Seattle Sounders Archives - SportzBonanza SportzBonanza Sun, 05 Feb 2023 08:55:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 Seattle Sounders to Make Club World Cup Debut Against Al-Ahly https://sportzbonanza.com/seattle-sounders-to-make-club-world-cup-debut-against-al-ahly/ Sat, 04 Feb 2023 06:33:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=19957 Joao Paulo with the Seattle Sounders in 2021Seattle Sounders FC is set to make their FIFA Club World Cup debut on Saturday as they come up against Egyptian side Al-Ahly. The Sounders have become the first United States team in history to qualify for the Club World Cup after they won the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League. According to Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei, […]

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Seattle Sounders FC is set to make their FIFA Club World Cup debut on Saturday as they come up against Egyptian side Al-Ahly. The Sounders have become the first United States team in history to qualify for the Club World Cup after they won the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League.

According to Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei, the game with Al-Ahly is set to be a clash of styles. While the winners of the game will play UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid in the semifinals, Frei insists that his team will not make the mistake of overlooking the threat posed by their Egyptian opponents in Saturday’s game.

“We definitely don’t look past Al Ahly. They are a very experienced team in this tournament, but if we do find ourselves moving forward, it would be incredible,” the goalkeeper explained. “For an MLS team to have the opportunity to play against arguably the best team in the world for something meaningful is a privilege, it’s an honor. We sense that and we want to win against Al Ahly so that we can showcase our skill against such a huge opponent.”

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Sounders Acquire Heber From NYCFC https://sportzbonanza.com/sounders-acquire-heber-from-nycfc/ Fri, 30 Dec 2022 06:26:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=19659 Héber with New York City in October 2022The Seattle Sounders FC has secured the signing of Brazilian striker Heber from New York City FC the team confirmed on Thursday. NYCFC will receive $400,000 in General Allocation Money, along with a potential bonus of $150,000 should certain performance metrics be met. “I’d like to welcome Heber to Seattle and look forward to seeing […]

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The Seattle Sounders FC has secured the signing of Brazilian striker Heber from New York City FC the team confirmed on Thursday. NYCFC will receive $400,000 in General Allocation Money, along with a potential bonus of $150,000 should certain performance metrics be met.

“I’d like to welcome Heber to Seattle and look forward to seeing him in preseason camp,” Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer stated in a news release. “You always need players that can score, and Heber has been goal-dangerous throughout his entire career. I can’t wait for him to get to work with our coaches and his new teammates to add another strong piece to our attacking group.”

Over four seasons with NYCFC, Heber played in 70 matches (starting 38) and recorded 24 goals and six assists. Prior to arriving in New York, he played more than nine seasons abroad, including Croatian club NK Rijeka.

Heber was a part of the NYCFC team that won the 2021 MLS Cup, appearing in one of the team’s four postseason games. This comes after he spent much of the previous season sidelined with a torn ACL in his right knee.

Heber’s contract with the Sounders runs through 2023 with a club option for 2024.

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Sounders’ Midfielder Joao Paulo Tears ACL, Will Miss the Rest of 2022 https://sportzbonanza.com/sounders-midfielder-joao-paulo-tears-acl-will-miss-the-rest-of-2022/ Sun, 08 May 2022 06:50:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=18003 Joao Paulo with the Seattle Sounders in 2021The Seattle Sounders have lost their key midfielder Joao Paulo for the remainder of the 2022 MLS season. The news was confirmed by the team’s head coach Brian Schmetzer, who told reporters on Thursday that Paulo is dealing with a torn ACL. Paulo suffered the injury in the first half of Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions League […]

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The Seattle Sounders have lost their key midfielder Joao Paulo for the remainder of the 2022 MLS season. The news was confirmed by the team’s head coach Brian Schmetzer, who told reporters on Thursday that Paulo is dealing with a torn ACL.

Paulo suffered the injury in the first half of Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions League finals game against Pumas UNAM. The Sounders ended up winning the match to become the first MLS team to lift the CCL trophy.

Joao Paulo joined the Sounders on loan from Brazilian side Botafogo in 2020 and quickly became one of the club’s most important players. Seattle made the deal permanent ahead of the 2021 season, in which Paulo would go on to become an MLS MVP finalist, MLS All-Star, and part of the league’s Best XI team. The 31-year-old player scored six goals and dished 17 assists since coming to MLS, including a goal and assist apiece in six games this season.

