"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness." - Oscar Wilde

The Seattle Sounders drew the San Jose Earthquakes 2-2 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field on Decision Day on Sunday. Nicolás Lodeiro recorded a brace for the Sounders, while Jeremy Ebobisse and Cade Cowell found the back of the net for the Earthquakes.

Lodeiro opened the scoring with the fastest goal of Seattle’s season, firing home his sixth of the season just 24 seconds into the match. Ebobisse, however, equalized just three minutes later on a rebound off a save from Stefan Cleveland.

Albert Rusnák nearly gave the Sounders the lead in the 21st minute when his shot ricocheted off the near post.

Lodeiro doubled his tally just four minutes into the second half when he unleashed a wicked right-footed volley from the top of the box off a headed clearance from a Sounders corner kick. Lodeiro finished the season with seven goals, the fifth time in his Sounders tenure that the Uruguayan has scored at least seven

times in an MLS campaign.

Substitute Cade Cowell equalized again for San Jose in the 75th minute on a strike from outside the box.

A Special Club.

 

THREE TAKEAWAYS

Rest up

Sunday marked the final match of the 2022 season for the Concacaf Champions League-winning Sounders. Seattle missed the postseason for the first time in its 14-year MLS history but will regroup in early 2023 for the FIFA Club World Cup.

Righting the ship vs. San Jose

Following an uncharacteristic loss in San Jose back in April, the Sounders reaffirmed their series dominance over the ‘Quakes. Seattle is unbeaten in 16 of its last 18 against San Jose (10-2-6).

Decision Day success

The Sounders are now unbeaten on Decision Day in the last 10 seasons (8-0-2). Seattle’s last loss on the final match of the regular season came at the hands of the LA Galaxy in 2012.

 

Press Conference: Brian Schmetzer Post-Match vs San Jose Earthquakes

Interview: Alex Roldan Post-Match vs San Jose Earthquakes

Interview: Stefan Cleveland Post-Match vs San Jose Earthquakes

The Seattle Sounders fell 1-0 in their Sunday afternoon road matchup against Sporting Kansas City at Children’s Mercy Park, with a first-half strike from Willy Agada standing as the game’s only goal. The result eliminates Seattle from postseason contention.

The decisive goal came at back end of an end-to-end first half, when Agada toe-poked a ball in the box past Stefan Frei to put the hosts on top.

Needing all three points to keep their playoff hopes alive, Seattle pressed hard for an equalizer throughout the second half, but couldn’t quite find a lifeline as SKC took the 1-0 result.

Stefan Frei made nine saves throughout the 90 minutes to keep the Sounders within striking distance of Sporting.

Take a bow, @Stefan24Frei!

Another look at the double save   @Stefan24Frei!

Seattle will close out its 2022 league campaign with a Decision Day matchup against the San Jose Earthquakes (2:00 p.m. PT; FOX 13+, Prime Video, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS) at Lumen Field on October 9.

THREE TAKEAWAYS

Streak ends

With the loss, Seatle's league-record streak of successfully qualifying for the MLS Cup Playoffs comes to an end. The club had qualified for 13 consecutive years since its MLS expansion season in 2009.

Frei shines

Seattle stayed in this game and had a fighting chance thanks to the theatrics of their veteran backstop, including several highlight-reel saves. His double-save in the first half that denied two separate SKC shots right on the doorstep was a thing of beauty in another sterling shift for one of the club’s most iconic players.

Silver lining

Many young players, including Danny Leyva, Josh Atencio, Ethan Dobbelaere and Obed Vargas, broke through with consistent First Team minutes this season, which should serve the club’s depth well moving forward. An offseason to simply get healthy and rest for veterans such as João Paulo and Raúl Ruidíaz will

hopefully also serve to help the club hit the ground running come next preseason.

The Seattle Sounders drew FC Cincinnati 1-1 on Tuesday at Lumen Field behind goals from Brenner and Fredy Montero. The draw was just the Sounders’ fourth in 32 league matches this year.

FC Cincinnati opened the scoring in the 24th minute when Luciano Acosta played Brenner in behind, and the Brazilian forward tucked away his 15th goal of the season.

The Sounders nearly equalized in the 35th minute when Will Bruin’s header on a cross in the box was parried away by goalkeeper Roman Celentano.

