The Sounder 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Union was the classic tale of two halves. The Rave Green bolted to a 3-0 first-half lead then proceeded to do a walking dead dance that allowed the Union to score two quick back-to-back goals in the 55th and 57 minutes to make for a nervy and thrilling final 30 minutes.
DETERMINED START
After their meltdown at DC United, the Sounders were determined to show they had plenty of fight and bounce back. The contest started at the 5:28 mark because that is when play was halted due to the inclement weather from the canceled contest.
In all honesty, it did not matter when the game started the Sounders were ready. Much is on the line for the Rave Green, a season that is slipping away with each loss and the possibility of a second nonplayoff appearance in the club’s history. Most of that is external pressure. With the season not even at the halfway mark the biggest pressure for the Sounders was internal. The team’s pride was on the line.
COURAGEOUS AND DANGEROUS.
The Sounders were courageous with and without possession. The combination of the two saw the Sounders score the first goal of the contest on Raul Ruidiaz golazo. High pitch pressure by the Sounders forced a turnover by Union defender Jose Martinez. Ruidiaz scooped up the errand pass dribble a few yards and hit a 35-yard rocket that sailed Philadelphian goalkeeper Oliver Semmle. The Sounders doubled their lead nine minutes later when a nifty give-and-go between Leo Chu and Obed Vargas created space for Vargas to bend a right-footed shot between Union defenders and Semmle for the 2-0.
Vargas continued to push upfield and his courageousness with the ball earned the Sounders third goal. Another give-and-go this time between Vargas and Ruidiaz resulted in Vargas being hauled down inside the penalty box by Union right back Olivier Mbaizo. With a chicky penalty Ruidiaz saw the Sounders take a 3-0 lead.
LACK OF CONCENTRATION
After a near goal by Ruidiaz, two minutes into the second half the Sounders simply shut down physically and mentally From the 47th minute to the 57th the Union dominated the possession battle without a fight from the Sounders. The extra possession saw the Union score two goals in a span of just two minutes. The Union’s Jack McGlynn was given space and time and hit a rising left-footed shot that beat Andre Thomas at the 55th-minute mark. The Union’s Quinn Sullivan galloped down the right side and his pinpoint cross found a streaking Daniel Gazdag who found just enough space between Yeimar and Jackson to head the ball past Thomas.
EXPERIENCE PAYS OFF
The insertion of Albert Rusnack for Chu two minutes after the Union goal helped stabilize a Sounders team that was stunned and on its heels. With their wits about them, the Sounders could defend their half with determination and passion. To a man the Sounders tracked down the Union players when they had the ball and stayed close when they did not. As a result, the Sounders earned their second win of the season.
MATCH NOTES
- Sounders FC earns its second win of the season and currently sits 12th place in the Western Conference with 9 points (2-5-3).
- Tuesday’s match marked the first meeting between the two sides since 2019. Seattle is now 5-5-3 all-time against Philadelphia in MLS regular-season play.
- With his first-half brace, Ruidíaz leads the team in scoring and is tied for sixth in MLS with six goals this season. He ranks first in club history with both 70 goals in MLS regular-season play and 84 across all competitions.
- Tuesday marked Ruidíaz’s second multi-goal game of the season and 16th in his career (MLS regular season), tied for third among active players. The Peruvian ranks first in club history with 17 multi-goal games across all competitions (14 regular season, two MLS Cup Playoffs, one Concacaf Champions Cup).
- Ruidíaz has converted all four of his penalty attempts this season, matching his career high.
- Obed Vargas scored his first professional goal in the first half of Tuesday’s match. The 18-year-old Sounders FC Academy product has made 57 appearances across all competitions for Sounders FC, in addition to career 28 appearances for Tacoma Defiance.
- Tonight’s match marked a recommencement of the March 9 fixture between Seattle and Philadelphia that was postponed in the sixth minute due to inclement weather. The game resumed from the moment it was halted with the same lineups and substitutes, with two exceptions to Sounders FC’s matchday roster: Yeimar Gómez Andrade slotted into the starting XI for Xavier Arreaga, who was traded to the New England Revolution last week, while Danny Musovski, who was on the bench for the March 9 match, was unavailable due to injury. Albert Rusnák and João Paulo were added to the bench to replace Arreaga and Musovski.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 3 – Philadelphia Union 2
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
Venue: Subaru Park
Referee: Joe Dickerson
Assistants: Ryan Graves, Mike Nickerson
Fourth Official: Sergii Boiko
VAR: Sorin Stoica
Weather: 79 degrees and sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Raúl Ruidíaz 13’
SEA – Obed Vargas (Léo Chú) 22’
SEA – Raúl Ruidíaz (penalty) 37’
PHL – Jack McGlynn (Alejandro Bedoya) 56’
PHL – Daniel Gazdag (Quinn Sullivan) 57’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Jackson Ragen (caution) 27’
PHL – Mikael Uhre (caution) 45’+10’
SEA – Nouhou (caution) 59’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Andrew Thomas; Alex Roldan, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Josh Atencio, Obed Vargas, Jordan Morris (Paul Rothrock 90’+1’), Cristian Roldan, Léo Chú (Albert Rusnák 59’); Raúl Ruidíaz (Cody Baker 84’)
Substitutes not used: Jacob Castro, Jonathan Bell, Danny Leyva, Dylan Teves, João Paulo
Total shots: 16
Shots on goal: 5
Fouls: 7
Offside: 3
Corner-Kicks: 10
Saves: 5
Philadelphia Union – Oliver Semmle; Jack Elliott, Jakob Glesnes, Olivier Mbaizo (Kai Wagner 46’), Nathan Harriel; Jose Martinez (Alejandro Bedoya 46’), Daniel Gazdag, Jesus Bueno (Jack McGlynn 46’), Quinn Sullivan; Mikael Uhre (Chris Donovan 81’), Julian Carranza
Substitutes not used: Andrew Rick, Jeremy Rafanello, Sanders Ngabo, Leon Flach
Total shots: 16
Shots on goal: 7
Fouls: 6
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 9
Saves: 2
Discover more from Cascadiasports.net
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
