September 16, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release
Sounders FC defender Jackson Ragen (left) and midfielder Reed Baker-Whiting
(Seattle Sounders FC)
SEATTLE, WASH. – Sounders FC (12-9-7, 43 points) began its pivotal three-match homestand with a 2-0 win over Sporting Kansas City (7-14-7, 28 points) on Sunday afternoon on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field. Jackson Ragen and Paul Rothrock scored for the hosts, while Stefan Frei moved into sole position of second place in MLS history with his 113th career regular-season shutout. Brian Schmetzer’s side has a quick turnaround before hosting the San Jose Earthquakes in a midweek match on Wednesday, September 18 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). The Rave Green conclude the homestand on Saturday, September 28 against Houston Dynamo FC (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH NOTES
After defeating Columbus 4-0 last weekend and earning another three points today at Lumen Field, Seattle has won back-to-back matches and is firmly entrenched in the battle for postseason positioning. Brian Schmetzer’s side currently occupies fifth place in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference, just one point behind fourth-place Real Salt Lake and third-place Colorado. The top nine teams in the West qualify for postseason play, with the top four earning homefield advantage.
In the race for the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs, Sounders FC has five matches remaining in the regular season, with three of those contests at Lumen Field. All remaining games are against Western Conference opposition. Sounders FC continues its current three-match homestand on Wednesday, September 18 vs. San Jose at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT).
Today’s victory moves Sounders FC’s all-time record against Sporting Kansas City to 13-12-4 in regular-season play.
Seattle is now 7-2-5 at Lumen Field in 2024.
Jackson Ragen’s match-opening goal in the 19th minute of play was his fourth strike across all competitions in 2024 (three in the MLS regular-season, one in Leagues Cup play). Before this season, the Seattle native had not previously scored for the Rave Green.
Paul Rothrock’s goal in the 40th minute gives him six tallies on the season across competitions, three of which have been scored in MLS (one goal in U.S. Open Cup play, two in Leagues Cup).
Jordan Morris was credited with the primary assist on Rothrock’s goal, good for his third of 2024 and the…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at OurSports Central Major League Soccer MLS News…