Fredy Forever. @_fredymontero

 

58' VINTAGE FREDY GOLAZO SEA 1 | CIN 1 #SEAvCIN

 

GOLAZO: Fredy Montero scores a banger from outside the box

Seattle found the leveler in the 58th minute when Kelyn Rowe picked out Montero on the right edge of the box. The veteran Colombian then unleashed a strike to the near post for his fourth goal of the season.

The Sounders were dealt a blow in the 69th minute when Rowe was sent off for denial of a goalscoring opportunity at the top of the box.

Cincinnati nearly took the lead in the 76th minute, but Stefan Frei made a fantastic point-blank save on Brandon Vazquez from six yards out.

Sérgio Santos had a chance to steal all three points for Cincinnati in the third minute of stoppage time, but his one-timed shot from a few yards out sailed over the crossbar.

The Sounders move to ninth in the Western Conference table on 40 points with two matches remaining. Seattle is five points behind Minnesota United for the seventh and final postseason spot.

HOLY STEFAN FREI

 

 

THREE TAKEAWAYS

Depth tested

The Sounders were missing six internationals – Jordan Morris (United States), Raúl Ruidíaz (Peru), Alex Roldan (El Salvador), Nouhou (Cameroon), Xavier Arreaga (Ecuador) and Reed Baker-Whiting (United States U-19s) – who were away on national team duty. Captain Nicolás Lodeiro was also suspended because of

yellow-card accumulation.

Roldan returns

A positive sign was the return of Cristian Roldan, who came on as an early second-half substitute. He had been out since Aug. 23 after undergoing groin surgery. Roldan has four goals and five assists in 23 matches this season.

Two to go

The Sounders will head to Sporting Kansas City on Sunday (2:25 p.m. PT; FS1, FOX Deportes, 950 KJR FM, El Rey 1360AM) for their final away match of the campaign before heading home to face the San Jose Earthquakes on Decision Day (2:18 p.m. PT; FOX 13+, Prime Video, Univision Seattle, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey

1360AM | TICKETS).

Fredy Forever.  @_fredymontero is our @Toyota Man of the Match!

 

Great to have you back, @CristianRoldan

 

Press Conference: Brian Schmetzer post-match vs FC Cincinnati

Interview: Will Bruin post-match vs FC Cincinnati

Interview: Cristian Roldan post-match vs FC Cincinnati

By Ryan Krasnoo @RyanKras

The Vancouver Whitecaps defeated the Seattle Sounders 2-1 at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on Saturday behind first-half goals from Pedro Vite and Julian Gressel. Will Bruin pulled one back late for the Sounders.

Vancouver nearly opened the scoring in the sixth minute when Stefan Frei parried away a powerful shot from Luís Martins from close range.

The Whitecaps found the lead in the 29th minute when Ryan Gauld marauded down the left flank and picked out Vite, whose left-footed one-timer beat Frei.

HUNGRY BEAR! @wbruin finds the back of the net. 

 

Vancouver doubled its lead eight minutes later when Gressel unleashed a venomous volley from the top of the box.

The Whitecaps thought they had a third in the 61st minute, but Frei made a brilliant recovery to swipe the ball off the goal line and keep it out.

Leonard Owusu almost made it three in the 70th minute when his shot from 25 yards out pinged off the post.

The Sounders nearly pulled one back in the 74th minute when Albert Rusnák’s header was cleared off the line by Ranko Veselinović.

Bruin halved the deficit in the 89th minute when his header to the far post beat Thomas Hasal for his third of the season.

OH MY FREI!

THREE TAKEAWAYS

Streak snapped

The Sounders’ 15-match unbeaten streak (10-0-5) against the Whitecaps came to an end on Saturday. Seattle had not lost to Vancouver since 2017.

Three to go

The Sounders’ season and push for their 14th consecutive postseason appearance comes down to the final three matches of the season. Their next chance to add points will be at home on Tuesday, Sept. 27, against FC Cincinnati (7:08 p.m. PT; FOX 13+, Prime Video, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS).

Lodeiro suspended

Due to an 81st-minute caution, Sounders captain Nicolás Lodeiro will miss the match against FC Cincinnati due to yellow-card accumulation.

The Seattle Sounders came back and earned a 2-1 win over the Houston Dynamo at Lumen Field on Sunday night, with Nouhou and Fredy Montero each scoring in the second half.

Seattle started the match brightly as Nicolás Lodeiro generated a couple of shots and Raúl Ruidíaz forced goalkeeper Steve Clark into a diving save inside the first ten minutes.

The Sounders dominated possession in the early stages, but entered the break down a goal after Daniel Steres deflected a long-range effort by Coco Carasquilla past Stefan Frei in the 26th minute.

