For the first time in a minute, you could describe a Seattle Sounders half as “relatively calm”. It wasn’t a perfect game — far from it — but it’s the most tranquil that the final half-hour of a match at Lumen Field has passed for an eon. Jordan Morris scored with just 15 minutes on the clock, and Albert Rusnák added a third goal in two games to ease the Sounders (8-7-7) past an eventually hapless New England Revolution (7-12-1) group.
Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer went largely with a player group whose proven success has been evident this year. Designated Player Raúl Ruidíaz was once again left on the bench, with Jordan Morris preferred in his place, and Paul Rothrock was inserted into the lineup. Right back Alex Roldan, who returned from concussion against Chicago a week ago, was also relegated to the bench on form.
Neither side looked particularly goal-dangerous in the opening 15 minutes, and it wasn’t until Morris found himself on the break that the Sounders put a shot on goal. It didn’t matter: The Mercer Island native held off a Revs defender for as long as he needed to, and finished decisively past Aljaz Ivacic.
The goal also marked Rusnák’s 10th assist of the year. The midfielder, who now tallies 14 goal contributions on the season, hasn’t provided double-digits helpers since 2017, when he finished with 12 for Real Salt Lake.
“I feel like we have a really good relationship,” Morris said, “going back to last year when I was playing up front a little bit, I felt like we had a good connection … for a guy like me that likes to get in behind — it’s easy, because I make a run and he’s always looking for me.”
Morris’ goal, though, was where Seattle’s true danger began and ended for the half. The Sounders put three shots on target following the 15th minute goal, but none came from inside the penalty area. New England, meanwhile, took eight first-half shots following the goal, including two that forced a spectacular double save from Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
“He kept us in the game,” Schmetzer said. “Because again, we weren’t playing great … that was a monster goal by Jordan, but then we kind of sputtered again. He’s done that throughout his career [and] we’re blessed to have him.”
For the second match in a row, Schmetzer opted to make a halftime substitution. A week ago against the Chicago Fire, it was Rothrock for Alex Roldan. On Saturday, it was Léo Chú hooked for midfielder Reed Baker-Whiting. The Brazilian winger was largely anonymous in the first half, when he registered 15 touches, an unsuccessful cross and a failed dribble. Baker-Whiting, for whom most of his outings have come at fullback, slotted in and allowed Seattle to rotate Roldan further into the attack and create a 3-5-2-esque shape (though it wasn’t a formation shift, Schmetzer confirmed).
“People that want to be here and play for the fans that are here at home are going to be on the field,” Schmetzer said of his halftime substitution. “I did the same thing in the previous game,” he clarified. “I need guys to understand that when they step on the field, they’re going to work for their teammates. They’re going to work for the fans. That’s the message.”
Even with the change, Seattle didn’t do much in the way of creativity early in the second half. Before the second goal, seven shots looked better on paper than they actually were. Save one effort into the side netting from Ruidíaz and a Yeimar Gomez Andrade header tipped over the bar by Ivacic, the Sounders never really got close to scoring for 25 minutes.
What mattered more whas how much they were able to limit the New England attack. Where Seattle has struggled in 2024 is closing out one-goal leads, where it’s been historically dominant. Against the Revolution, they played 45 minutes of clean, unworried soccer and only allowed three shots totaling 0.12 xG
Rusnák added a second goal to the Sounders’ total with nine minutes to play — after Obed Vargas made a well-directed headed pass towards the top of the box, the Slovak had a shot from 20-yards with a runner to his right and backed himself, tucking it away into Ivacic’s right-hand corner with ease.
“I feel like all game, I’d been looking for that pass,” Rusnák said, “and I always gave it to someone else … I just felt good in that moment, and of course it went in, so it was a good decision.”
Seattle wouldn’t need the extra goal to secure the three points, instead closing out the match with relative ease. Notably, it’s just the team’s third shutout win of the season.
“I don't like to micromanage the players,” Schmetzer said. “They have to do the job on the field what they see, but it’s a goal and an assist. When he's playing guys in like that, and the team is doing well…I mean, that's a statement.”
The Sounders move into sixth place with the win, and now take a trip to Sacramento on Tuesday for an Open Cup duel before a three-match MLS week that begins with a challenge in Austin. The fourth-year club is struggling, with just two wins in their last eight and head coach Josh Wolff on the hot seat. Seattle then returns home for a Wednesday night matchup with St. Louis CITY — currently without a manager after sacking head coach Bradley Carnell — and a Saturday duel with Western Conference rivals LAFC.
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