The Seattle Sounders defeated the Colorado Rapids 2-1 on Wednesday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo., behind goals on either side of halftime from Léo Chú and Albert Rusnák. Colorado’s Cole Bassett pulled one back late for the hosts.
The Sounders nearly took the lead in the eighth minute when a long, pinpoint ball over the top from Yeimar picked out Rusnák, but his one-timed shot was just wide.
Cristian Roldan almost found the back of the net in the 31st minute when he turned in the box, but his quick, half-volleyed effort went over the crossbar.
Seattle did find the opener just three minutes later when Chú beat two defenders on the left flank before cutting inside and firing home a right-footed strike to the far post.
Rusnák doubled the Sounders’ lead in the 56th minute when he rose to head in a cross from Cristian Roldan.
The Rapids halved the deficit in the 80th minute when Bassett one-timed a shot past Stefan Frei from the top of the box.
The Sounders are now unbeaten in five consecutive matches, their longest streak since they rattled off 15 without defeat between the end of the 2020 season and into July 2021.
Seattle will complete its three-match road swing on Sept. 30 when it heads to Tennessee to take on Nashville SC on Sept. 30 (5:30 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV).
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Roldan makes full return
Roldan returned to the Starting XI for the first time since July 22 after coming on as a substitute over the weekend against FC Dallas. The Sounders’ midfield engine provided a wonderful assist to Rusnák to double Seattle’s lead before exiting in the 65th minute as he’s eased back into the lineup.
Chú’s breakout season continues
The Brazilian recorded his fifth goal of the year to go along with eight assists and is having the type of influential campaign that Seattle imagined when the club signed him from Brazil’s Grêmio in 2021. Chú is second on the Sounders in assists and is tied for second in goals.
More success against Colorado
Despite missing the services of Raúl Ruidíaz, who remained in Seattle as a precaution due to hamstring tightness, the Sounders continued their dominance over the Rapids. Seattle has now won 25 of 37 all-time meetings with Colorado, the most by an MLS team against a single opponent since Seattle entered the league in 2009.
