Following the team’s 2-1 win over LAFC at Lumen Field on Saturday night, Seattle Sounders midfielder Albert Rusnák and goalkeeper Andrew Thomas were named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 35.
The result booked the Rave Green’s place in the Audi 2026 MLS Cup Playoffs on Decision Day, the club’s 17th postseason berth in 18 MLS seasons.
Rusnák needed just 51 seconds to make his mark. After Cristian Roldan won the ball back deep in LAFC’s half, he picked out a wide-open Rusnák at the doorstep, and the Slovak international redirected the pass into the net for the opening goal. In the 32nd minute, Rusnák turned provider, setting up Homegrown Player Sebastian Gomez, whose left-footed shot took a deflection past goalkeeper Cabral Carter to double the lead.
The assist was Rusnák’s 16th of the regular season, matching his own 2024 total and Nicolás Lodeiro’s 2018 mark for the most in a single campaign in club history.
Thomas was outstanding at the other end, making seven saves to hold off an LAFC attack led by Son Heung-Min and Denis Bouanga. He denied Bouanga in the third minute, kept out Son from close range in the 25th minute and stuck out a leg to stop Son again in the 55th minute.
This marks Thomas’ third TOTM selection of 2026, following Matchday 4 and Matchday 22.
The Sounders will host Real Salt Lake in the Wild Card round on Thursday, Nov. 19 at 7:00 p.m. PT (7:00 p.m. PT; Watch on Apple TV | TICKETS).
