Sounders FC head coach Brian Schmetzer discussed all week the need for his team to capitalize on the momentum gained from the FIFA Club World Cup to face Austin FC. Momentum and feel-good feelings aside, the truth is the Sounders were winless in their last five games overall.
FIRST HALF TRIES
The message was delivered and received as the Sounders started on the front foot. After an early Austin throw-in just seconds into the game, the Sounders implemented a high press to assert possession and dominance. Danny Musoviski, Jesus Ferreira, and Albert Rusnâk were the initial line of confrontation. This allowed Cristian Roldan and Obed Vargas time to pick up the errant balls in midfield and initiate the Sounders’ attack.
MISSING SHOTS
For all of their efforts in Austin FC’s final third, the Sounders were unable to get the ball past Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver. Cristian Roldan’s looping pass to a sprinting Musoviski saw the striker cut inside the Austin goal box, unleash a shot that beat Stuver but not the post. In the 32nd minute, Musoviski ‘s right-footed shot from the top of the box whizzed wide of the Austin goal.
The Sounders continued to attack the Austin FC defense using the width of the field. Paul Rothrock’s speed and quickness were too much for Austin midfielder Obrian Jader and defender Mikkel Desler.
After knocking on the door several times in the first half the Sounders’ Jesus Ferreira broke the damn with a far post blast before the halftime break.
Rusnák’s weighted pass down the left flank found a streaking Rothrock, who took several dribbles down the field, made a complete stop into the Austin goal box, and fed a wide-open Ferreria on the far side of the goal. Ferreria booted the ball into the back of the Austin goal for the 1-0 lead seconds before half time.
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CONTINUED ATTACK IN THE SECOND HALF
The Sounders stayed on the front foot to start the second half, and just like the first half, it was a matter of when, not if, they would find that second goal. Rothrock continued to terrorize the right side of the Austin backline, and Ferreria stayed wide on the left side, creating room for Vargas, who was playing in an advanced attacking position and right back Kalani Kossa-Rienzi. The overwhelmed Austin midfield and backline broke down in the 54th minute.
An exquisite counterattack from back to front saw the Sounders double their lead. After receiving the ball from the back line, Vargas passed the ball to Rothrock, who was just inside the right touchline. Rothrock passed the ball back inside to Ferreria, whose slide rule pass unleashed a streaking Musoviski, who slotted the ball past a hapless Stuver.
SOUNDERS SEE OUT THE GAME
With the comfortable two-goal lead, Schmetzter inserted Pedro de la Vega for Rothrock and Jordan Morris for Ferreira in the 75th minute. With his team in full command of the game, Schmetzer made two more late-game substitutions. João Paulo replaced Vargas, and Danny Leyva replaced Rusnák in the 86th minute. The game’s only drama came in the 89th minute when Reed-Baker Whitting received his second yellow of the game, and the Sounders finished the game with ten men.
BIG TAKE
Credit Schmetzer and his coaching staff for preparing his team to avoid a potential FIFA Club World Cup hangover. The players also did their part. They were mentally focused for the most part. There were some spells of sloppy possession and mental errors. In the end it was a complete team effort and provided a base the team can build on. Alex Roldan demonstrated his versatility by starting at center back, and Jackson Ragen was brave, decisive, and showed leadership as the anchor of the backline.
MATCH NOTES
- With the result, Seattle moves up to fifth place in the Western Conference with 29 points (8-6-5). The win ends a two-match losing streak in league play.
- Tonight’s match marked the return to MLS play for Seattle after bowing out of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ in the Group Stage. Seattle fell to Brazilian side Botafogo, Spanish power Atlético Madrid and 2025 UEFA Champions League winner Paris-Saint Germain.
- Jesús Ferreira’s goal in first-half stoppage time was his second of the season, also scoring last month against San Diego FC. He now has seven career goals against Austin FC in regular season play, the most among all players in MLS history.
- Ferreira also has 55 regular season goals in his career, one shy of Landon Donovan for the most goals scored before the age of 25.
- Paul Rothrock and Albert Rusnák earned assists on Ferreira’s strike, their fifth and fourth in all competitions, respectfully.
- With his assists, Rusnák became the 13th player in MLS history with at least 65 goals and 65 assists.
- Danny Musovski’s goal in the 54th minute was his sixth in MLS play and seventh in all competitions, both good for second on the team. His six goals in league play set a new single-season career high, previously set at five goals in 2020 and 2023.
- Ferreira recorded the assist on Musovski’s goal, his team-leading eighth in all competitions.
- Stefan Frei recorded his sixth shutout of the MLS campaign tonight and the 122nd of his career, second in league history (Nick Rimando, 154). The goalkeeper also recorded his 999th regular season save, one shy of joining Rimando as the only goalkeepers with at least 1,000 saves for one club.
- The Rave Green have only lost one match at home during the MLS campaign (6-1-2).
- Defenders Nouhou and Jonathan Bell were unable to play in tonight’s match after receiving red cards in the last MLS match against Vancouver on June 8.
- Seattle next hosts the Columbus Crew in a Sunday Night Soccer matchup on July 6 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (2:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Austin FC 0
Saturday, June 28, 2025
Venue: Lumen Field
Referee: Timothy Ford
Assistants: Gerard-Kader Lebuis, Eduardo Jeff
Fourth Official: Calin Radosav
VAR: Ramy Touchan
Attendance: 30,101
Weather: 70 degrees and sunny
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Jesús Ferreira (Paul Rothrock, Albert Rusnák) 45’+2’
SEA – Danny Musovski (Jesús Ferreira) 54’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
ATX – Besard Sabovic (caution) 53’
ATX – Oleksandr Svatok (caution) 57’
ATX – Guilherme Biro (caution) 74’
SEA – Reed Baker-Whiting (caution) 76’
SEA – Reed Baker-Whiting (ejection) 89’
SEA – João Paulo (caution) 90’+2’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei – Captain; Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Alex Roldan, Jackson Ragen, Reed Baker-Whiting; Obed Vargas (João Paulo 86’), Cristian Roldan; Jesús Ferreira (Jordan Morris 75’), Albert Rusnák (Danny Leyva 85’), Paul Rothrock (Pedro de la Vega 75’); Danny Musovski (Ryan Kent 61’)
Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Cody Baker, Travian Sousa, Georgi Minoungou
Total shots: 12
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 12
Offside: 1
Corner-Kicks: 3
Saves: 1
Austin FC – Brad Stuver; Guilherme Biro (Žan Kolmanič 77’), Oleksandr Svatok, Brendan Hines-Ike, Mikkel Desler (Robert Taylor 66’); Jon Gallagher, Besard Sabovic (Diego Rubio 66’), Dani Pereira, Jáder Obrian (Osman Bukari 56’); Brandon Vázquez, Owen Wolff (Nicolás Dubersarsky 77’)
Substitutes not used: Julio Cascante, Ilie Sánchez, Stefan Cleveland, CJ Fodrey
Total shots: 11
Shots on goal: 1
Fouls: 14
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 4