GOAL: Fredy Montero heads home the Game Winner

Seattle Sounders FC forward Fredy Montero scores the game-winning goal for the Rave Green, heading a cross from Nouhou to put Seattle 2-1 up.

GOAL: Nouhou scores his first MLS goal

Seattle Sounders FC defender Nouhou scores his first MLS goal in his 136th regular-season appearance, latching onto a blocked shot and poking home the rebound to pull Seattle level.

 

MOOD 

 

Seattle came roaring back in the second half, posting a number of half-chances in the early stages. That pressure paid off in the 59th minute when Nouhou was first on the scene to smash home a rebound off a Ruidíaz shot to level the score.

Nouhou’s first goal as a Sounder breathed new life into the stadium, with the hosts mounting wave after wave of attack. It looked like they might take the lead in the 75th minute when substitute Montero earned a penalty kick, but Lodeiro’s ensuing effort from the spot was denied by Steve Clark.

It was once again Nouhou and Montero at the center of the action for the game-winning goal. Seattle’s left back drove into the final third and clipped a lofted ball to the back post, where Montero rose up and headed it home past Clark.

The Sounders return to action next weekend as they host Austin FC (5:08 p.m. PT; FOX 13+, Prime Video, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS) at Lumen Field on Saturday.

THREE TAKEAWAYS

Nouhou masterclass

Nouhou put on an attacking clinic on Sunday night as he grabbed his first MLS goal. The Sounders left back had played 135 regular-season matches for the club prior to opening his account, but it was well worth the wait. It was also his first game for Seattle in which he posted multiple goal contribution as he

registered the assist on Montero’s winner.

Montero magic

Speaking of Montero, the Sounders legend came up clutch when his team needed him most. The 35-year-old forward immediately injected energy into the match as he set up a host of chances. When Seattle was unable to capitalize on the penalty he drew, Montero remained undeterred and nabbed all three points

with a picturesque goal.

Crucial points

With the Portland Timbers winning at home and the LA Galaxy dropping points on the road, Seattle’s win carried extra weight in the push for the postseason. The Sounders sit six points back of Portland with a game in-hand for the final spot in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.

Press Conference: Brian Schmetzer post-match vs Houston Dynamo

Sounders FC Head Coach Brian Schmetzer speaks to media following the club’s 2-1 win over Houston Dynamo.

Interview: Alex Roldan post-match vs Houston Dynamo

Sounders FC defender Alex Roldan speaks to media following the club’s 2-1 win over Houston Dynamo

Interview: Nouhou post-match vs Houston Dynamo

Sounders FC defender Nouhou speaks to media following the club’s 2-1 win over Houston Dynamo

Orlando City SC came from two goals down in the second half to defeat the Seattle Sounders 3-2 on Wednesday at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, Fla. Albert Rusnák and Raúl Ruidíaz put Seattle in front before the Lions scored three unanswered from Facundo Torres, Ercan Kara and Kyle Smith.

After a nearly two-hour weather delay before kickoff, Rusnák opened the scoring for the Sounders in the 26th minute on a beautiful free kick from 25 yards out. The goal was the Slovakian international’s third of the MLS season.

Orlando City nearly equalized six minutes later, but Stefan Frei denied Mauricio Pereyra from the penalty spot. Frei had an even better save in the 36th minute when he kept out an Iván Angulo header from the doorstep.

Ruidíaz scored his seventh goal of the year in the 52nd minute to double the advantage. Jordan Morris beat Rodrigo Schlegel on a counterattack and his cross to Ruidíaz bounced around in the box before Ruidíaz tapped it home from a yard out.

Orlando answered immediately when Torres fired home his sixth goal of the year one minute later.

Still not over this STUNNER from Albert Rusnák!

The Lions equalized in the 68th minute when Kara converted from the penalty spot after Morris was whistled for a handball on a corner kick.

Orlando found another late winner, its third in as many matches, when Smith’s shot from close range deflected past Frei in the first minute of stoppage time. The goal was originally whistled offside but was overturned upon Video Review.

The Sounders end the match in 10th in the Western Conference playoff picture, six points behind the final playoff spot.

Our scoring machine: Raúl Ruidíaz

THREE TAKEAWAYS

Rusnák finding form

Seattle’s offseason Designated Player acquisition has two goals in his last four matches and showed off just how much quality he has on Wednesday. The Sounders will need him to continue this momentum as they push to climb the table.

