FRISCO, TEXAS – Sounders FC (2-5-1, 7 points) fell 2-0 to FC Dallas (5-1-4, 19 points) on Saturday evening at Toyota Stadium. The match was the first league fixture in two weeks for Seattle, who has now dropped three consecutive MLS regular season matches dating back to April 16. Brian Schmetzer’s side returns to action on Wednesday, May 11 as the club begins its 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup run with a Round of 32 matchup against the San Jose Earthquakes at Starfire Stadium (7:00 p.m. PT / ESPN+).
Schmetzer made 10 changes to his starting XI from Wednesday’s win over Pumas UNAM in the second leg of the 2022 Scotiabank Concacaf Champions League Final, with Nouhou as the lone holdover starter. After an hour of scoreless action tonight, Jesús Ferreira put Dallas on the board in the 65th minute, collecting a pass from the right flank and converting near the penalty spot for his seventh goal of the season. Paul Arriola made it 2-0 in the 88th minute, smashing home a left-footed volley on a looping cross from Nanú. The win extended FC Dallas’ unbeaten streak to eight games (5-0-3), the longest current run in MLS.
Following Wednesday’s Open Cup matchup versus San Jose at Starfire, the Rave Green return to MLS play with a home date against Minnesota United FC on Sunday, May 15 at Lumen Field (1:00 p.m. PT / ESPN, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH NOTES
· Sounders FC is now 2-5-1 on the season and sits 12th in the Western Conference with seven points.
· Tonight marked the 29th all-time regular-season meeting between the two sides, with Seattle holding a 13-8-8 advantage (4-7-5 on the road).
· Head Coach Brian Schmetzer rotated his squad significantly, deploying a 5-4-1 formation with 10 changes from Wednesday’s match vs. Pumas UNAM. Nouhou was the only holdover starter from Wednesday’s Concacaf Champions League title-clinching win over Pumas.
· Ethan Dobbelaere made his first appearance for Sounders FC in 2022, starting this evening after being recalled from his loan with Czech side MFK Vyškov.
· Goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland made his third start of the season after previously playing against Austin FC on March 20 and Inter Miami CF on April 16.
· In addition to Xavier Arreaga (concussion protocol), João Paulo (right ACL tear) and Dylan Teves (health & safety protocol) all being out for tonight’s match, a number of players remained in Seattle as part of Coach Schmetzer’s squad rotation, including Stefan Frei, Raúl Ruidíaz, Jordan Morris, Nico Lodeiro and Kelyn Rowe.
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – FC Dallas 2
Saturday, May 7, 2022
Venue: Toyota Stadium
Referee: Allen Chapman
Assistants: Corey Rockwell, Ian McKay
Fourth Official: Eric Tattersall
VAR: Sorin Stoica
Attendance: 19,096
Weather: 86 degrees and clear
SCORING SUMMARY
DAL – Jesús Ferreira (Ema Twumasi, Alan Velasco) 65’
DAL – Paul Arriola (Nanú, Jáder Obrian) 88’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Obed Vargas (caution) 45’+1’
DAL – Paul Arriola (caution) 86’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Cleveland; Ethan Dobbelaere (Danny Leyva 80’), Abdoulaye Cissoko, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou, Jimmy Medranda (Alex Roldan 58’); Josh Atencio (Albert Rusnák 63’), Obed Vargas, Léo Chú (Cristian Roldan 63’), Fredy Montero; Will Bruin (Sam Adeniran 63’)
Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Reed Baker-Whiting
Total shots: 4
Shots on goal: 0
Fouls: 12
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 4
FC Dallas – Maarten Paes; José Martínez, Marco Farfan, Ema Twumasi (Nanú 78’), Matt Hedges; Facundo Quignón (Edwin Cerrillo 78’), Paul Arriola, Katlego Ntsabeleng (Franco Jara 62’), Paxton Pomykal; Jesús Ferreira (Jader Obrian 84’), Alan Velasco (Nkosi Tafari 84’)
Substitutes not used: Jimmy Maurer, Szabolcs Schon, Kalil Elmedkhar, Joshue Quiñonez
Total shots: 22
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 8
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 9
Saves: 0