The absence of Paulo will certainly be a tough blow for the Sounders as they look to improve their performances in the MLS. Despite having a great run in CCL, Seattle is currently sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference. They only have two wins out of seven games in 2022 and are already 15 points behind the leaders LAFC.

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Salt Lake Upset Sounders via PK Shootout, Advance to MLS Cup Semis https://sportzbonanza.com/salt-lake-upset-sounders-via-pk-shootout-advance-to-mls-cup-semis/ Thu, 25 Nov 2021 06:52:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=17435 Salt Lake's captan Albert RusnakReal Salt Lake delivered the biggest upset so far in the 2021 MLS Cup playoffs by eliminating the No. 2 seed Seattle Sounders in the first round. The game was decided via penalty-kick shootout after a scoreless regulation and extra time. Sounders entered the game as overwhelming favorites, and it showed right away. They dominated […]

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Real Salt Lake delivered the biggest upset so far in the 2021 MLS Cup playoffs by eliminating the No. 2 seed Seattle Sounders in the first round. The game was decided via penalty-kick shootout after a scoreless regulation and extra time.

Sounders entered the game as overwhelming favorites, and it showed right away. They dominated the first half and didn’t allow a single shot from the opponent. The same continued in the second period, but Real’s defense and goalie David Ochoa showed impressive composure to keep their net intact.

After the regular 90 minutes wrapped up with teams tied, Seattle pushed all their chips upfront and continued the heavy attacks. However, only one of their 10 shots was on goal, which wasn’t enough to change the score. Salt Lake, on the other hand, went both regulation and extra time without registering a single shot.

Both teams were coolheaded to start the shootout, making each of their first five penalties. In the sixth series, Ochoa came through once again and saved the shot from attacking midfielder Kelyn Rowe. Real’s defender Justen Glad stepped up to take the deciding penalty and managed to get it in despite Sounders’ goalie Stefan Frei getting a hand on the ball.

Salt Lake, who entered the playoffs as a seventh seed, will face Sporting Kansas City in the Western Conference semifinals. The remainder of MLS semifinal matchups is in place as well, with Colorado Rapids facing the Portland Timbers, New England Revolution playing NYCFC, and Nashville FC going up against Philadelphia Union.

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Leon Beats Sounders to Lift Leagues Cup Trophy https://sportzbonanza.com/leon-beats-sounders-to-lift-leagues-cup-trophy/ Fri, 24 Sep 2021 07:11:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=16626 Soccer stadiumMexico club Leon is the winner of the 2021 edition of the Leagues Cup. The Liga MX team lifted the trophy after edging out the MLS side the Seattle Sounders in a thrilling 3-2 match on Wednesday night. After a scoreless first half, the Sounders opened the second period on a high note. They managed […]

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Mexico club Leon is the winner of the 2021 edition of the Leagues Cup. The Liga MX team lifted the trophy after edging out the MLS side the Seattle Sounders in a thrilling 3-2 match on Wednesday night.

After a scoreless first half, the Sounders opened the second period on a high note. They managed to get the lead thanks to Cristian Roldan, who made a timely run in the penalty box and converted Jimmy Medranda’s cross into a goal in the 48th minute.

Less than 10 minutes later, Seattle’s Raul Ruidiaz had a chance to increase the lead for his team, but the post ended up saving Leon. Missed chances ended up costing the Sounders, as Leon equalized in 61st minute via Angel Mena.

Mena scored again in the 81st minute from a penalty kick to give Leon the lead, with Emanuel Gigliotti adding another goal four minutes later to make it 3-1 for the Mexican club.

The Sounders made it 2-3 via Nicolas Benezet in stoppage time, but we’re unable to complete the comeback and stop the Leagues Cup trophy from returning to Mexico.

The Leagues Cup is a joint effort between Liga MX and the MLS that had its inaugural edition in 2019 when Cruz Azul took the trophy in an all-Mexican finale. The 2020 edition of the tournament was canceled due to a coronavirus pandemic.

