MATCH RECAP: Sounders FC Drops Heartbreaker on the Road to Orlando City SC

ORLANDO, FLORIDA – Seattle Sounders FC (10-15-3, 33 points) concluded a three-match road stretch with a heartbreaking 3-2 loss to Orlando City SC (12-10-6, 42 points) on Wednesday evening at Exploria Stadium in Orlando, with the home team’s game-winning goal being confirmed by video review after initially being whistled offside in second-half stoppage time. With the result, Seattle remains in 10th place in the Western Conference, with six games remaining in the 2022 regular season.

Albert Rusnák got Seattle on the scoreboard first in stunning fashion. After the visiting side drew a foul just outside the area, the Slovakian international smashed the ensuing free kick into the top left corner of the net to take the lead in the 26th minute. It was Rusnák’s third goal of the regular season.

Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei came up with a big save in the 32nd minute, denying a penalty by Orlando’s Mauricio Pereira after Sounders FC defender Jimmy Medranda was whistled for a foul inside the 18-yard box.

Ruidíaz doubled the Rave Green’s lead early in the second half, as Nicolás Lodeiro fed a ball to Jordan Morris that sent the Mercer Island native streaking down the right flank. Morris then played a ball into Ruidíaz right in front of goal that took a deflection before the Peruvian hit the ball into the roof of the net in the 52nd  minute. It was Ruidíaz’s seventh goal of the regular season, tying him for the team lead with Morris.

Orlando quickly pulled one back in the 53rd minute courtesy of substitute Facundo Torres. The Uruguayan took a pass right at the edge of the area and bagged a goal from distance to halve the home side’s deficit. Orlando then leveled the score in the 69th minute, this time converting a penalty. Morris was whistled for a handball inside the area on a corner kick, and Orlando’s Ercan Kara was able to score the ensuing spot-kick to level the score.

The two clubs played toward what appeared an imminent draw, but Kyle Smith banged in the eventual game-winner in second-half stoppage time. The goal was initially whistled offside, but after video review it was allowed to stand, resulting in the victory for Orlando City.

Sounders FC now returns home to Seattle face Houston Dynamo FC on Sunday, September 4 at Lumen Field (6:00 p.m. PT / FOX 13+, Prime Video, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

• With today’s result, Sounders FC remains below the line in the race for the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs, currently sitting in 10th place in the Western Conference.

• This marks the sixth time these two teams have faced off in the regular season, and the first time Seattle has recorded a loss to Orlando City SC. The Rave Green currently hold a 4-1-1 record against the Florida side.

• Rusnák’s goal in the 26th minute marked his third goal of the season and fourth in all competitions. The midfielder compiled 41 goals and 39 assists in his previous five seasons with Real Salt Lake.

• Stefan Frei’s save against Pereira marked his seventh instance of an opponent not converting a penalty in regular-season play since joining Seattle in 2014.

• Ruidíaz’s goal in the 52nd minute was his seventh goal in MLS play of the season and 10th across all competitions. The Peruvian is now tied for the team lead with Jordan Morris for regular-season strikes on the year.

• For the third consecutive match, Seattle Head Coach Brian Schmetzer deployed a 5-3-2 formation with only two changes to the starting XI from Friday’s 2-1 loss at Portland, with Jackson Ragen replacing Xaiver Arreaga and Jimmy Medranda replacing Kelyn Rowe.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Orlando City SC 3

Wednesday, August 31, 2022 

Venue: Exploria Stadium 

Referee: Alex Chilowicz

Assistants: Ryan Graves, Tyler Wyrostek 

Fourth Official: Fotis Bazakos

VAR: Kevin Terry Jr. 

Attendance: 14,483

Weather: 82 degrees and mostly cloudy 

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Albert Rusnák 26’

SEA – Raúl Ruidíaz (Jordan Morris) 52’ 

ORL – Facundo Torres (João Moutinho) 53’ 

ORL – Ercan Kara (penalty) 68’ 

ORL – Kyle Smith (Facundo Torres) 90’ + 1’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA – Alex Roldan (caution) 36’ 

ORL – Antônio Carlos (caution) 61’ 

ORL – João Moutinho (caution) 90’ 

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou, Jimmy Medranda (Kelyn Rowe 55’); Danny Leyva (Josh Atencio 72’), Albert Rusnák, Nico Lodeiro; Jordan Morris (Will Bruin 87’), Raúl Ruidíaz 

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Xavier Arreaga, Ethan Dobbelaere, Dylan Teves, Léo Chú, Fredy Montero

Total shots: 8 

Shots on goal: 3 

Fouls: 12 

Offside: 1 

Corner-kicks: 3

Saves: 5 

Orlando City SC – Pedro Gallese; Ruan Gregório Teixeira (Benji Michel 64’), Antônio Carlos, Rodrigo Schlegel, João Moutinho; Mauricio Pereyra (Kyle Smith 76’), César Araújo; Nicholas Gioacchini (Facundo Torres 46’), Júnior de Almeida Júnior, Iván Angulo (Andrés Perea 76’); Tesho Akindele (Ercan Kara 64’)

Substitutes not used: Wilder Cartagena, Jake Mulraney, Mason Stajduhar, Thomas Williams

Total shots: 17 

Shots on goal: 8 

Fouls: 13 

Offside: 1 

Corner-kicks: 7 

Saves: 1