Seattle Sounders-Colorado Rapids: Tailgate Edition

Chances are that many of you have pre-gamed before a match and were stuck in that awkward situation where you were with people who clearly know more about a team than you. Don’t worry, your friends at MLS Multiplex are here to provide you with all of the information that you need to know before the match. In the words of Thomas Hobbes “Knowledge is Power.”

A football season is a marathon, not a sprint. Being able to consistently put in results week in and week out separates the great teams from the average. The Seattle Sounders will figure out which team they are on Sunday afternoon as they travel to Dick’s Sporting Goods Park to take on the Colorado Rapids.

When: 3pm EST

Where: Dick’s Sporting Goods Park- Commerce City, Colorado

TV: UNiMas. The game might also be on MLS Live but as of this afternoon MLS has not revealed if it will be available.

Head-to-Head in 2014: Much like in their entire head-to-head history (Seattle leads ten to two with two draws,) the Sounder have dominated the Rapids in 2014. In their first match of the season, the league’s leader in goals scored put four past the Rapids defense. A lone Dillon Serna strike in the 62nd minute kept the Rapids kept the match relatively close.

Their second match in August was much closer than the first. A lone Clint Dempsey gave Seattle the 1-0 advantage and the peach of a volley of corner kick was enough to give Seattle the victory.

Outlook: These two teams both need a boost and three points in this match would provide it. Seattle, while still in first place in the Western Conference, have lost two of their last three matches. Meanwhile for Colorado, their slide down the standings has turned into an avalanche, going win-less in their last ten matches.

There is a common problem that both of these teams have right now and it is their lack of accountability on defense. Colorado has allowed the second-highest number of goals in MLS (52,) while the Sounders are tied for the most among all playoff teams (46).

Both teams like to attack with their entire starting ten field players, which leaves them susceptible to counter-attacks. While one would think that in this match this would benefit the Sounders, the Rapids have some very fast midfielders and forwards themselves. Look for Rapids midfielder Dillon Serna (six assists) and forward Deshorn Brown (nine goals) to give Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei a headache all match long.

If Seattle wants to keep up with the Galaxy, they should take a page out Real Salt Lake’s book. In RSL’S 5-1 thrashing of the Rapids two weeks ago, RSL coach Jeff Cassar used forward Joao Plata’s speed to open up the Colorado defense. Sounders forward Lamar Neagle (8 goals) can fit this role seamlessly and should be able to find Dempsey and Obafemi Martins (15 goals) inside.

What will be interesting to see is if Rapids coach Pablo Mastroeni chooses to go with goalkeeper Joe Nasco. Nasco, who led the Atalnta Silverback to the Soccer Bowl last year in the NASL, has looked shell-shocked two weeks ago. But he did have a solid performance in their 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes last week.

The Rapids may have a chance in this match, given that it is being played at altitude and both of their wins against the Soudner came in Commerce City. But this is a must-win match for the Sounders and they have too much talent and too much riding on this match to give up three points.

Interesting Stat to Keep an Eye On: Seattle own the second-highest points per game ratio in MLS with 1.9 PPG. They only trail the Galaxy who score 1.94 PPG. This is a team that very rarely gets shut out (just four times in 2014,) and with the Rapids injuries on defense it does not look like this trend will end anytime soon.

Prediction: Seattle Sounders 4- Colorado Rapids 1