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Sounders Sign Star Midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro to a Multi-Year Extension https://sportzbonanza.com/sounders-sign-star-midfielder-nicolas-lodeiro-to-a-multi-year-extension/ Sun, 20 Dec 2020 07:28:30 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=15193 Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro in 2019Despite falling short in this year’s MLS Cup, the Seattle Sounders have every intention to make another run for it in 2021. This became obvious on Wednesday when the team announced that they re-signed their star attacking midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro to a multi-year extension. Lodeiro, who had one year left on his deal, will now […]

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Despite falling short in this year’s MLS Cup, the Seattle Sounders have every intention to make another run for it in 2021. This became obvious on Wednesday when the team announced that they re-signed their star attacking midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro to a multi-year extension.

Lodeiro, who had one year left on his deal, will now be under contract with the Sounders through the 2023 MLS season. He was previously linked with a transfer to Al-Hilal.

Lodeiro is coming off another productive season in which he scored seven goals and contributed 10 assists in 20 regular season games. He added a goal and assisted three times during the playoffs.

“Everything is built around him,” said general manager Garth Lagerwey in a statement. “I thought he had another fantastic season. So we are super excited and grateful to have Nico back for three more years.”

Nicolas Lodeiro joined the Sounders in 2016 from the Boca Juniors and quickly established himself as the club’s most important player. With the Uruguayan manning their midfield, Seattle made four MLS Cup appearances in five years while winning two trophies.

Lodeiro previously also suited up for Nacional, Ajax, Botafogo, and Corinthians. He has been a member of Uruguay’s national team since 2009 and has collected 60 appearances for his country so far.

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Defending MLS Cup Champs Seattle Sounders Beat LAFC 3-1 to Open the Playoffs https://sportzbonanza.com/defending-mls-cup-champs-seattle-sounders-beat-lafc-3-1-to-open-the-playoffs/ Thu, 26 Nov 2020 10:13:56 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=14953 Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro in 2019Seattle Sounders are on their best come postseason time. And they showed that in the first round of 2020 MLS Cup playoffs, beating the LAFC 3-1 and securing a spot in the Western Conference semis. It was a dominant performance from the reigning MLS Cup champions, as Sounders opened the scoring just 18 minutes into […]

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Seattle Sounders are on their best come postseason time. And they showed that in the first round of 2020 MLS Cup playoffs, beating the LAFC 3-1 and securing a spot in the Western Conference semis.

It was a dominant performance from the reigning MLS Cup champions, as Sounders opened the scoring just 18 minutes into the contest. Raul Ruidiaz and Jordan Morris made a well-executed setup in LAFC’s penalty box, making it easy for Nicolas Lodeiro to strike it home and give his team a lead.

LAFC had a chance to bounce back right away, being awarded a penalty in the 21st minute following a Nouhou Tolo’s tackle on Carlos Vela. LA’s star striker took it upon himself to execute but delivered a bad shot that was easily caught Sounders’ goalie Stefan Frei.

Seattle increased their lead in the 66th minute when Ruidiaz used a commotion in LAFC’s penalty box after a corner kick and scored from a beautiful volley.

Colombia’s Eduard Atuesta gave some hope to LAFC by scoring in the 77th minute, but this turned out to be everything that the LA team managed to do. Sounders closed out the game just three minutes later after Morris added a goal to his name alongside the assist.

Sounders, who have a chance to add their third MLS Cup win in five years this season, will next face FC Dallas.

LAFC, on the other hand, is ending their quest for trophies early on once again and will have to go back to the drawing board.

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Sounders’ All-Star Nicolas Lodeiro Wanted by Al-Hilal https://sportzbonanza.com/sounders-all-star-nicolas-lodeiro-wanted-by-al-hilal/ Mon, 26 Oct 2020 05:35:00 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=14488 Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro in 2019Seattle Sounders’ star midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro might swap the United States for the Middle East next season. According to a report by Raisa Simplicio, Lodeiro is wanted by Saudi Arabia side Al-Hilal. Lodeiro was set to become a free agent after the 2020 MLS season, but the Sounders activated their club option and now have […]

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Seattle Sounders’ star midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro might swap the United States for the Middle East next season. According to a report by Raisa Simplicio, Lodeiro is wanted by Saudi Arabia side Al-Hilal.

Lodeiro was set to become a free agent after the 2020 MLS season, but the Sounders activated their club option and now have him under control for the next year as well. This means that Al-Hilal will have to pay a transfer fee to Seattle if they want to get Lodeiro right away.

This isn’t the first time that Lodeiro’s name is being mentioned in transfer talks. He was previously linked with a return to Boca Juniors, where he played before coming to MLS.

