An exquisite 18th-minute goal by Raul Ruidiaz gave the Seattle Sounders ( 4-0-1,13 points) the quick start they were looking for in hopes of scoring multiple goals after last Saturday’s goalless draw in Vancouver. The Ruidiaz goal turned out to be the lone goal in the Sounders 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake (1-4-1,4 points). While the win kept the Sounders unbeaten for the first time in club history after five games, Sounders head coach was looking for more from his club after the early goal.
It’s not that Schmetzer and his team are ungrateful or greedy for that matter. The mission for the Sounders in 2019 is simple, finish the season in the top two positions in the Western Conference earn a first-round bye then compete for the MLS Cup. MLS teams have a better team of winning the Cup when they host playoff games leading up to the title game. In order to achieve said goal, the Sounders will need to put teams away when they have the opportunity.