The Seattle Sounders and Houston Dynamo played to a scoreless draw at Lumen Field on Saturday night.
In a first half bereft of many opportunities for either side, the Sounders got the first good look in the 38th minute when João Paulo one-timed a shot from 20 yards out that just crept over the crossbar. A minute later, Danny Leyva forced goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer into a diving save on a left-footed strike of his own from the top of the box.
Alex Roldan forced Maurer into a kick save at the back post in the 43rd minute after a lovely find from Albert Rusnák.
The Sounders’ first good look in the second half came in the 60th minute when Paul Rothrock whipped a cross in front of goal that was nearly deflected by the Dynamo into their own net. In the aftermath of the ensuing corner kick, Rothrock found the back of the net but was disallowed for offside.
Georgi Minoungou was a sparkplug off the bench over the last half hour. The Ivorian drew multiple yellow cards, and in the 82nd minute he beat Daniel Steres 1-v-1 and forced backup goalkeeper Blake Gillingham, who entered for an injured Maurer, into a difficult save.
Rusnák had a free kick from 25 yards out in the 86th minute, but his effort went wide of the net.
The Dynamo got their first shot on target in the 88th minute when Erik Dueñas was slipped in behind, but he scuffed his attempt that was easy work for goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
Jesús Ferreira threatened in the 90th minute when he attempted a ball across the mouth of goal from the left end line, but it was deflected and nearly snuck past Gillingham.
Alex Roldan thought he had the winner in the third minute of stoppage time when he picked out the top corner, but Gillingham dove strongly to his right to send it wide.
The Sounders embark on a huge road venture with seven of their next nine, including three in a row, away from home. Seattle will begin next Saturday with a date at the San Jose Earthquakes (7:30 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV) before trips at 2025 MLS Expansion side San Diego FC and FC Dallas.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Lodeiro comes home
The Sounders honored former captain and club legend Nicolás Lodeiro pregame, as the veteran Uruguayan made his first appearance at Lumen Field as an opponent. Lodeiro spent eight years in Seattle before spending 2024 with Orlando City SC and joining Houston this past offseason.
Home win streak vs. Houston snapped
Seattle had beaten Houston at Lumen Field in seven consecutive MLS regular season matches. The last time the Dynamo took a point in Seattle was in a scoreless draw in October 2016.
First MLS clean sheet
The Sounders held the Dynamo off the score sheet, the first time Seattle has kept a zero in MLS play this season. It was the second shutout overall after blanking Cruz Azul in the first leg of the Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16.
