By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

Morris stoppage time goal powers Sounders FC to a dramatic 3-2 win over FC Dallas

On the day the Sounders showed their solidarity for equal rights in their pregame off-field activities the team showed its unity on the field with a dramatic come-from-behind 3-2 win over  FC Dallas.

Saturday marked the team’s fifth Pride  Match in partnership with Starbucks. The Pride Match allows Sounders FC to reaffirm its ongoing commitment to Stand for LGBTQ+ Equality, one of the four main tenets of the club’s Social Justice Framework.

LACK OF EXECUTION

With an eclectic crowd behind them, the Sounders started on the front foot playing a fast-paced free-flowing game.  Lacking for the  Rave Green was the clinical finish.  João Paulo had more than a decent chance in the 6th minute when he tip-toed through the FC Dallas defense, found himself momentarily open but muffed the shot . Paulo had another decent chance minutes later from distance. The shot hit the post for a goal kick.  

The Sounders’ best chance of the half occurred in the  36th minute, on another shot from distance this one by  Albert Rusnák who forced a save for FC Dallas goalkeeper Maarten Paes.The halftime whistle saw both sides enter their respective dressing rooms without a goal.

FAST AND  FLURY START

The Sounders continued their dominance to start the second half and it looked like it was just a matter of when they would score rather than if. With the game goalless in the 60th minute Sounders head coach decided to make a tactical change. Schemtzer inserted Raul Ruidiaz for Danny Musovski. It looked like Schemtzer had struck goal with the move four minutes later when  Yeimar laid off a pass for Ruidiz who rifled a shot at the  FC Dallas net which was saved by Paes.

HEAD TURNS ON ITS HEAD

With the Sounders pressing up it was the visitors who drew first blood in the sixth six minutes. Paulo whiffed on a defense clearance which was picked up the FC Dallas’s Logan Farrington who deftly crossed the ball to a wide-open Patrickson Delgado for the 1-0 lead. The visitors doubled their lead three minutes later when passive defending saw Delgado find a wide-open Petar Musa in front of the Sounders goal for the 2-0 lead

STAYING UNIFIED

Despite the bizarre turn of events the Sounders stayed the course and were rewarded for their belief in the 77th  minute. After nearly scoring two minutes earlier Rusnák crossed a curling ball that was headed home by Ruidiaz for his 8th goal of the season and cut the deficit to just one goal. The Sunders continued to push up the field and equalized in the 87th minute on another Rusnák assist.  A right-footed corner kick by Rusnák found an open Jordan Morris who equalized with a header that whistled into the back of the net for the equalizer.

DESTINED TO SCORE

With the home crowd clapping, yelling, and chanting the Sounders threw everyone upfield for what seemed like the inevitable game-winner. Four minutes into stoppage time,  Obed Vargas fed a slide rule pass that split the FC Dallas defense onto the feet of a streaking Morris who right-footed the game-winner into the back of the FC  Dallas goal. The win was  a dramatic victory that seemed to turn the corner for a team that  has played inconsistent soccer.

MATCH NOTES

  • Sounders FC sits in 10th place in the Western Conference with 25 points (6-7-7), level on points with ninth-place Vancouver for the final MLS Cup Playoffs position (Whitecaps FC holds the total wins tiebreaker).
  • Seattle is now 15-8-11 all-time against FC Dallas in MLS regular-season play. Seattle is riding a five-match unbeaten streak (2-0-3) in the series.
  • Raúl Ruidíaz scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season in the second half, his 86th strike across all competitions for Sounders FC (first in club history).
  • With the late brace, Jordan Morris has seven goals on the season. His 60 career regular-season goals pass Fredy Montero for second in club history. With 73 goals across all competitions, Morris is third in club history, six behind Montero and 13 behind Ruidíaz.
  • With a pair of assists in the second half, Albert Rusnák now has a team-leading nine on the season, tied for seventh in MLS.
  • João Paulo recorded his second assist of the season on Ruidíaz’s goal. The Brazilian now has 25 career assists over five seasons with Seattle.
  • Obed Vargas recorded the game-winning assist on Morris’ stoppage-time goal, his fourth of the season.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 3 – FC Dallas 2

Saturday, June 22, 2024

Venue: Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field

Referee: Mark Badawi

Assistants: Micheal Barwegen, Eduardo Jeff

Fourth Official: Elton Garcia

VAR: Fotis Bazakos

Attendance: 30,093

Weather: 70 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

FCD – Patrickson Delgado (Logan Farrington) 66’

FCD – Petar Musa (Patrickson Delgado) 70’

SEA – Raúl Ruidíaz (Albert Rusnák) 78’

SEA – Jordan Morris (Albert Rusnák) 88’

SEA – Jordan Morris (Obed Vargas) 90’+4’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

FCD – Petar Musa (caution) 27’

SEA – Obed Vargas (caution) 80’

FCD – Dante Sealy (caution) 89’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Cristian Roldan, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou (Reed Baker-Whiting 73’); Obed Vargas, João Paulo, Danny Musovski (Raúl Ruidíaz 60’), Albert Rusnák, Léo Chú (Paul Rothrock 67’); Jordan Morris

Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Nathan, Cody Baker, Josh Atencio, Danny Leyva, Dylan Teves

Total shots: 26

Shots on goal: 9

Fouls: 16

Offside: 0

Corner-Kicks: 9

Saves: 3

FC Dallas – Maarten Paes; Marco Farfan, Paul Arriola, Nkosi Tafari, Sebastien Ibeagha; Patrickson Delgado (Omar Gonzalez 80’), Sebastian Lletget, Katlego Ntsabeleng (Dante Sealy 71’), Liam Fraser; Petar Musa, Jesus Ferreira (Logan Farrington 60’)

Substitutes not used: Jimmy Maurer, Carl Sainte, Ema Twumasi, Sam Junqua, Eugene Ansah, Bernard Kamungo

Total shots: 8

Shots on goal: 5

Fouls: 12

Offside: 2

Corner-kicks: 1

Saves: 6

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