Seattle Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids Pick & Prediction MARCH 16th 2024

The Seattle Sounders have had a loss, a scoreless draw and an abandonment thus far this Major League Soccer season.

They’ll aim for their first victory when they play host to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday afternoon.

The Sounders (0-1-1, 1 point) opened the season with a 2-1 loss at Los Angeles FC, as newcomer Pedro de la Vega came off the bench to convert a penalty kick.

A 0-0 draw at home against Austin FC followed before Seattle traveled to Philadelphia last week. That match was called less than 6 minutes in because a torrential downpour made the field unplayable.

The Sounders practiced this week under sunny skies with the temperature near 60 degrees.

“Everyone is happy the sun’s out, but we’re excited to be back on this field and hopefully pick up three points, especially leaving two points on the table last time we played here,” Sounders defender Alex Roldan said. “We haven’t played in a while since our game got postponed so we’re ready for an exciting game.”

Though de la Vega is expected to miss the next 6-8 weeks with a hamstring injury, midfielders Albert Rusnak and Joao Paulo, defender Yeimar Gomez Andrade and goalkeeper Stefan Frei could make their season debuts after various ailments.

That gives the Sounders hope to score their first goal during the run of play this season.

“We’re close,” Roldan said. “It’s one of those things that once you get one, the floodgates can open. We just need someone to step up and be clinical, get the first one and then you’ll see the team flourish.”

The Rapids (1-1-1, 4 points) are coming off a 2-1 victory at Real Salt Lake. Colorado’s Rafael Navarro tied the match in the 43rd minute on a penalty kick and Cole Bassett, making his 100th appearance for the club, netted the winner in the 70th.

“I’ve said it all along, it’s an attentive group, it’s a hungry group,” Rapids coach Chris Armas said after his first win with the club. “They’re young, but they’re good. Every day, I get to work with winners … when they win, it becomes part of your DNA.

“It’s our first one. We’ll get right back to work, and we’re looking more and more like the team we want to become perfect.”

The Sounders lead the all-time series 25-8-4, including a 4-0 victory at home last season as Jordan Morris tallied twice.

–Field Level Media