LUMEN FIELD - The Seattle Sounders’ return to the Emerald City in the wake of a crushing rivalry defeat to the Portland Timbers was a welcome look at a comfortable Sounders side as they revived their pre-rivalry match form with a 1-0 win over a sputtering Minnesota United. Albert Rusnák provided the match’s only goal in the 79th minute, a well-dispatched finish that came as a result of a Fredy Montero layoff.
The normally imperious Nouhou was a late omission from the starting lineup due to sickness, replaced by league veteran Kelyn Rowe, making his 350th career appearance across all competitions. Also reaching a milestone was Sounders captain Nicolas Lodeiro, who reached 200 appearances with the Sounders on Saturday.
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Both players featured for the full 90 minutes, something Rowe saw as, “very nice, that faith and that trust…is always nice to have as a player.” Rowe has made the majority of his appearances in the young season as a substitute, available both in midfield and as a left-back.
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Seattle seized control of the match from the off, garnering the majority of the possession and generating a high volume of crosses. However, with Héber in for the rested Jordan Morris, who featured for 89 minutes against Mexico with the United States in midweek, Seattle struggled to turn the opportunities into chances and recorded less than half a goal of xG in the first half.
Those moments were often recycled, though, with Seattle looking increasingly comfortable and patient with their opportunities. A revived intensity off the ball saw Seattle’s midfield win the ball with impunity just seconds after it was recovered by the Loons. While they entered the break deadlocked and without a goal, they undoubtedly had control of the match.
Seattle’s possession, while far superior numerically in both halves, was largely stifled in the second half as Minnesota’s block dropped deeper, forcing the Sounders to play into a strong core rather than through an exposed midfield. The difference from half to half was a moment that Seattle struggled to take advantage of, but continued to grind away, a look that provides promise.
Seattle finally made good on their chances in the 79th minute, when a deep throw-in found the feet of Montero, whose layoff was ripped into the back of the net from 19 yards by Albert Rusnák. The goal, one of Seattle’s few dangerous opportunities in a far less open second half, was ultimately the difference as Minnesota left Seattle without a point again.
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The Slovakian midfielder said postmatch, “...it just feels good because it is a game-winner, and it means that we got another three points at home”. Seattle remains unbeaten through five home matches to begin 2023.
The introduction of both Montero and returning international Jordan Morris in the second half showcased the Sounders’ ability to adapt to different styles of forward - they’ve been successful with Ruidíaz, Héber, Montero, and Morris featuring up top this year. Brian Schmetzer described the shift, saying, “I think we already have it…the team adapts, I think we have had this group together, Héber is the new guy, but everybody likes him and he’s fit in well. I think everybody understands each other’s strengths and weaknesses.”
With several competitions coming into full swing, including the U.S. Open Cup and the newly expanded Leagues Cup, Seattle’s depth and ability to utilize multiple attacking options could prove vital to their success down the stretch.
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The defensive stand, something that the Rave Green were unable to produce in Portland, meant that the squad set a club record with five straight clean sheets at home. The record, something that Jackson Ragen regarded postmatch as “Super important - when teams come here we suffocate them.”
The revised defensive discipline is something that multiple Sounders have repeatedly mentioned as a focus from last season. Schmetzer again raised the idea that “Lumen Field is a place where teams cannot steal points off of us”, and they’ll look to continue the streak into the midseason (in Schmetzer’s words, “So far, so good”).
The Sounders return to action in the midweek with a duel at Starfire Stadium against the San Diego Loyal, their first match in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, where they are four-time champions. The match will not only provide an opportunity to accrue minutes for some young talent but begins the final years at what has become a legendary home for the Sounders before their move to the new training center at Longacres in 2024.
The match will stream free, live on the Bleacher Report app and the B/R Football YouTube channel. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 local time.
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