Nicolas Lodeiro has been a key figure for Sounders since arriving in Seattle in 2016. He helped the club to three MLS Cup finals trips in the past four years, two of which concluded with a trophy.

In 117 games in MLS, Lodeiro scored 31 goals and dished 56 assists. He has an All-Star appearance to his name from 2019.

If Al-Hilal is successful in acquiring Lodeiro, the 31-year-old midfielder will become the fourth high-profile player that left MLS for Saudi Arabia in recent months. Al-Nassr FC previously acquired Atlanta United’s star Pity Martinez in a transfer worth $18 million, Alexandru Mitrita left NCYFC to join Al-Ahli while Montreal Impact’s Saphir Taider joined Al-Ain.

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Sounders’ Jordan Morris Reportedly too Pricey for Preston North End https://sportzbonanza.com/sounders-jordan-morris-reportedly-too-pricey-for-preston-north-end/ Sun, 04 Oct 2020 05:10:28 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=14097 Despite being linked with a move overseas, Seattle Sounders’ forward Jordan Morris is likely to stay in MLS for foreseeable future. According to MLS Soccer, Morris attracted interest from English Championship but proved to be too pricey for his potential suitors. The club that was most interested in Morris was reportedly Preston North End Morris, […]

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Despite being linked with a move overseas, Seattle Sounders’ forward Jordan Morris is likely to stay in MLS for foreseeable future. According to MLS Soccer, Morris attracted interest from English Championship but proved to be too pricey for his potential suitors.

The club that was most interested in Morris was reportedly Preston North End Morris, who inquired about the 25-year-old forward through intermediaries. However, the price they got from Seattle was well out of their price range, and they will not make an offer for the time being.

Preston was looking for some help up front after a poor start of the new season, in which they collected one point in their first three games while scoring just twice. 

Jordan Morris emerged as one of the best wingers in MLS in recent times, having bagged an MLS Comeback Player of the Year award in 2019 following a stellar outing in Sounders’ road to MLS Cup win. After missing the most of 2018 due to injury, Morris returned last year to score 10 goals and added seven assists in the regular season. He proceeded to contribute with three goals and one assist in the playoffs.

Morris also kicked off 2020 on a high note and currently has seven goals and six assists in just 13 games. This helped him get attention from multiple clubs from Europe, but it looks like they’ll have to pay big if they want to lure him from Seattle. 

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Seattle Sounders’ Midfielder Harry Shipp Retires at Age 28 https://sportzbonanza.com/seattle-sounders-midfielder-harry-shipp-retires-at-age-28/ Sat, 20 Jun 2020 06:05:00 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=12203 Seattle Sounders’ Harry Shipp announced on Tuesday that he is retiring from professional soccer. The news came as a surprise to many, considering that Shipp is only 28 years old. Shipp walks away after playing 152 games in Major League Soccer in the previous seven years. He spent time with Chicago Fire and Montreal Impact […]

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Seattle Sounders’ Harry Shipp announced on Tuesday that he is retiring from professional soccer. The news came as a surprise to many, considering that Shipp is only 28 years old.

Shipp walks away after playing 152 games in Major League Soccer in the previous seven years. He spent time with Chicago Fire and Montreal Impact but left the biggest mark with the Sounders.

“This was not an easy decision because of all the amazing people at the Sounders, but I am excited to take this next step in my life,” said Shipp. “I am grateful that I was able to live out my childhood dreams. I grew up going to MLS games, was part of an MLS Academy in its infancy, and then got the opportunity to play for three clubs all over the continent.”

Shipp joined the Seattle Sounders back in 2017 and has since played 69 games with the club in all competitions while scoring 11 goals. He helped the team win MLS Cup in 2019 and was poised to play a role this season as well, having made an appearance in Seattle’s first two games in 2020.

“Harry has been a valuable asset to our club and helped us win a championship this past year. Since he arrived in Seattle, Harry has shown that he is a reliable player and a consummate professional” said Sounders’ head coach Brian Schmetzer in a team statement.

