Today
Opponent: Colorado Rapids
When: 7:30 p.m.
Where: Qwest Field
TV: Fox Soccer Channel
Radio: KIRO (97.3 FM); Ke Buena (1210 AM)
Scouting report
At 5-8-4, Sounders FC is still a long ways from where the team wants to be, but is showing signs of life. Seattle won its first league game in over a month last week, beating D.C. United on the road. That followed a 1-1 draw with Dallas that ended a three-game losing streak. Still, Seattle is in a tie for sixth place in the Western Conference and hasn’t beaten a conference opponent yet this season. Players believe things are turning around in the second half of the season, and know the improvements need to continue if the team is going to get itself back into the playoff race.
“Sometimes it takes some bad situations to kind of get you refocused,” goalkeeper Kasey Keller said. “… I definitely feel that the team is starting to figure out that we haven’t necessarily given as much as we possibly could have. I still think there’s more to go. It’s step by step, you’re never going to be able to flip a light switch and say, ‘Ok, now we’re going to play a particular way or recapture maybe something of what we had last year.’ But I feel those steps are being made and the team spirit is great.”
Keller, who sprained his foot in last week’s win over D.C., trained during the week and expects to play. Defender Leo Gonzalez must sit out today’s game as a result of yellow card accumulation.
On offense, Sounders FC is hoping forward Fredy Montero can continue his hot streak — the forward has a goal or an assist in each of Seattle’s last six matches. The team also is looking to get a boost from new forward Blaise Nkufo, who debuted in last weekend’s friendly against Celtic FC.
Colorado (6-4-5) is currently in fourth place in the Western Conference, but has cooled off over the past month. The Rapids are 0-1-4 over their last five league games, having not won in MLS play since June 5. Forward Conor Casey is tied for fourth in the league with seven goals.
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