Stefan Frei shines

It’s not often a goalkeeper’s performance is praised when he concedes three times in a loss, but Frei was magnificent on Wednesday evening. He made five saves, including the first penalty, and kept the Sounders in the match with brilliant stop after brilliant stop.

Back to Seattle

The Sounders finished their three-match road swing and head home for a Sunday clash at Lumen Field against the Houston Dynamo (6:08 p.m. PT; FOX 13+, Prime Video, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS).

Press Conference: Brian Schmetzer post-match at Orlando City SC

Press Conference: Jackson Ragen and Josh Atencio post-match at Orlando City SC

The Seattle Sounders defeated Toronto FC 2-0 on Saturday at BMO Field in Toronto behind goals from Dylan Teves and Fredy Montero.

After a quiet start to the match for both teams, Teves gave the Sounders the lead in the 39th minute when he one-timed a finish on a cross from Léo Chú. The goal was the first for Teves in his first MLS start.

Montero nearly doubled the advantage in the 52nd minute when his close-range effort hit the crossbar.

Toronto FC almost equalized two minutes later when Alejandro Pozuelo tried to poke a through ball into the far corner, but Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland made a remarkable kick save to keep it out.

Montero did eventually find his goal on the hour mark when he played a one-two with Nicolás Lodeiro and coolly slotted home the finish from 10 yards out. Lodeiro’s beautiful return ball was his fifth assist of the league campaign.

Cleveland earned his first clean sheet in five total appearances this season, and it was Seattle’s fourth shutout in their last eight matches.

Reed Baker-Whiting almost iced the match with a third goal in the first minute of stoppage time but his shot from close range was denied by Quentin Westberg.

It's always good to have a Stef in goal, tbh.

THREE TAKEAWAYS

Teves opens his account

What a moment for the 22-year-old Homegrown, who scored on his full MLS debut. The University of Washington product was making just his second MLS appearance and rewarded Head Coach Brian Schmetzer’s trust in a big way.

Depth steps up

A big reason for Teves getting the start was because of massive squad rotation from Schmetzer. Regulars Stefan Frei, Jordan Morris, Cristian Roldan and Albert Rusnák remained in Seattle for rest at the tail end of a three-match week. Xavier Arreaga (hamstring), Raúl Ruidíaz (hamstring) and Will Bruin (Health and Safety

Protocols) also did not feature. Seattle flashed its tremendous depth yet again to earn its third road win of the MLS season.

Big date with Portland

The Sounders return to Lumen Field next Saturday with a massive home match against the Portland Timbers (1:30 p.m. PT; FOX, FOX Deportes, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS). In addition to welcoming their rivals, the Sounders will unveil their 2022 Concacaf Champions League banner after becoming the first MLS

team to win CCL in the modern era when they defeated Liga MX’s Pumas in May.

saves and a clean sheet.

 

@stef_cleveland is the @Toyota Man of the Match from #TORvSEA!

 

Press Conference: Brian Schmetzer post-match vs Toronto FC July 2, 2022

Interview: Dylan Teves and Stefan Cleveland post-match vs Toronto FC July 2, 2022

Jordan Morris scored an early opener, but a brace from Mason Toye would see the Seattle Sounders fall 2-1 to visiting CF Montréal at Lumen Field on Wednesday.

The sides swapped goals in the first half of the midweek matchup, starting with Morris’s opener in just the third minute. The Homegrown winger controlled a long ball from fellow U.S. international Cristian Roldan, then wrangled just enough space to get off a shot that found the net at the far post.

CF Montréal found the leveler on 18 minutes, as Toye converted at the back-end of a counterattack, assisted by Kei Kamara.

Kamara and Toye would combine for the final goal of the match, which was scored in the 62nd minute. The veteran forward found Toye with a cross right in front of goal that he converted, sending the Canadian side to the 2-1 result.

The Broldan Doggos (Broldoggos?) made the TV broadcast!

6 Seattle icons. @thefarmersdog | #Sounders

 

THREE TAKEAWAYS

Morris stays hot

Result not withstanding, Morris continued his recent strong run of form with the third-minute tally that marked his fifth of the season and eighth across all competitions when factoring in Concacaf Champions League play. As he looks to make his case for a spot on the U.S. Men's National Team roster for the upcoming 2022

World Cup, club form like this can only work to aid Morris’s cause.

Homestand ends

The match concluded a five-game homestand for Seattle, which had gone 3-0-1 in the previous four before Wednesday’s match. While this defeat means that stretch ends on a low note, the 10 points they did earn were enough to get the Rave Green right back into the thick of the Western Conference playoff picture as the

season approaches the halfway mark.