During his time in Seattle, Shipp also served as Sounders’ representative in MLS Player’s Union and will most likely turn to executive business full time after retirement. Alongside his retirement statement, Shipp also revealed that his next step will be pursuing an MBA at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

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ersion="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> Seattle Sounders Archives - SportzBonanza SportzBonanza Sun, 05 Feb 2023 08:55:40 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.2 Seattle Sounders to Make Club World Cup Debut Against Al-Ahly https://sportzbonanza.com/seattle-sounders-to-make-club-world-cup-debut-against-al-ahly/ Sat, 04 Feb 2023 06:33:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=19957 Joao Paulo with the Seattle Sounders in 2021Seattle Sounders FC is set to make their FIFA Club World Cup debut on Saturday as they come up against Egyptian side Al-Ahly. The Sounders have become the first United States team in history to qualify for the Club World Cup after they won the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League. According to Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei, […]

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Seattle Sounders FC is set to make their FIFA Club World Cup debut on Saturday as they come up against Egyptian side Al-Ahly. The Sounders have become the first United States team in history to qualify for the Club World Cup after they won the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League.

According to Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei, the game with Al-Ahly is set to be a clash of styles. While the winners of the game will play UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid in the semifinals, Frei insists that his team will not make the mistake of overlooking the threat posed by their Egyptian opponents in Saturday’s game.

“We definitely don’t look past Al Ahly. They are a very experienced team in this tournament, but if we do find ourselves moving forward, it would be incredible,” the goalkeeper explained. “For an MLS team to have the opportunity to play against arguably the best team in the world for something meaningful is a privilege, it’s an honor. We sense that and we want to win against Al Ahly so that we can showcase our skill against such a huge opponent.”

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Sounders Acquire Heber From NYCFC https://sportzbonanza.com/sounders-acquire-heber-from-nycfc/ Fri, 30 Dec 2022 06:26:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=19659 Héber with New York City in October 2022The Seattle Sounders FC has secured the signing of Brazilian striker Heber from New York City FC the team confirmed on Thursday. NYCFC will receive $400,000 in General Allocation Money, along with a potential bonus of $150,000 should certain performance metrics be met. “I’d like to welcome Heber to Seattle and look forward to seeing […]

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The Seattle Sounders FC has secured the signing of Brazilian striker Heber from New York City FC the team confirmed on Thursday. NYCFC will receive $400,000 in General Allocation Money, along with a potential bonus of $150,000 should certain performance metrics be met.

“I’d like to welcome Heber to Seattle and look forward to seeing him in preseason camp,” Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer stated in a news release. “You always need players that can score, and Heber has been goal-dangerous throughout his entire career. I can’t wait for him to get to work with our coaches and his new teammates to add another strong piece to our attacking group.”

Over four seasons with NYCFC, Heber played in 70 matches (starting 38) and recorded 24 goals and six assists. Prior to arriving in New York, he played more than nine seasons abroad, including Croatian club NK Rijeka.

Heber was a part of the NYCFC team that won the 2021 MLS Cup, appearing in one of the team’s four postseason games. This comes after he spent much of the previous season sidelined with a torn ACL in his right knee.

Heber’s contract with the Sounders runs through 2023 with a club option for 2024.

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Sounders’ Midfielder Joao Paulo Tears ACL, Will Miss the Rest of 2022 https://sportzbonanza.com/sounders-midfielder-joao-paulo-tears-acl-will-miss-the-rest-of-2022/ Sun, 08 May 2022 06:50:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=18003 Joao Paulo with the Seattle Sounders in 2021The Seattle Sounders have lost their key midfielder Joao Paulo for the remainder of the 2022 MLS season. The news was confirmed by the team’s head coach Brian Schmetzer, who told reporters on Thursday that Paulo is dealing with a torn ACL. Paulo suffered the injury in the first half of Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions League […]

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The Seattle Sounders have lost their key midfielder Joao Paulo for the remainder of the 2022 MLS season. The news was confirmed by the team’s head coach Brian Schmetzer, who told reporters on Thursday that Paulo is dealing with a torn ACL.

Paulo suffered the injury in the first half of Wednesday’s CONCACAF Champions League finals game against Pumas UNAM. The Sounders ended up winning the match to become the first MLS team to lift the CCL trophy.

Joao Paulo joined the Sounders on loan from Brazilian side Botafogo in 2020 and quickly became one of the club’s most important players. Seattle made the deal permanent ahead of the 2021 season, in which Paulo would go on to become an MLS MVP finalist, MLS All-Star, and part of the league’s Best XI team. The 31-year-old player scored six goals and dished 17 assists since coming to MLS, including a goal and assist apiece in six games this season.

