Sounders take over top spot in West by beating Rapids

Marco Pappa (pictured, left) scored in the 16th minute to lift the Seattle Sounders to a 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night, moving them into first place in the Western Conference. Pappa’s goal was his first of the season for the Sounders (7-3-2, 23 points). Goalkeeper Stefan Frei earned his league-leading seventh shutout and his third in a row. Seattle has not allowed a goal at home for 380 minutes, dating back to a 3-2 loss to San Jose on March 14. Pappa put the Sounders on the board in the 16th minute. He picked up the loose cross just to the left of the restraining arc, took two steps toward the top of the penalty area, and curled a right-footer around Colorado goalkeeper Clint Irwin and into the back right corner. The Rapids fell to 2-3-7. – AP