Ruidíaz scores as Sounders FC earns crucial 1-0 road win at San Jose

SAN JOSE, CALIF. - Raúl Ruidíaz scored his first MLS goal as Seattle Sounders FC (6-9-5, 23 points) earned three points on the road in a shutout win over the San Jose Earthquakes (2-12-6, 12 points) on Wednesday evening at Avaya Stadium. In just his second appearance and first start for Seattle since signing as a Designated Player on June 29, Ruidíaz helped the club extend its unbeaten streak to five games (3-0-2). Just seven points below the sixth and final postseason spot in the Western Conference, Sounders FC now returns home to prepare for its lone matchup of the season with New York City FC on Sunday, July 29 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field, with a national broadcast on ESPN.

After an hour of scoreless play, Ruidíaz - who celebrated his 28th birthday on Wednesday - notched the winner for Seattle in the 62^nd minute for his first goal as part of the Rave Green. After an errant San Jose pass fell to his feet at midfield, Ruidíaz played Cristian Roldan down the right flank to put the defense on its heels. Roldan fed Ruidíaz at the top of the 18-yard-box, forcing the Peruvian to chest the ball down before firing a laser inside the far post, just outside the reach of Quakes goalkeeper Andrew Tarbell. It was just the second appearance and first start for the Peruvian for Seattle, following his debut as a substitute on Saturday vs. Vancouver.

Stefan Frei made five saves and recorded his fourth shutout of the season, including three in his last four games. His 63 career shutouts are second among active goalkeepers and eighth all-time in MLS history.

Following Wednesday's match, Sounders FC returns home to host New York City FC on Sunday, July 29 at CenturyLink Field (2:00 p.m. PT / ESPN, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

• Sounders FC is now 6-9-5 on the season, and currently sits 10^th in the Western Conference with 23 points. 

• The result extends Seattle's unbeaten streak to five games (3-0-2), dating back to July 4 at Colorado, including four road matches (2-0-2). Dating back to the club's loss to Sacramento Republic FC in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on June 6, Sounders FC has a record of 4-2-3 in MLS action.

• Forward Raúl Ruidíaz scored his first Sounders FC and MLS goal in the 62^nd minute of the match, which also marked his first start for the club after signing on June 29. The Peruvian, who celebrated his 28th birthday on Wednesday, made his team debut on Saturday with 29 minutes of action off the bench vs. Vancouver.

• Stefan Frei made five saves and recorded his fourth shutout of the season, including three in his last four games. His 63 career shutouts are second among active goalkeepers and eighth all-time in MLS history.

• Midfielder Cristian Roldan assisted on Ruidíaz's goal, giving him five on the season, tied with Nico Lodeiro for first on the team.

• Defender Román Torres got the nod at center back on Wednesday, replacing Chad Marshall who remained in Seattle due to a right quad contusion.

• Seattle's 23 goals allowed this season are tied for the second-fewest in MLS this season, tied with FC Dallas and trailing only the New York Red Bulls (19).

• With a road record of 3-5-3 so far in 2018, Sounders FC has earned 12 of its 23 points away from home this season.

• Sounders FC picked up just its second win in 11 all-time MLS matches in San Jose (2-5-4).

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 1 - San Jose Earthquakes 0
Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Venue: Avaya Stadium
Referee: Kevin Stott
Assistants: Michael Kampmeinert, Andrew Bigelow
Fourth Official: Hilario Grajeda
VAR: Alex Chilowicz
Attendance: 16,478
Weather: 72 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA - Raúl Ruidíaz (Cristian Roldan) 62'

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SJ - Luis Felipe Fernandes (caution) 38'

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Jordan McCrary, Román Torres, Kim Kee-hee, Nouhou; Gustav Svensson, Osvaldo Alonso - captain (Clint Dempsey 79'), Nicolás Lodeiro, Cristian Roldan, Harry Shipp (Alex Roldan 87'); Raúl Ruidíaz (Will Bruin 66')

Substitutes not used: Bryan Meredith, Kelvin Leerdam, Waylon Francis, Jordy Delem

Total shots: 10 (Lodeiro, 3)
Shots on goal: 2 (Ruidíaz/Torres, 1)
Fouls: 6 (Shipp, 3)
Offside: 2 (Shipp/Ruidíaz, 1)
Corner-kicks: 1
Saves: 5 (Frei, 5)                               

San Jose Earthquakes - Andrew Tarbell; Nick Lima, Guram Kashia, Harold Cummings, Shea Salinas; Valeri Qazaishvili, Florian Jungwirth (Tommy Thompson 69'), Luis Felipe Fernandes, Jahmir Hyka (Magnus Eriksson 78'), Danny Hoesen (Quincy Amarikwa 69'), Chris Wondolowski

Substitutes not used: Matt Bersano, Jimmy Ockford, Joel Qwiberg, Jackson Yueill

Total shots: 13 (Qazaishvili, 4)
Shots on goal: 5 (Qazaishvili, 3)
Fouls: 9 (Eriksson/Hoesen, 2)
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 6 (Qazaishvili, 6)
Saves: 1 (Tarbell, 1)