The absence of Paulo will certainly be a tough blow for the Sounders as they look to improve their performances in the MLS. Despite having a great run in CCL, Seattle is currently sitting near the bottom of the Western Conference. They only have two wins out of seven games in 2022 and are already 15 points behind the leaders LAFC.

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Salt Lake Upset Sounders via PK Shootout, Advance to MLS Cup Semis https://sportzbonanza.com/salt-lake-upset-sounders-via-pk-shootout-advance-to-mls-cup-semis/ Thu, 25 Nov 2021 06:52:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=17435 Salt Lake's captan Albert RusnakReal Salt Lake delivered the biggest upset so far in the 2021 MLS Cup playoffs by eliminating the No. 2 seed Seattle Sounders in the first round. The game was decided via penalty-kick shootout after a scoreless regulation and extra time. Sounders entered the game as overwhelming favorites, and it showed right away. They dominated […]

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Real Salt Lake delivered the biggest upset so far in the 2021 MLS Cup playoffs by eliminating the No. 2 seed Seattle Sounders in the first round. The game was decided via penalty-kick shootout after a scoreless regulation and extra time.

Sounders entered the game as overwhelming favorites, and it showed right away. They dominated the first half and didn’t allow a single shot from the opponent. The same continued in the second period, but Real’s defense and goalie David Ochoa showed impressive composure to keep their net intact.

After the regular 90 minutes wrapped up with teams tied, Seattle pushed all their chips upfront and continued the heavy attacks. However, only one of their 10 shots was on goal, which wasn’t enough to change the score. Salt Lake, on the other hand, went both regulation and extra time without registering a single shot.

Both teams were coolheaded to start the shootout, making each of their first five penalties. In the sixth series, Ochoa came through once again and saved the shot from attacking midfielder Kelyn Rowe. Real’s defender Justen Glad stepped up to take the deciding penalty and managed to get it in despite Sounders’ goalie Stefan Frei getting a hand on the ball.

Salt Lake, who entered the playoffs as a seventh seed, will face Sporting Kansas City in the Western Conference semifinals. The remainder of MLS semifinal matchups is in place as well, with Colorado Rapids facing the Portland Timbers, New England Revolution playing NYCFC, and Nashville FC going up against Philadelphia Union.

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Leon Beats Sounders to Lift Leagues Cup Trophy https://sportzbonanza.com/leon-beats-sounders-to-lift-leagues-cup-trophy/ Fri, 24 Sep 2021 07:11:00 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=16626 Soccer stadiumMexico club Leon is the winner of the 2021 edition of the Leagues Cup. The Liga MX team lifted the trophy after edging out the MLS side the Seattle Sounders in a thrilling 3-2 match on Wednesday night. After a scoreless first half, the Sounders opened the second period on a high note. They managed […]

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Mexico club Leon is the winner of the 2021 edition of the Leagues Cup. The Liga MX team lifted the trophy after edging out the MLS side the Seattle Sounders in a thrilling 3-2 match on Wednesday night.

After a scoreless first half, the Sounders opened the second period on a high note. They managed to get the lead thanks to Cristian Roldan, who made a timely run in the penalty box and converted Jimmy Medranda’s cross into a goal in the 48th minute.

Less than 10 minutes later, Seattle’s Raul Ruidiaz had a chance to increase the lead for his team, but the post ended up saving Leon. Missed chances ended up costing the Sounders, as Leon equalized in 61st minute via Angel Mena.

Mena scored again in the 81st minute from a penalty kick to give Leon the lead, with Emanuel Gigliotti adding another goal four minutes later to make it 3-1 for the Mexican club.

The Sounders made it 2-3 via Nicolas Benezet in stoppage time, but we’re unable to complete the comeback and stop the Leagues Cup trophy from returning to Mexico.

The Leagues Cup is a joint effort between Liga MX and the MLS that had its inaugural edition in 2019 when Cruz Azul took the trophy in an all-Mexican finale. The 2020 edition of the tournament was canceled due to a coronavirus pandemic.

