FULL-TIME: Andre Shinyashiki scored a pair of goals to lead the Colorado Rapids to a 2-0 win over an exceptionally short-handed Seattle Sounders on Saturday.

RAPIDS 2, SOUNDERS 0: The Sounders were finally punished for a slow start to the second half when Andre Shinyashiki bagged his second goal on a well-worked counter-attack.

RAPIDS 1, SOUNDERS 0: After giving up several quality chances early, the Sounders finally conceded in the 41st minutes. Andre Shinyashiki was able to sneak in a close-range shot off the underside of the crossbar, finishing off a feed from Jonathan Lewis.

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Somewhere in the cosmos, there exists an alternate timeline in which the snowstorm that hit the Rockies in late April arrived a couple days later. The Seattle Sounders, in the midst of their best start in history, easily beat the woeful Colorado Rapids.

Alas, that is not the timeline in which we exist. That game, originally scheduled for April 23, was instead moved to one of the few available weekends, Sept. 7. It was available because the Sounders had tried to clear their schedule of matches during FIFA windows. But even they probably didn’t foresee having 10 players absent, two missing due to long-term injury and one more suspended.

The Sounders will play this match with just 14 available outfield players, which will include two players signed to short-term contracts from the Tacoma Defiance.

The Rapids, it should be said, are missing four players, including their top two scorers. The Sounders are by no means incapable of winning this game, especially considering they are 8-3-1 all-time in Commerce City, Colo.

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Seattle:

Injury: Will Bruin (knee), Victor Rodriguez (hamstring)

Suspended: Roman Torres (PED)

International: Brad Smith (AUS); Xavier Arreaga (ECU); Raul Ruidiaz (PER); Gustav Svensson (SWE); Joevin Jones (TRI); Cristian Roldan, Jordan Morris (USA); Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez (US U-17); Jordy Delem (MQE); Nouhou Tolo (CMR U-23)

Rapids:

Injury: Deklan Wynne (foot), Kortne Ford (knee)

International: Diego Rubio (Chile), Kei Kamara (Sierra Leone), Sebastian Anderson (US U-17); Cole Bassett (US U-20)

Officials

REFEREE: Kevin Stott. AR1 (bench): Philippe Briere; AR2 (opposite): TJ Zablocki; 4th: Baldomero Toledo; VAR: Hilario Grajeda; AVAR: Jonathan Johnson

Keys to the Game:

• Don’t get stretched: If ever there was a week in which the Sounders could ill afford to get into a track meet, this is it. Keeping the game under control will be of paramount importance.
• Continue the fast starts: The Sounders have scored first in two straight and four of the past five matches. Although they’ve only got a 2-1-2 record to show for it, they’ve mostly been able to dictate those matches.
• Settle Cecchini: Emmanuel Cecchini has shown some bright moments going forward, but his willingness to sit deep has not been apparent in his first two appearances. Likely paired with Danny Leyva, now would be a good time to ask him to be more of a shield.

How to Watch

Match date/time: Saturday, 6 PM PT

Venue: Dicks Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colo.

Online Streaming: YouTube TV, ESPN+ (affiliate link, out of market), Fubo TV (affiliate link)

Local English TV: JOEtv (Keith Costigan, Will Bruin and Michelle Ludtka)

Local Radio: 950 KJR-AM Seattle (Johnson)

Local Spanish Radio: El Rey 1360 AM (Rodriguez, Maqueda, Tapia)

Lineups

Colorado Rapids

Seattle Sounders

Highlights will be posted as the match progresses.

This is Seattle Sounders at Rapids; watch with us

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