Toronto trip kicks off July marathon

Seattle are back in action when the club takes on another Canadian adversary in Toronto FC (4:30 p.m. PT; FOX 13+, Prime Video, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360AM) on July 2 at BMO Field. That will kick off a busy month of July that will see the club play six matches, four of which will come on the road. Stretches like that are

always a challenge in MLS, but it’s also an opportunity to stack valuable points in the Western Conference. There’s also the first Cascadia Cup derby with the Portland Timbers (FOX, FOX Deportes, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS) looming on July 9 at Lumen Field.

Respect for a league legend @JmoSmooth13 X @keikamara

The Seattle Sounders defeated Sporting Kansas City 3-0 at Lumen Field on Saturday behind goals from Will Bruin, Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan.

The Sounders opened the scoring in the eighth minute, as Bruin headed home a great cross to the far post by Cristian Roldan. Bruin’s finish was a worthy reward to superb buildup play that started with a Jackson Ragen cross-field switch and a layoff from Alex Roldan to his brother.

Neither goalkeeper made a save in the first 45 minutes until the last play of the half when Morris sprung the elder Roldan on a through ball, but his shot was blocked by Tim Melia.

SKC’s best chance came less than a minute into the second half when Cameron Duke snuck free on the left side and his shot skipped just past the far post.

Morris doubled the advantage in the 71st minute when he headed in a goal of his own off a cross from Nouhou. Morris now has four MLS goals on the season to go along with three more in Concacaf Champions League.

Cristian Roldan sealed the win in the 76th minute when Léo Chú played Morris in behind, and the Mercer Island native sent an inviting ball past Melia to the far post for Roldan to tap into an open net.

Morris nearly added a fourth in the 80th minute but his breakaway effort was thwarted by Melia. The Sounders also couldn’t finish a rebound on the scramble afterward.

The Sounders move to sixth in the Western Conference, having won five of their last seven contests (5-1-1).

HIGHLIGHTS: Seattle Sounders FC vs. Sporting Kansas City June 25, 2022

This Nouhou assist is an absolute delight

 

Fun one at Lumen today Big three points @SoundersFC

 

Bucket List item: Boom Boom Clap at a @SoundersFC game!

THREE TAKEAWAYS

The bear gets his reward

After starting Fredy Montero last week against LAFC in the absence of the injured Raúl Ruidíaz, Head Coach Brian Schmetzer opted for a more out-and-out No. 9 in Bruin. The 32-year-old came up clutch, scoring his second goal of the season and being a menace inside the 18-yard box all afternoon.

Offensive tear

The Sounders have found their attacking mettle of late, scoring 10 goals in their last four matches. It’s not just one player, either, as Seattle has had seven different goalscorers in that time.

Unbeaten homestand

Seattle has taken 10 points from 12 on offer through its first four of five consecutive home matches. The Sounders will look to stay unblemished when they welcome CF Montréal to Lumen Field on Wednesday (7 p.m. PT; FOX 13+, Prime Video, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS).

⋆ Zach ⋆ Ozzie ⋆ Stef Congratulations to @Stefan24Frei for becoming the third player in Sounders history (all eras) to reach 300 career club appearances!

 

Press Conference: Brian Schmetzer Post-Match vs Sporting KC

Interview: Jordan Morris Post-Match vs Sporting KC

Interview: Will Bruin Post-Match vs Sporting KC

The Seattle Sounders drew LAFC 1-1 at Lumen Field on Saturday afternoon behind second-half goals from Albert Rusnák and Cristian Arongo.

The first 45 minutes were a back-and-forth affair with neither team able to find a breakthrough. The closest the Sounders came was in the 39th minute when Jordan Morris picked out Rusnák on the left side of the box, but his effort was over the bar. LAFC nearly took the lead in the 43rd minute if not for a kick-save

from Stefan Frei.

One of the greatest this league has ever seen: @Stefan24Frei

SAVE: Stefan Frei pulls off ridiculous double save vs LAFC

The Sounders found the breakthrough in the 58th minute on a gift from LAFC. Goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau’s attempted pass to Ilie Sánchez was picked off by Rusnák, who calmly deposited the go-ahead goal.

LAFC twice thought they had the equalizer in the 64th minute when Frei made a double save from point-blank range on Ryan Hollingshead and then Cristian Arongo on the rebound.

