The Seattle Sounders played Houston Dynamo on Saturday evening to a 1-0 home victory. However, both sides had their playoff spots secured before kickoff thanks to Orlando beating FC Dallas and Austin failing to beat RSL.
Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer knew that the club’s place in the playoffs was guaranteed before kickoff but was pleased that the team settled the job on their own terms and did not need the external help. “We actually punched our own ticket into the playoffs, and I’m extremely proud of this franchise and the players.”
Earving Marquez / Area Sports Network
Roman Torres, the man who scored the winning penalty to secure the Sounders’ first MLS Cup, was honored as a club legend before the game. It was also the Sounders’ annual Fan Appreciation Night at Lumen Field, where the team and staff handed out beautiful carnations to supporters after the match.
Going into the postseason, 2024 will be the 15th out of 16 seasons the Sounders have successfully made the MLS Cup Playoffs. The primary focus, as of now, will be securing a top-four playoff seed, which would guarantee home-field advantage in the best-of-three Round One series.
After the match, Brian Schmetzer dropped a bombshell of an announcement regarding next year’s FIFA Club World Cup, revealing that the Sounders will host all three group-stage games. Earlier, FIFA announced Lumen Field to be a host stadium for the tournament alongside several other American venues. While it is not known who the Sounders may be playing yet, potential opponents yield world giants such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, PSG, and Manchester City. A potential rematch against Al Ahly may also be in the books depending on the results of the future fixture draw.
“That is a massive, massive opportunity, occasion. This is a once in a lifetime event for the City of Seattle … This is, again, just an incredible, incredible event,” stated Brian Schmetzer as he began urging the supporters to fill Lumen Field for the world tournament.
Throughout play, the Sounders pressed Houston, who were consistent on their possession-based tactics. The Sounders, however, made the most of their spells on the ball by racking up the number of shots and expected goals.
Houston started the first ten minutes with the majority of momentum, as the Sounders were looking to get settled into the game. However, the Sounders were the side to open the scoring, courtesy of Paul Rothrock.
Earving Marquez / Area Sports Network
"I think it was a good team goal, came out of a pressing moment. I think Jordan and Albert combined and Albert almost got a shot off and then I was just being opportunistic in that moment," said a humble Paul Rothrock.
As Albert Rusnák attempted to control the ball inside Houston’s penalty box, he was pressured off the ball, but Rothrock was there to follow through with a solid curved shot into Steve Clark’s bottom-left corner. Paul Rothrock, the 25-year-old academy product, found his fourth goal of the regular season, proving to be a consistent impact player for the team.
Morris nearly doubled the lead less than ten minutes later, when he was able to get a connection via a low Rothrock cross, and even with Clark beaten, Morris unluckily found the post.
Earving Marquez / Area Sports Network
The Sounders would end up securing the one-goal home victory after containing the Dynamo’s possession-based approach. Schmetzer was proud of the team’s performance against the strong Dynamo, stating that he “loved the fact that the guys persevered, powered through, won a game, closed out a game, and kept the lead under some duress.”
The Sounders will travel to Vancouver on Wednesday for the second-last Cascadia regular season clash, facing the Whitecaps, who are also top-four seed contenders but have played one game less. It will certainly be another six-pointer for the Sounders, as well as the following Colorado Rapids road game since they are tied on points with Seattle.
The next home match will be Decision Day, where the Sounders play archrivals Portland Timbers, who have not yet secured a playoff spot.
Cover Photo: Earving Marquez / Area Sports Network
