The Seattle Sounders defeated the New England Revolution 2-0 on Saturday night at Lumen Field in their first meeting since 2019. Jordan Morris and Albert Rusnák scored on either side of halftime to take all three points.
Morris opened the scoring in the 15th minute when he played a great give-and-go at midfield with Rusnák, who then slipped him in behind the Revolution defense. Morris blew past defender Dave Romney and held off his attempted challenge before firing the ball off the inside of the near post and into the back of the net.
João Paulo had a chance to double the lead in the 25th minute on a free kick outside the box, but his effort went just over the crossbar.
The Revolution’s best chance of the first half came in the 35th minute when Stefan Frei made a double save on Giacomo Vrioni and Esmir Bajraktarevic. Frei got down to deny Vrioni’s initial attempt with his hand before sliding over and making a kick save on Bajraktarevic’s rebound attempt.
Ian Harkes tested Frei again in the 41st minute when he teed up a half-volley from distance, but it was right at Frei, who punched it over the bar.
Frei made another great save in the 50th minute when he parried away a left-footed strike from Vrioni that took a deflection and nearly snuck in the top corner.
João Paulo forced Revs goalkeeper Aljaž Ivačič into a diving save in the 55th minute when he ripped a shot from 25 yards out through traffic.
Ivačič made a spectacular reaction save in the 60th minute to keep a header out from Yeimar off a corner kick.
Rusnák iced the match in the 81st minute after Obed Vargas intercepted a Revolution pass and headed the ball to Rusnák, who picked out the far bottom corner from the top of the box.
Reed Baker-Whiting almost added a third goal two minutes later when his shot was saved by a diving Ivačič.
Seattle ends the evening in sixth place in the Western Conference with 31 points from 22 matches and is unbeaten in its last five contests. The Sounders are just three points outside of a home playoff position in fourth place.
The Sounders will next visit the USL Championship’s Sacramento Republic FC in the quarterfinal of the U.S. Open Cup on Tuesday (8 p.m. PT; Watch free on Apple TV, 950 KJR AM) before returning to MLS play with a road date at Austin FC on Saturday, July 13.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Perfect homestand
After a slow start at Lumen Field to start the season, the Sounders capped a three-match homestand by taking all nine points, defeating FC Dallas, the Chicago Fire and the Revolution.
Rusnák double-digit assists
Rusnák earned his 10th assist of the season on Saturday night when he set up Morris’ opener and moved into a tie for seventh in MLS in helpers. He’s been on a tear over the past six weeks with four goals and six assists and has either scored or assisted in seven of his last eight matches dating back to May 25.
Morris ties team-lead in goals
Morris tied Ruidíaz with eighth goal on the season, with seven of his tallies coming in the last nine matches.
