Head Coach Brian Schmetzer is fond of saying Sounders never quit. That mentality was on fully display in Saturday night’s 3-2 win over FC Dallas at Lumen Field.
“Credit to that group of players in there for never giving up,” said Schmetzer. “That makes me really proud that we were able to keep it together.”
After dominating most of the match, Seattle conceded two goals in the span of five minutes in the second half. While many teams would falter in frustration, the Sounders did the opposite, executing three goals in the closing minutes of the match.
“It was a great ending to a great game,” said Schmetzer.
First it was Raúl Ruidíaz who came up clutch in the 78th minute with a headed goal off a floating Albert Rusnák service. Then, it was Jordan Morris, who solidified the win with a pair of goals in the 88th minute and fourth minute of second-half stoppage time.
“You have to take risks even if it doesn't come out [the way you want it to], and I felt like that's what we did as a team today,” said Rusnák.
This is the second time this week where the Sounders have rallied back from a two-goal deficit to pick up a result. Wednesday night’s 2-2 draw away to the Houston Dynamo was crucial with the team having to play a mid-week match on the road, but to close out the stretch of games with a victory, despite having tired legs, illustrates the the team’s perseverance.
“We made it a goal of ours in the second half of the season to push up the table because we know we have the quality to compete for trophies and I think [tonight] just shows that the team keeps fighting,” said Morris.
The night was full of individual player achievements. With Albert’s two assists, he’s recorded four in his last six games and currently ranks 7th in the league with nine so far this season. Additionally, Obed Vargas has tallied two assists in the past three games while Morris has now climbed to six goals in his last seven games.
Morris’ two strikes took him to 60 regular season goals across his career, leapfrogging Fredy Montero for second-most in club history.
But, it was the second half substitutes that collectively heightened the energy and pushed the team out of their brief 2-0 shortfall and toward a positive result.
“It just motivates the team…It gives the team a different gear, a different look,” said Vargas. And that's how we're going to win games, just having everyone be ready and giving everything.”
The Sounders are satisfied with tonight’s victory, but recognize their need to continue this upward trajectory as they begin preparations for their next home match against the Chicago Fire (7:30 p.m. PT; MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS) and attempt to climb the Western Conference standings.
“We need to keep winning at home,” said Morris. “We have two more home games in this stretch and we got seven points this week, which is great, but we just have to keep building on those performances.”
