Cristian Roldan, Gustav Svensson and Harry Shipp scored a goal apiece, pacing the Seattle Sounders to a 3-1 win over New York City FC in the Sunday afternoon matchup between the sides at CenturyLink Field.
Roldan was able to find Seattle’s first-half breakthrough after a shot from Kelvin Leerdam was deflected to his feet in the NYCFC penalty box. The fourth-year midfielder took a touch around two defenders before depositing a shot that deflected off NYCFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson and into the net, staking Seattle to the 1-0 advantage they would take into the halftime break.
Svensson doubled the lead shortly after second-half kickoff after collecting a feed from Nicolás Lodeiro and unleashing a laser shot from well outside the area that whistled past Johnson and into the net, giving Seattle the 2-0 advantage.
The visitors would pull one back, however, after a turnover in Seattle’s half of the field allowed Medina to get on the end of a pinpoint cross from Jo Inge Berget, cutting the lead to 2-1.
But Shipp would find the dagger in the 86th, rifling a clinically taken shot past Johnson off a feed from substitute Will Bruin, sealing the 3-1 final.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
CARBON COPY
Svensson’s goal was from a nearly equal distance to his only other tally of 2018 so far – another long-distance screamer in Seattle’s 3-1 win over Minnesota United back on April 22. The Swedish international, in his third game back with the team after his summer adventure at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, is still mainly known for his defensive capabilities but this is now his fourth goal in Rave Green counting his headed tally against the Houston Dynamo in Leg 1 of the 2017 Western Conference Championship.
Gustav Svensson celebrates after scoring the Sounders' second goal vs. New York City FC | Mike Fiechtner
ROLDAN ROLLS
Roldan also got his second tally of the season with his opener, to go along with the five assists he had already posted coming into the matchup. He’s become such a consistent staple of Seattle’s XI the last three seasons that his contributions might seem like they get taken for granted at this point. 21 matches into the season, however, Roldan is very much on pace for his best statistical MLS campaign yet.
UNBEATEN STREAK LIVES
It’s no secret that the Sounders are going to need to stack points in a hurry to make a second-half surge to the MLS Cup Playoffs, but with their recent run of form they’re at least putting themselves within striking distance. Seattle are now 4-0-2 over their last six matches and have won three straight coming off victories against the San Jose Earthquakes and the Vancouver Whitecaps to move their overall record to 7-9-5 and 26 points. Next on the docket is a road matchup with conference foe Minnesota United at TCF Bank Stadium next Saturday, August 4.
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA - Cristian Roldan 36'
SEA - Gustav Svensson (Nicolás Lodeiro, Harry Shipp) 51'
NYC - Jesús Medina (Jo Inge Berget, Jonathan Lewis) 68'
SEA - Harry Shipp (Will Bruin) 86'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
NONE
