CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Sounders FC (8-6-4, 28 points) played to a 3-3 draw against Charlotte FC (6-8-4, 22 points) on Saturday evening at Bank of America Stadium. Raúl RuidÃaz recorded a brace and Cristian Roldan added another as the Rave Green return to Seattle after splitting points with Charlotte.
Seattle opened the scoring in the 11th minute courtesy Roldan. Jackson Ragen played a long pass behind the defense to a streaking Roldan, who controlled the ball with a touch and smashed home the ensuing shot. The strike marked Roldan's second of the year and Ragen's first career MLS assist.
Charlotte answered back six minutes later, with Karol Swiderski chasing down a long ball at the touchline, keeping it in bounds and crossing to Jaylin Lindsey for a volley into the back of the net.
Seattle got its second by way of a RuidÃaz long-range effort in the 36th minute. Léo Chú played a ball to the Peruvian, who took a few touches just outside the area and launched a curling shot into the back of the net.
The home side answered back with an Ashley Westwood goal in the 53rd minute. Ben Bender laid a pass off to Westwood, who took a touch to his left and fired a shot from distance past the outstretched hand of Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
RuidÃaz bagged his brace 70th minute, getting on the end of a João Paulo looping cross at the far post for a first-time strike to put Seattle back in front. It marked the Peruvian’s 77th career goal across all competitions for Seattle, two shy of Fredy Montero for the most in club history.
Unfortunately for Seattle, Charlotte clawed back a late goal to even the score. Nathan Byrne sent a cross in that found the head of Patrick Agyemang, who deflected the ball into the back of the net for the tying goal.
Sounders FC now has over a week off before heading to BMO Stadium to take on LAFC on Wednesday, June 21 (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH NOTES
- Sounders FC sits in second place in the Western Conference with 28 points (8-6-4).
- Making his first start since April 8 after being placed in the concussion protocol, Roldan scored his second goal of the season and 38th career across all competitions, seventh in club history.
- Jackson Ragen recorded his first career assist on Roldan’s first-half strike.
- Also making his first start in nearly two months, Raúl RuidÃaz scored his third and fourth goals of the season. The Peruvian now has 77 career goals for Sounders FC across all competitions, two shy of teammate Fredy Montero for the most in club history. RuidÃaz’s 63 career goals in MLS regular-season action ranks first in club history.
- Tonight marked RuidÃaz’s 12th career multi-goal game in MLS for Seattle, the most in club history.
- Léo Chú recorded his seventh assist of the season on RuidÃaz’s first goal, tied for third in MLS.
- João Paulo recorded his second assist of the season on RuidÃaz’s second goal, while Roldan was credited with the secondary assist, his first helper of the year.
- Albert Rusnák started in attacking midfield on Saturday for the first time this season, up a line from his regular spot due to Nico Lodeiro sitting out with an adductor strain. The Slovakian was awarded a secondary assist on RuidÃaz’s first goal, good for his third of the year.
- Obed Vargas made his return to the squad on Saturday, starting alongside João Paulo in central midfield. He last appeared for the Rave Green on May 7 before joining the U.S. U-20 Men’s Youth National Team at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina, where he appeared all five matches.
- Jordan Morris returned to the pitch for Seattle as a 71st-minute substitute after missing the previous two games with an adductor strain.
- Saturday marked Sounders FC’s first visit to Bank of America Stadium and second all-time matchup with Charlotte FC (Seattle won the first matchup 2-1 in May 29, 2021). The Rave Green are now 11-9-7 all-time when playing a team for the first time on the road.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 3 – Charlotte FC 3
Saturday, June 10, 2023
Venue: Bank of America Stadium
Referee: Lukasz Szpala
Assistants: Adam Wienckowski, Jason White
Fourth Official: Luis Arroyo
VAR: Jorge Gonzalez
Attendance: 31,563
Weather: 78 degrees and clear
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Cristian Roldan (Jackson Ragen) 11’
CLT – Jaylin Lindsey (Karol Swiderski, Ashley Westwood) 17’
SEA – Raúl RuidÃaz (Léo Chú, Albert Rusnák) 36’
CLT – Ashley Westwood (Ben Bender) 53’
SEA – Raúl RuidÃaz (João Paulo, Cristian Roldan) 70’
CLT – Patrick Agyemang (Nathan Bryne, Brandt Bronico) 89’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
CLT – Derrick Jones (caution) 62’
CLT – Kerwin Vargas (caution) 64’
SEA – Nouhou (caution) 78’
CLT – Patrick Agyemang (caution) 86’
CLT – Justin Meram (caution) 90’+2’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan (Josh Atencio 87’), Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Obed Vargas (Cody Baker 87’), João Paulo, Cristian Roldan (Kelyn Rowe 74’), Albert Rusnák, Léo Chú (Jordan Morris 70’); Raúl RuidÃaz (Héber 70’)
Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Xavier Arreaga, Dylan Teves, Fredy Montero
Total shots: 10
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 15
Offside: 1
Corner-Kicks: 2
Saves: 3
Charlotte FC – Kristijan Kahlina; Nathan Byrne, Jaylin Lindsey, Adilson Malanda; Ashley Westwood, Brandt Bronico, Ben Bender (Patrick Agyemang 75’), Derrick Jones, Justin Meram (McKinze Gaines 74’); Karol Swiderski, Kerwin Vargas (Brandon Cambridge 69’)
Substitutes not used: Jan Sobocinski, Guzmán Corujo, Bill Tuiloma, Pablo Sisniega, Harrison Afful, Joseph Mora
Total shots: 7
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 7
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 0
Saves: 0
