Sounders FC (4-5-1, 13 points) defeated Houston Dynamo FC (4-5-3, 15 points) 1-0 on Wednesday evening at PNC Stadium. The match was the first of two road fixtures this week for Seattle, who travels to face the Colorado Rapids on Sunday, May 22 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park (5:00 p.m. PT / FOX 13+, Prime Video, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
Striker Raúl Ruidíaz put Seattle on the board in the 28th minute with his second MLS strike of the season and fifth across all competitions in 2022. In an impressive team goal, Jordan Morris found himself near the touchline on the left side of the 18-yard-box, where he crossed to Alex Roldan on the other side of the area for a bang-bang pass to Ruidíaz, who redirected the ball into the net.
With tonight’s clean sheet, Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei recorded his 86th career shutout, moving above Joe Cannon for third all-time. Only Nick Rimando (154) and Kevin Hartman (112) have more shutouts in league history.
MATCH NOTES
• Sounders FC is now 4-5-1 on the season and sits 11th in the Western Conference with 13 points.
• Tonight marked the 23rd all-time regular-season meeting between the two sides, with Seattle holding a 12-5-6 advantage (3-5-4 on the road).
• Sounders FC has lost just once in the last nine meetings with Houston across all competitions (8-1-0).
• With his first-half strike, Ruidíaz now has two MLS goals on the season and four across all competitions in 2022, including four in his past three games. His 66 career goals across all competitions since joining Sounders FC in 2018 rank second in club history (Fredy Montero, 73).
• Jordan Morris and Alex Roldan each recorded their second assists of the season on Ruidíaz’s goal.
• Houston went down to 10 men in the 54th minute when Adalberto Carrasquilla was issued his second yellow card of the match.
• Seattle’s Alex Roldan also earned a second yellow card in the 82nd minute of play, leveling the match at 10 men apiece.
• With 86 career clean sheets, Stefan Frei moves ahead of Joe Cannon to take sole possession of third place on the league’s shutout list, trailing only Nick Rimando (154) and Kevin Hartman (112).
• Schmetzer deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation featuring just one change from Sunday’s win over Minnesota, with Kelyn Rowe replacing Obed Vargas, who was suspended for yellow card accumulation.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Houston Dynamo FC 0
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Venue: PNC Stadium
Referee: Rubeil Vazquez
Assistants: Corey Richardson, Nick Uranga
Fourth Official: Elton Garcia
VAR: Jorge Gonzalez
Attendance: 11,093
Weather: 86 degrees and sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Raúl Ruidíaz (Alex Roldan, Jordan Morris) 28’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
HOU – Adalberto Carrasquilla (caution) 11’
SEA – Kelyn Rowe (caution) 47’
HOU – Adalberto Carrasquilla (ejection) 54’
SEA – Alex Roldan (caution) 79’
SEA – Alex Roldan (ejection) 82’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yeimar, Xavier Arreaga, Nouhou; Kelyn Rowe (Josh Atencio 59’), Albert Rusnák (Ethan Dobbelaere 86’), Cristian Roldan, Nico Lodeiro, Jordan Morris (Jimmy Medranda 77’); Raúl Ruidíaz (Will Bruin 86’)
Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Andrew Thomas, Abdoulaye Cissoko, Ethan Dobbelaere, Fredy Montero
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 5
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 3
Houston Dynamo FC – Steve Clark; Tim Parker, Ethan Bartlow, Sam Junqua, Zeca; Memo Rodríguez (Thiago Fernandes 90’+1’), Adalberto Carrasquilla, Darwin Ceren; Sebastian Ferreira (Thor Úlfarsson 72’), Fafá Picault (Tyler Pasher 62’), Darwin Quintero (Roberto Avila 62’)
Substitutes not used: Michael Nelson, Daniel Steres, Zarek Valentin, Griffin Dorsey, Marcelo Palomino
Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 14
Offside: 3
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves: 3