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Sounders Sign Star Midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro to a Multi-Year Extension https://sportzbonanza.com/sounders-sign-star-midfielder-nicolas-lodeiro-to-a-multi-year-extension/ Sun, 20 Dec 2020 07:28:30 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=15193 Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro in 2019Despite falling short in this year’s MLS Cup, the Seattle Sounders have every intention to make another run for it in 2021. This became obvious on Wednesday when the team announced that they re-signed their star attacking midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro to a multi-year extension. Lodeiro, who had one year left on his deal, will now […]

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Despite falling short in this year’s MLS Cup, the Seattle Sounders have every intention to make another run for it in 2021. This became obvious on Wednesday when the team announced that they re-signed their star attacking midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro to a multi-year extension.

Lodeiro, who had one year left on his deal, will now be under contract with the Sounders through the 2023 MLS season. He was previously linked with a transfer to Al-Hilal.

Lodeiro is coming off another productive season in which he scored seven goals and contributed 10 assists in 20 regular season games. He added a goal and assisted three times during the playoffs.

“Everything is built around him,” said general manager Garth Lagerwey in a statement. “I thought he had another fantastic season. So we are super excited and grateful to have Nico back for three more years.”

Nicolas Lodeiro joined the Sounders in 2016 from the Boca Juniors and quickly established himself as the club’s most important player. With the Uruguayan manning their midfield, Seattle made four MLS Cup appearances in five years while winning two trophies.

Lodeiro previously also suited up for Nacional, Ajax, Botafogo, and Corinthians. He has been a member of Uruguay’s national team since 2009 and has collected 60 appearances for his country so far.

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Defending MLS Cup Champs Seattle Sounders Beat LAFC 3-1 to Open the Playoffs https://sportzbonanza.com/defending-mls-cup-champs-seattle-sounders-beat-lafc-3-1-to-open-the-playoffs/ Thu, 26 Nov 2020 10:13:56 +0000 https://sportzbonanza.com/?p=14953 Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro in 2019Seattle Sounders are on their best come postseason time. And they showed that in the first round of 2020 MLS Cup playoffs, beating the LAFC 3-1 and securing a spot in the Western Conference semis. It was a dominant performance from the reigning MLS Cup champions, as Sounders opened the scoring just 18 minutes into […]

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Seattle Sounders are on their best come postseason time. And they showed that in the first round of 2020 MLS Cup playoffs, beating the LAFC 3-1 and securing a spot in the Western Conference semis.

It was a dominant performance from the reigning MLS Cup champions, as Sounders opened the scoring just 18 minutes into the contest. Raul Ruidiaz and Jordan Morris made a well-executed setup in LAFC’s penalty box, making it easy for Nicolas Lodeiro to strike it home and give his team a lead.

LAFC had a chance to bounce back right away, being awarded a penalty in the 21st minute following a Nouhou Tolo’s tackle on Carlos Vela. LA’s star striker took it upon himself to execute but delivered a bad shot that was easily caught Sounders’ goalie Stefan Frei.

Seattle increased their lead in the 66th minute when Ruidiaz used a commotion in LAFC’s penalty box after a corner kick and scored from a beautiful volley.

Colombia’s Eduard Atuesta gave some hope to LAFC by scoring in the 77th minute, but this turned out to be everything that the LA team managed to do. Sounders closed out the game just three minutes later after Morris added a goal to his name alongside the assist.

Sounders, who have a chance to add their third MLS Cup win in five years this season, will next face FC Dallas.

LAFC, on the other hand, is ending their quest for trophies early on once again and will have to go back to the drawing board.

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Sounders’ All-Star Nicolas Lodeiro Wanted by Al-Hilal https://sportzbonanza.com/sounders-all-star-nicolas-lodeiro-wanted-by-al-hilal/ Mon, 26 Oct 2020 05:35:00 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=14488 Seattle Sounders midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro in 2019Seattle Sounders’ star midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro might swap the United States for the Middle East next season. According to a report by Raisa Simplicio, Lodeiro is wanted by Saudi Arabia side Al-Hilal. Lodeiro was set to become a free agent after the 2020 MLS season, but the Sounders activated their club option and now have […]

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Seattle Sounders’ star midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro might swap the United States for the Middle East next season. According to a report by Raisa Simplicio, Lodeiro is wanted by Saudi Arabia side Al-Hilal.

Lodeiro was set to become a free agent after the 2020 MLS season, but the Sounders activated their club option and now have him under control for the next year as well. This means that Al-Hilal will have to pay a transfer fee to Seattle if they want to get Lodeiro right away.

This isn’t the first time that Lodeiro’s name is being mentioned in transfer talks. He was previously linked with a return to Boca Juniors, where he played before coming to MLS.

