MLSSoccer.com has named the Seattle Sounders No. 1 in the latest Power Rankings for the second straight week following the Rave Green’s thorough 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. João Paulo opened the scoring and was named to the MLS Team of the Week, while Raúl Ruidíaz scored his ninth goal of the season to move into a tie for second in the Golden Boot race.
Seattle is first in the Western Conference with 27 points from 14 matches and just four points off the Supporters’ Shield lead with a match in hand.
“With Raul Ruidiaz set to join Peru for South American World Cup qualifying, the Sounders will need another option in the No. 9 role,” wrote MLSSoccer.com contributor Jonathan Sigal. “Perhaps it’s Will Bruin’s time to shine, as he’s come off the bench since returning from an ACL tear this past summer. The Western Conference leaders have shown remarkable depth all year, and odds are they’ll handle this one in stride as well.”
The Sounders will host Real Salt Lake on Wednesday (7 p.m. PT; JOEtv, Prime Video, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM) before traveling to Los Angeles to take on LAFC on Sunday (4 p.m. PT; ESPN, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).
