Colorado Rapids vs Seattle Sounders

Colorado Rapids and Seattle Sounders go head-to-head at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park as the visitors look to maintain their impressive start to the MLS season.

Colorado’s 3-1 away defeat to Sporting Kansas City last time out means that none of their previous eight MLS games have ended in a draw (W5, L3), ending a run of two straight league wins. Getting off the mark first could be crucial here, especially considering each of Colorado’s last five MLS matches won/lost saw the victor benefit from breaking the deadlock. Since succumbing to an unexpected 3-1 loss to newly-introduced franchise Austin in the opening home fixture of the season, the hosts have picked up steam to win three consecutive MLS home outings, notably scoring three goals in each success. Delivering action from the get-go, each of Colorado’s last three MLS matches on home turf has featured over 1.5 first-half goals, with the opener in two of them coming within 17 minutes of play.

Meanwhile, the visitors head into proceedings as the only team in the Western Conference yet to taste defeat in MLS this season (W7, D4), though three of their four draws have come in their last five league outings. On the bright side, the ‘Sounders’ have scored precisely twice in three consecutive MLS fixtures heading into this trip, getting on the scoresheet before half-time twice in the process. On the road, Brian Schmetzer’s men have racked up a three-match winning MLS run following a 1-1 draw with Los Angeles FC in their opening away game of the season. A bit more urgency early on will be required, though, considering two of Seattle’s three away MLS goals conceded this term arrived by the 21st minute. A potential worry for the Western Conference table-toppers could be the fact they’ve lost back-to-back MLS trips to Colorado by a two-goal margin.