The Seattle Sounders checked all the boxes except the most important one in their regular season, ending in a 2-1 win over New York City FC. Winger Pedro De la Vega suffered a gruesome-looking non-contact knee injury in the 24th minute and was replaced by Paul Rothrock.
“ Obviously, it’s not a good injury, but we don’t know the extent of the injury right now. We’re just going to call it a right knee injury, and he will be back in Seattle. He’s back on a flight with us, so he’s okay, he’s OK to travel, which is positive, “said head coach Brian Schmetzer after the game. “ And then we’ll get an MRI, and we’ll figure out exactly what it is, what we’re dealing with, I can’t hide the fact that it wasn’t a good injury. I don’t have any additional information until we actually get our doctors to take a look at them and get the X-rays and the MRIs and all this stuff that they do, all the diagnostics that they have to do. “
With the playoffs starting next week the hope for all teams is to enter the playoffs as healthy as possible.
Pragmatic game
As for the game itself, Schmetzer started seven, including de la Vega, who one would call regular first-team starters. Stefan Frei in goal, Jackson Ragen at left center back, Nouhou at left back, Albert Rusák below Jordan Morris and Jesus Ferreira at left wing. Danny Leyva and Joao Paulo occupied the central and holding midfield positions. Kolani Kossa Rienzi started at right back, and the biggest surprise was Alex Roldan at right centerback.
Obed Varga and Cristian Roldan were left back in Seattle to recover after their return from international team call ups. Regardless of the outcome of the game, the Sounders were assured fifth place in the Western Conference. NYCF could finish anywhere from 5th to 7th, depending on results and scores.
HUNTING FOR A WIN
A win over the Sounders would have set a franchise record for most wins in a season and made it two wins in a row heading into the playoffs. NYCF had plenty to play for besides momentum and pride. Not to be little those virtues. In fact, those were the virtues that propelled the Sounders to the gritty win. The first half was a dog fight in which the game was bogged down in the middle of the field. The possession battle between the two teams was even 50% for each team. NYCF had four shots, two on goal. The Sounders had two shots, none on goal.
Strong start to the second half
After 45 minutes of sitting back and staying compact, the Sounders started the second half on the front foot. The Sounders attacked from their left side using Rothrock’s speed and Ferreira’s ability to carry and pass the ball downfield. Rothrock earned a free kick in the 61st minute, 30 yards from the goal. Rusnák’s deft free kick into the goal box was headed into the back of the net by Jordan Morris.
The homeside levelled the game in the 82nd minute after a giveaway by Leyva and some shoddy defending by the Sounders. Leyva tried to clear the ball with a defender on his back, and the ball was intercepted by NYFC midfielder Maximo Carrizo, who slotted the ball to Julian Fernandez, who found a streaking Nicolas Fernandez for the equalizer.
SOUNDERS COMPLETE BUSINESS TRIP
The Sounders stayed resolute, gathered momentum, and scored the game-winning goal five minutes later. Rothrock’s continued persistence in the final third won the Sounders a corner kick. Rusnák earned his second assist of the game when his perfectly delivered corner kick was headed home by Ragen for the game winner.
“ The main reason why we’re able to win this game is because in the DNA of the Seattle Sounders is overcoming adversity, figuring out ways how to win games, figuring out ways how to be better than your opponent, ‘ said Schmetzer. “ I mean, that was a classic, gutty performance. We had to overcome injuries, guys coming back. You talk about Danny Leva having a strong performance. Joe Paulo is trying to gut it out. He had a sore calf.
I didn’t even tell you guys that. You know, Jonathan Bell consistently comes on the field and does a good job. Masoski, at the end, Reed, they all played their part, all the subs, did a great job. But that whole group of players, when they play with that type of determination, those smarts, and, you know, I told you guys, nobody wants to play us in the playoffs. I’m telling you,”
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POST GAME NOTES
MATCH NOTES
- Coming into the match, Sounders FC had already secured the fifth seed in the Western Conference and will be the lower seed in its Round One matchup in the Audi 2025 MLS Cup Playoffs. Date, time and opponent information for Round One matchups will be determined following Saturday’s Decision Day results around the league.
- Seattle is now 3-3-0 all-time against NYCFC in MLS regular-season play, including a 2-2-0 mark on the road. This marked the first regular-season meeting between the two sides since 2019.
- Jordan Morris scored his fifth goal of the season in the second half, his first strike since July 12 against Sporting Kansas City. Morris is Sounders FC’s all-time leading goal scorer with 89 career tallies across all competitions.
- With the assist on Morris’ goal, Albert Rusnák leads the team with 10 assists in MLS regular-season play. This marks Rusnák’s second consecutive and fourth career double-digit assist season in MLS.
- After seeing New York City FC level the match at 1-1, defender Jackson Ragen secured three points for Seattle with a headed goal off a Danny Levya corner kick in the 87th minute of play. The goal was Ragen’s second of the season, with Leyva adding his fourth regular-season assist.
- With 11 goals and 10 assists on the year, this marks the second-consecutive season that Rusnák has recorded double-digit goals and assists (10 goals and 16 assists in 2024).
- Sounders FC has recorded 269 points all-time against Eastern Conference opponents (77-48-38), the most among all Western Conference teams since Seattle joined MLS in 2009.
- Seattle now turns its attention to the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. This is the 16th occasion in 17 years that the team has made the postseason, the most appearances for any team since 2009 (when Sounders FC entered MLS).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – New York City FC 1
Saturday, October 18, 2025
Venue: Citi Field
Referee: Chris Penso
Assistants: Ryan Graves, Gianni Facchini
Fourth Official: Guido Gonzales Jr.
VAR: Geoff Gamble
Attendance: 24,823
Weather: 61 degrees and mostly clear
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Jordan Morris (Albert Rusnák) 61’
NYC – Nicolás Fernández (Julián Fernández, Máximo Carrizo) 82’
SEA – Jackson Ragen (Danny Leyva) 87’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
NYC – Kevin O’Toole (caution) 45’+2’
NYC – Justin Haak (caution) 45’+4’
NYC – Matt Freese (caution) 45’+8’
SEA – Albert Rusnák (caution) 64’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei – Captain; Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Alex Roldan (Jonathan Bell 55’), Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; João Paulo (Snyder Brunell 55’), Danny Leyva; Jesús Ferreira (Reed Baker-Whiting 84′), Albert Rusnák, Pedro de la Vega (Paul Rothrock 24’); Jordan Morris (Danny Musovski 84′)
Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Stuart Hawkins, Peter Kingston*, Osaze De Rosario
*Tacoma Defiance player eligible for selection due to Extreme Hardship
Total shots: 8
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 6
Offside: 4
Corner-Kicks: 6
Saves: 4
New York City FC – Matt Freese; Kevin O’Toole, Justin Haak, Thiago, Raul Gustavo (Jonathan Shore 62’), Tayvon Gray (Mitja Ilenic 77’); Nicolás Fernández, Maxi Moralez (Julián Fernández 61’), Andrés Perea (Máximo Carrizo 77’), Hannes Wolf (Agustín Ojeda 62’); Alonso Martínez
Substitutes not used: Tomás Romero, Strahinja Tanasijević, Seymour Reid, Aiden O’Neill
Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 15
Fouls: 19
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 9
Saves: 2
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