It was billed as an early battle for Western Conference supremacy. The first 45 minutes of Sunday’s battle between the Seattle Sounders and ST. Louis lived up to the billing. The visiting STL club’s strategy was evident early. Press the Sounders high up the pitch and put a body on the Rave Green players to slow them down. The strategy had worked wonders for STL who came in with an undefeated road record to counter the Sounder’s unbeaten and unscored record at home.
STELLAR SECOND HALF
The Sounder’s ability to break the STL press in the second half was the difference maker in the second half. In addition to getting that first pass past the STL trap the Rave Green sent multiple players into the middle of the pitch thereby outnumbering the STL midfield and defense.
POST GAME NOTES
- Tonight’s victory vaults Sounders FC into first place in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference with 16 points, one point ahead of St. Louis CITY SC. Seattle heads back on the road in a week’s time, facing archrival Portland at Providence Park on Saturday, April 15.
- Today’s match marked the first meeting between the Rave Green and expansion side St. Louis. Seattle’s all-time record when facing expansion clubs for the first time moves to 7-4-4.
- Including Saturday’s match, Sounders FC has lost just once in 11 home matches against expansion clubs, a 1-0 defeat to LAFC in 2018.
- At Lumen Field in 2023, the Rave Green move to 3-0-1 through their first four matches on home turf. Notably, Seattle has not conceded a home goal thus far in 2023.
- Sounders FC has kept a shutout in four-straight home matches for the first time since April – May of 2015.
- With his goal in the 65th minute of play, Homegrown Player Josh Atencio scored his first MLS strike in his 53rd regular-season appearance. While playing for developmental side Tacoma Defiance, the Bellevue native netted two professional goals prior to his promotion to the First Team.
- Club captain Nico Lodeiro assisted on Atencio’s strike, good for his fourth helper of 2023. The Uruguayan playmaker now has 74 assists in MLS regular-season play and 88 across all competitions in Rave Green, the most in club history in both categories.
- Substitute Raúl Ruidíaz’s 71st-minute goal was his first tally of 2023 and his 60th regular-season goal in MLS play. The Peruvian now has 74 goals across all competitions for Sounders FC, just two shy of tying the team lead held by teammate Fredy Montero (76 total goals).
- With the starting nod on Saturday, Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei broke Osvaldo Alonso’s club record in the MLS era with 323 career starts across all competitions. Frei still trails Alonso’s club record for all-competitions appearances (339).
- With just three goals allowed in 2023 through seven matches, Seattle is tied for second in MLS in goals conceded.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 3 – St. Louis CITY SC 0
Saturday, April 8, 2023
Venue: Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field
Referee: Rubiel Vazquez
Assistants: Michael Barwegen, Ben Pilgrim
Fourth Official: Mike Rottersman
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
Attendance: 31,789
Weather: 55 degrees and light rain
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Josh Atencio (Nico Lodeiro) 65’
SEA – Raúl Ruidíaz 71’
SEA – Own Goal (Jake Nerwinski) 89’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
STL – Lucas Bartlett (caution) 6’
SEA – Yeimar (caution) 38’
STL – Tim Parker (caution) 84’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan (Héber 82’), Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Albert Rusnák, Josh Atencio (Obed Vargas 90’), Cristian Roldan, Nico Lodeiro, Léo Chú (Raúl Ruidíaz 61’); Jordan Morris
Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Ethan Dobbelaere, Fredy Montero, Sota Kitahara, Xavier Arreaga
Total shots: 12
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 6
Offside: 8
Saves: 2
St. Louis CITY SC – Roman Bürki; Jake Nerwinski, Kyle Hiebert, Lucas Bartlett (Isak Jensen 74’), Tim Parker; Eduard Löewen (Tomas Ostrák 74’), John Nelson, Indiana Vassilev, Miguel Perez (Njabulo Blom 64’, Célio Pompeu 78’); João Klauss, Nicholas Gioacchini (Sam Adeniran 74’)
Substitutes not used: Jared Stroud, Josh Yaro, Selmir Pidro, Ben Lundt
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 10
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves: 4
