The Seattle Sounders defeated FC Dallas 1-0 on Friday night at Lumen Field in the decisive third match of their opening-round series of the MLS Cup Playoffs. After splitting the first two games, Albert Rusnák’s first-half goal was enough to propel the Sounders into the Western Conference Semifinals (TICKETS).
Rusnák opened the scoring in the 36th minute after an interception from João Paulo led to a silky through ball that Rusnák deposited with his left foot.
The Sounders put tons of pressure on Dallas over the final 10 minutes of the half and nearly found a second. The best chance came from Cristian Roldan, who missed wide after Jordan Morris dropped a pass to him at the top of the box.
Morris almost doubled the lead in the 58th minute when he beat a defender 1-v-1 on the left side of the box before firing a left-footed strike that goalkeeper Maarten Paes stretched to keep out.
The Sounders recorded their second clean sheet of the series and 16th of the year to lead MLS. Seattle put the clamps on defensively, allowing just a single shot to Dallas that came in the 89th minute.
The win pushed Head Coach Brian Schmetzer’s postseason record to 17-5-3, which extends his all-time best winning percentage for MLS managers with at least 10 postseason wins.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Home dominance vs. Dallas
The Sounders have now gone unbeaten in 19 consecutive home matches against FC Dallas in MLS play, including four straight postseason wins in 2019, ’20 and twice in ’23.
Big-game Albert
All seven of Rusnák’s goals this season were match-winning goals including two in this series. He has also stepped up down the stretch as he’s transitioned forward into a No. 10 role, having scored four times in his last six starts dating back to Sept. 20.
Home-field advantage
With Sporting Kansas City upsetting top-seeded St. Louis CITY SC in the opening round, the No. 2 seed Sounders are in the driver’s seat in the Western Conference. The Sounders will welcome LAFC to Lumen Field in a one-off conference semifinal (TICKETS), and a win there would allow the Sounders to host the conference championship with a trip to MLS Cup on the line.
Western Conference Semifinals: Tickets On Sale Now
Sounders FC is hosting LAFC in the Western Conference Semifinals at Lumen Field! Tickets are available now. Want to be notified when playoff tickets go on sale for future rounds should we advance? Sign up for ticket on-sale alerts below.
