Much has changed for the once-formidable Seattle Sounders since they last extended their dominance over the Colorado Rapids in late May.
With key players missing, the host Sounders look to move past their worst stretch in two seasons by avoiding consecutive losses to last-place teams Saturday night against the Rapids.
Seattle (10-8-2) didn't seem to have many weaknesses when Marco Pappa scored in a 1-0 home win over Colorado (4-6-9) on May 27. The club dominated possession in that match, breaking the MLS record for passes in a half with 425 over the first 45 minutes.
The Sounders were in the midst of a 6-1-1 stretch that lifted them to the top of the Western Conference, but things have certainly taken a turn for the worse more recently.
They've dropped five of six across all competitions following last Saturday's 1-0 loss at Chicago. Seattle is struggling to generate chances on the attack without its top scorers, totaling two goals while getting shut out three times in the last five matches.
Clint Dempsey (seven goals) is with the United States at the Gold Cup and Obafemi Martins (seven) is nursing an adductor strain he suffered in a U.S. Open Cup match on June 16.
"We need to keep better possession," coach Sigi Schmid told the team's official website. "We need to make better decisions and create more attacking opportunities."
Tyrone Mears assisted on Lamar Neagle's goal in a 4-1 loss at Portland on June 28 and scored in a 1-0 win over D.C. United on July 3. Neagle also had two goals in a 3-1 win at Colorado on April 18.
The Sounders have gone 14-2-2 in the all time series, including a 9-1-0 mark at home. Now they're looking to put an end to their worst stretch since going 1-6-1 at the end of the 2013 season.
Colorado, however, has gotten positive results with a switch to a 4-3-3 formation since leading scorer Gabriel Torres (four goals) left to play for Panama at the Gold Cup.
The Rapids have scored five goals in back-to-back victories after being shut out in three straight defeats. Colorado hasn't won three in a row since 2011.
Drew Moor, Jared Watts and Juan Ramirez scored in last Saturday's 3-1 win over Real Salt Lake.
"It's been a good couple games and the confidence is high right now," Moor, a captain who has moved to outside back, told the team's official website. "We hope to continue to build on that."
Although Brad Evans is away on Gold Cup duty, Seattle has tightened things up defensively as Chicago's stoppage-time goal is its only blemish over the past two matches.
Goalie Stefan Frei could return after sitting out against the Fire due to a shoulder injury. If not, Troy Perkins will get another opportunity after finishing with five saves in his first start.
Pappa might be available in the midfield after Guatemala was knocked out of the Gold Cup, but forward Andy Craven's status is uncertain after he suffered a leg injury in practice.