Nicolas Lodeiro has been a key figure for Sounders since arriving in Seattle in 2016. He helped the club to three MLS Cup finals trips in the past four years, two of which concluded with a trophy.

In 117 games in MLS, Lodeiro scored 31 goals and dished 56 assists. He has an All-Star appearance to his name from 2019.

If Al-Hilal is successful in acquiring Lodeiro, the 31-year-old midfielder will become the fourth high-profile player that left MLS for Saudi Arabia in recent months. Al-Nassr FC previously acquired Atlanta United’s star Pity Martinez in a transfer worth $18 million, Alexandru Mitrita left NCYFC to join Al-Ahli while Montreal Impact’s Saphir Taider joined Al-Ain.

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Sounders’ Jordan Morris Reportedly too Pricey for Preston North End https://sportzbonanza.com/sounders-jordan-morris-reportedly-too-pricey-for-preston-north-end/ Sun, 04 Oct 2020 05:10:28 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=14097 Despite being linked with a move overseas, Seattle Sounders’ forward Jordan Morris is likely to stay in MLS for foreseeable future. According to MLS Soccer, Morris attracted interest from English Championship but proved to be too pricey for his potential suitors. The club that was most interested in Morris was reportedly Preston North End Morris, […]

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Despite being linked with a move overseas, Seattle Sounders’ forward Jordan Morris is likely to stay in MLS for foreseeable future. According to MLS Soccer, Morris attracted interest from English Championship but proved to be too pricey for his potential suitors.

The club that was most interested in Morris was reportedly Preston North End Morris, who inquired about the 25-year-old forward through intermediaries. However, the price they got from Seattle was well out of their price range, and they will not make an offer for the time being.

Preston was looking for some help up front after a poor start of the new season, in which they collected one point in their first three games while scoring just twice. 

Jordan Morris emerged as one of the best wingers in MLS in recent times, having bagged an MLS Comeback Player of the Year award in 2019 following a stellar outing in Sounders’ road to MLS Cup win. After missing the most of 2018 due to injury, Morris returned last year to score 10 goals and added seven assists in the regular season. He proceeded to contribute with three goals and one assist in the playoffs.

Morris also kicked off 2020 on a high note and currently has seven goals and six assists in just 13 games. This helped him get attention from multiple clubs from Europe, but it looks like they’ll have to pay big if they want to lure him from Seattle. 

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Seattle Sounders’ Midfielder Harry Shipp Retires at Age 28 https://sportzbonanza.com/seattle-sounders-midfielder-harry-shipp-retires-at-age-28/ Sat, 20 Jun 2020 06:05:00 +0000 https://stagingspb.wpengine.com/?p=12203 Seattle Sounders’ Harry Shipp announced on Tuesday that he is retiring from professional soccer. The news came as a surprise to many, considering that Shipp is only 28 years old. Shipp walks away after playing 152 games in Major League Soccer in the previous seven years. He spent time with Chicago Fire and Montreal Impact […]

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Seattle Sounders’ Harry Shipp announced on Tuesday that he is retiring from professional soccer. The news came as a surprise to many, considering that Shipp is only 28 years old.

Shipp walks away after playing 152 games in Major League Soccer in the previous seven years. He spent time with Chicago Fire and Montreal Impact but left the biggest mark with the Sounders.

“This was not an easy decision because of all the amazing people at the Sounders, but I am excited to take this next step in my life,” said Shipp. “I am grateful that I was able to live out my childhood dreams. I grew up going to MLS games, was part of an MLS Academy in its infancy, and then got the opportunity to play for three clubs all over the continent.”

Shipp joined the Seattle Sounders back in 2017 and has since played 69 games with the club in all competitions while scoring 11 goals. He helped the team win MLS Cup in 2019 and was poised to play a role this season as well, having made an appearance in Seattle’s first two games in 2020.

“Harry has been a valuable asset to our club and helped us win a championship this past year. Since he arrived in Seattle, Harry has shown that he is a reliable player and a consummate professional” said Sounders’ head coach Brian Schmetzer in a team statement.

During his time in Seattle, Shipp also served as Sounders’ representative in MLS Player’s Union and will most likely turn to executive business full time after retirement. Alongside his retirement statement, Shipp also revealed that his next step will be pursuing an MBA at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

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