GAME NOTES
- With the win, Seattle becomes the first team in MLS history to begin a campaign unbeaten through 13 matches. Four clubs had previously reached the 12-match unbeaten mark.
- Dating back to the club’s inaugural MLS season, the 13-match unbeaten run is now tied for the longest single-season streak in team history at any point in a sole campaign. Sounders FC also achieved this feat during the 2017 season.
- With Sporting Kansas City not playing midweek, Seattle made up its game in-hand on SKC, using tonight’s victory to vault back atop both the Supporters’ Shield and Western Conference standings by three points.
- Going back to last season, Sounders FC now has a 14-match home unbeaten streak (10-0-4) in regular-season action, with the club suffering its last loss at Lumen Field on September 6, 2020. The current streak matches a franchise record set from March 16 – September 29, 2013. Including postseason play, the club’s current home unbeaten run is at 17 games (13-0-4) after winning all three of its 2020 Audi MLS Cup Playoff matches at Lumen Field.
- Scoring in second-half stoppage time, forward Raúl Ruidíaz bagged his 10th goal of 2021, good for his 52nd career MLS goal for the Rave Green (regular season and playoffs). He is now tied with the LA Galaxy’s Javier Hernández for the MLS Golden Boot.
- In the MLS era, Raúl Ruidíaz is officially the fastest Sounders FC scorer to reach 10 goals (13 games in 2021). Former forward Obafemi Martins reached the double-digit mark in 14 games in 2014.
- Kelyn Rowe netted his first goal as a Sounder in the 62nd minute, converting a right-sided cross from Alex Roldan. For the Federal Way native in his first year in Rave Green, it was his first strike since October 18, 2018 while playing for the New England Revolution. Rowe now has 30 regular-season goals dating back to his rookie year in 2012 with the Revolution.
- Alex Roldan’s assist to Kelyn Rowe was his third of 2021, and his sixth overall for Seattle dating back to his 2018 rookie season. Fredy Montero and Brad Smith both earned assists on Raúl Ruidíaz’s second-half goal, giving all three players three helpers in 2021. João Paulo leads Seattle with five assists on the season.
- Midfielder João Paulo captained Sounders FC for the first time on Wednesday night. The Brazilian stepped into the leadership role with Cristian Roldan away on international duty with the U.S. Men’s National Team, in addition to injuries to regular captain Nicolás Lodeiro and vice-captain Stefan Frei.
- Starting goalkeeper Stefan Cleveland made his eighth start of 2021, recording his third shutout in the process. Since Stefan Frei departed the lineup due to injury, Cleveland is 4-0-4 in goal for Seattle.
- Sounders FC is 11-4-6 all-time against Houston in MLS regular-season action, in addition to a 2-1-1 record in the postseason. The Rave Green are unbeaten in 13 home MLS fixtures against Dynamo FC (10-0-3), including an eight-match winning streak overall dating back to March of 2017 (including postseason).
- Xavier Arreaga returned to the starting lineup following his return from international duty with Ecuador in Copa America, replacing the recently injured Shane O’Neill (left hip flexor strain). Arreaga has featured in eight games for the Rave Green in 2021(seven starts).
- Sounders FC today signed Tacoma Defiance midfielder Juan Alvarez to a Short-Term Agreement, making him available on the bench for the match vs. Houston. International callups and injuries to players on Seattle’s roster made the club eligible for Extreme Hardship. As a result, the Rave Green signed the 16-year-old Alvarez from the club’s USL Championship affiliate to a short-term loan for Wednesday’s match.
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