LAFC did find their goal in the 79th minute when Arongo headed a ball into the far corner.

Seattle, which saw the returns of Rusnák, Jordan Morris, Cristian Roldan and Nouhou to the starting lineup after being away midweek on international duty, returns to Lumen Field next Saturday for a date with Sporting Kansas City (12 p.m. PT; ABC, ESPN Deportes, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS).

An unbelievable play by Albert Rusnàk 

GOAL: Albert Rusnák puts the Sounders ahead with first MLS goal of the season

THREE TAKEAWAYS

Rusnák opens Sounders MLS account

Fresh off traveling more than 6,000 miles back to Seattle from Kazakhstan earlier this week while with Slovakia for UEFA Nations League, Rusnák scored his first MLS goal with the Sounders. Rusnák had scored once before with Seattle in Concacaf Champions League, but he finally opened his league account on a heads-up

defensive interception and finish in the final third.

Sounders still rolling

The Sounders have lost just once in their last six matches. Seattle is now on 20 points from 14 matches in MLS.

Homestand Continues

The Sounders will finish June with two more games in their five-match homestand. Seattle has taken seven of nine points on offer so far and will look to extend that with matches against Sporting Kansas City and CF Montréal looming.

The Seattle Sounders defeated the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-0 on Tuesday night at Lumen Field behind a goal from Nicolás Lodeiro, a brace from Raúl Ruidíaz and a late tally from Alex Roldan.

The Sounders got off to a flying start when Fredy Montero drew a penalty kick in the fourth minute. His initial shot was saved by Cody Cropper, but the Whitecaps goalkeeper tripped Montero on the rebound. Lodeiro stepped up and coolly buried his third goal of the season a minute later.

Ruidíaz doubled the lead in the 28th minute after he finished a beautiful buildup that started with Stefan Frei in goal. Kelyn Rowe picked out Jimmy Medranda, whose first touch found the path of Ruidíaz, and the Peruvian buried the one-time finish to the far post.

The Whitecaps’ best chance in the first half came in 37th minute when Jackson Ragen made a huge block from six yards out.

Lodeiro nearly extended Seattle’s lead in the 51st minute when his shot from distance rattled the crossbar.

Ruidíaz scored his second of the evening and fifth of the MLS season in the 54th minute when Léo Chú picked him out at the near post for a close-range tap-in.

 

Ruidíaz almost bagged his first career Sounders hat trick in the 62nd minute when his effort was cleared off the line after he rounded Cropper and had a decent look at goal.

Roldan capped the scoring in the 89th minute when Danny Leyva picked out Roldan’s late-arriving run on the right side and he fired home his second career MLS goal. The assist was the first point for Leyva in his MLS career.

Of note, Sounders Homegrown Player and University of Washington product Danny Teves made his MLS debut as a second-half substitute.

Seattle put in a complete performance despite missing several starters with Jordan Morris (United States), Cristian Roldan (United States) and Albert Rusnák (Slovakia) all away on international duty. Nouhou (Cameroon) returned and was available on the bench, while Xavier Arreaga (Ecuador) earned the start. Morris also

scored a 90th-minute equalizer for the U.S. in a 1-1 Concacaf Nations League draw at El Salvador on Tuesday.

Right Place, Right Time

The perfect way to close out the match

🔥¡BRUTAL! SEGUNDO GOL de RAÚL RUIDÍAZ | SEATTLE SOUNDERS vs VANCOUVER WHITECAPS MLS 2022 | SKILLS HD

Our Captain

The Sounders have now won four of their last five matches and the first two of a five-match homestand at Lumen Field. Seattle will next welcome LAFC on Saturday (12 p.m. PT; ABC, ESPN Deportes, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS) before Sporting Kansas City and CF Montréal come to town to round out the month.

THREE TAKEAWAYS

Vancouver vanquished

The Sounders extended their unbeaten run over the Whitecaps to 15 matches (10-0-5) dating back to April 2017. It’s the longest unbeaten streak against one team for Seattle and the longest winless streak against a single opponent for Vancouver.

Clinical performance from Ruidíaz

Ruidíaz recorded his 13th career brace for the Sounders in all competitions. He is now tied with Montero for first all-time in Sounders history with 55 goals in MLS play and 69 goals in all competitions.

Clean sheet

The Sounders recorded their second clean sheet of the MLS season and their second in the last four matches after none in their opening nine league matches. Seattle had four in eight Concacaf Champions League contests and are finally having that form carry over into MLS play.

CLEAN SHEET