The Seattle Sounders picked up a crucial 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids on the road at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Saturday night, with Albert Rusnák scoring the lone goal for the visitors.
Seattle started the evening in full control of the match, dominating possession and pulling Colorado’s shape apart with their quick passing.
In the 9th minute, Paul Rothrock weaved past two defenders before pulling the ball back to Rusnák, who shimmied past a defender before firing a shot to the near post that was blocked by a sliding defender. Two minutes later, Pedro de la Vega nearly picked out Jordan Morris inside the six-yard box, but the ball flashed just beyond Seattle’s striker.
Colorado’s first real chance came in the 21st minute, when Djordje Mihailovic uncorked a venomous shot from just outside the box, only to be denied a goal by a flying challenge from Nouhou.
De la Vega almost nearly set up the opener for Seattle in the 25th minute when he blew past Sam Vines and picked out a pass to Obed Vargas, but the young midfielder was unable to steer his shot on target.
In the 44th minute, Rusnák nearly grabbed an assist when his pinpoint corner kick found the head of Cristian Roldan inside the six-yard box, but the ensuing shot flew just wide of the near post.
The Sounders finally broke the deadlock in the 48th minute when Morris capitalized on a Rapids turnover in midfield. The Mercer Island native megged Colorado center back Lalas Aboubakar before drawing a stellar 1-v-1 save from Zack Steffan. Rusnák pounced on the rebound to hand Seattle the 1-0 lead.
The Rave Green nearly doubled their advantage in the 76th minute when Rothrock stormed down the field in transition before laying a pass into the path of Morris. The Seattle striker lunged for the ball just outside the six-yard box but was unable to put his shot on frame.
In the 83rd minute, Kimani Stewart-Baynes came close to an equalizer but his close-range shot was poked away by Alex Roldan at the last second.
The Sounders close out their jam-packed week with three wins from three matches against the Houston Dynamo, Vancouver Whitecaps and Rapids. They also clinched home-field a top four spot in the West and home-field advantage in Round One of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Scorching Form
With the postseason just over the horizon, the Sounders are one of the most in-form teams across the league. Saturday night’s win over Colorado puts them firmly in third place in the West, with a record of 12-2-2 from their last 16 matches in league play. Seattle has scored 30 goals and conceded just 13 during that stretch.
Rusnák Magic
Operating in his preferred No. 10 role, Rusnák is enjoying a prolific season in Rave Green. The creative midfielder boasts 10 goals and 15 assists in the regular season, reaching double-digit goals and assists for just the second time in his MLS career.
Decision Day Looming
The Sounders will enjoy a week off during the international break before closing out the regular season with a massive match against the Portland Timbers at Lumen Field on October 19 (6:00 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS). A win on Decision Day would clinch the 2024 Cascadia Cup for Seattle, and could possibly see the team climb into the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference.
