Goals by Justin Meram and Emilio Renteria were the difference as Sounders FC (7-3-2, 23 points) lost to the Columbus Crew (4-4-3, 15 points) 2-0 in front of 38,311 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. Columbus (1-3-3 vs. Seattle) beat Sounders FC for the first time in club history.
Seattle has now gone three straight matches without a win (0-2-1) after starting the season 7-1-1. Their last consecutive home losses were May 8 and May 22 of 2010.
Columbus got on the board in the 15th minute when Meram scored in his third consecutive game. Dilly Duka sent a left-footed cross from the right side as Meram got behind the defense and connected with a strong header.
Renteria made it 2-0 in the 76th minute with his first goal of the season. He controlled a loose ball and sent a half-volley from 30 yards out, just out of the reach of a leaping Bryan Meredith.
Despite finishing scoreless, the Rave Green outshot the Crew 21-5 and had 12 corners to Columbus’ one.
Sounders FC almost equalized right before the half on a near miss by Alvaro Fernandez. Adam Johansson sent a ball to David Estrada in the box, who chipped a high cross to Fernandez for a strong header, but the ball bounced wide.
Seattle forward Fredy Montero, the MLS leader in shots coming in to the game, was close on numerous occasions in the second half and finished with nine shots, three of which were on goal. Montero finished with nine shots, breaking his previous franchise record of eight shots at Portland on July 10, 2011.
In the 51st minute, Montero controlled a Johansson cross and sent a hard shot, but Columbus keeper Andy Gruenebaum made a diving save. In the 55th minute, he got behind the defense and sent a low, hard shot, but Gruenebaum again dove and smothered the save.
