Players to Watch
Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei has allowed eight goals in 12 games this season, helping secure Seattle’s spot at the top of the Western Conference on the defensive end. On the attack, Medranda, Paulo and Raúl Ruidíaz consistently post high numbers for the Sounders, collectively recording 25 goals and 14 assists on the season already. Ruidíaz ranks second in the league in goals scored and first in the conference, but Rapids goalkeeper William Yarborough has proven up to the task of defending between the posts this season with 11 clean sheets.
On the Pitch
- Prior to their July 4th draw, the Rapids won the last two meetings in Colorado.
- With 29 games played each, the Rapids and Sounders are separated by six points in the West
- Seattle currently holds the league’s best away record of 9-3-3, a tally the Rapids will aim to tarnish after Wednesday’s matchup
- Seattle’s 2021 playoff berth marked the club’s achievement for the 13th consecutive season, earning a league record for most consecutive berths in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
