The Sounders lacked creativity and clinical finishing in their 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City Saturday afternoon at Sporting Park. A Paul Rothrock goal inside the first two minutes of the game gave the visiting Sounders a dream start. The visitors continued to dominate possession and put the home side on its back foot. Former Sounders goalkeeper Stephen Cleveland’s stellar save of a Jesus Ferreira left foot prevented the Sounders from doubling the lead in the 13th minute.
A LIFELINE
With the Sounders dominating possession, it looked as if it would be a matter of when, not if, Seattle would double its lead. A disastrous backpass from Cristian Roldan to Andrew Thomas was intercepted by Sporting striker Dejan Joveljić, who rifled the ball past Thomas.
“The goal gave them life, we started well, our possession stats were good , Schmetzer said. “ Not being clinical enough was an issue we had a bunch of touches inside the 18-yard box that we were unable to convert.”
Roldan had a chance to atone for his transgression in the 28th during a corner kick. He looped around the defense only to see his header bounce high and over the goal frame. Sporting midfielder Shapi Suleymanov nearly gave the home side ten minutes from half with a left-footed shot that was heading for the bottom right corner, were it not for an intervention from Andrew Thomas.
SOUNDERS START THE SECOND HALF STRONG
The Sounders started the second half the same way they started the first. On the front foot with pinpoint passing and runs by the midblock and front block. Just like the first half , the chances they took went begging. Jordan Morris’ right-footed shot from inside the box forced another big save from Cleveland. Rothrock’s follow-up shot from point-blank range was swatted away by Cleveland. Cristian Roldan had a second chance to score from a corner kick and similar to his previous attempt in the first half the attempt went high and wide.
CHANCES CREATED BUT NOT FINISHED
The home side found its footing in the game and nearly took the lead in the 64th minute, where it was not for a big save from Thomas on Capita’s right-footed shot in the 65th minute. The Sounders had two other chances to take the lead but were unable to find the creativity and clinical finishing needed to secure all three points against a team that was on a six-game losing streak and at the bottom of the Western Conference standings.
“ I didn’t kill them in the locker room after the game. I just stated the facts,’ Schmetzer said.” The facts are that we, you know, dropped two points because of what we did, not the referee, not the opposition, but we could play at a higher standard. I always give them my reflection.”
POST GAME NOTES
MATCH NOTES
- At time of writing, Seattle remains in fourth place in the Western Conference with 20 points (6-1-2), including a seven-match unbeaten streak (5-0-2). The club’s lone loss in MLS play this season came on February 28 at Real Salt Lake.
- The Rave Green hold a 15-12-5 series advantage over SKC in regular-season play.
- Paul Rothrock’s goal in the second minute was his sixth in all competitions and fourth in MLS regular-season play, both leading the team this season.
- Sounders FC’s five goals allowed this season are tied for the fewest in MLS (at time of writing).
- Brian Schmetzer rolled out nearly an identical lineup as last week against FC Dallas, with just Cristian Roldan replacing Hassani Dotson in the midfield. Roldan was out last week while in concussion protocol.
- Sounders FC now returns to Seattle for three home matches in eight days, starting against San Diego FC on Saturday, May 9 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Sporting Kansas City 1
Saturday, May 2, 2026
Venue: Children’s Mercy Park
Referee: Sergii Demianchuk
Assistants: Meghan Mullen, Jeffrey Greeson
Fourth Official: Alejo Calume
VAR: Lukasz Szpala
Attendance: 16,378
Weather: 68 degrees and partly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Paul Rothrock 2’
SKC – Dejan Joveljić 18’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Jackson Ragen (caution) 31’
SEA – Hassani Dotson (caution) 90’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Andrew Thomas; Kalani Kossa-Rienzi (Peter Kingston 86’), Alex Roldan, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Cristian Roldan – Captain, Snyder Brunell; Jordan Morris (Albert Rusnák 67’), Jesús Ferreira (Hassani Dotson 86’), Paul Rothrock (Paul Arriola 67’); Danny Musovski (Osaze De Rosario 76’)
Substitutes not used: Stefan Frei, Cody Baker, Antino Lopez, Sebastian Gomez
Total shots: 11
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 12
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 5
Saves: 3
Sporting Kansas City – Stephen Cleveland; Jake Davis, Erik Bartlow, Wyatt Meyer, Jansen Reid; Lasse Berg Johnsen, Manu García (Tiago Calheira 84’), Jacob Bartlett; Capita (Caden Harris 74’), Dejan Joveljić, Shapi Suleymanov
Substitutes not used: Zorhan Bassong, John Pulskamp, Cielo Tschantret, Stephen Afrifa, Ryan Schewe, Ian James, Jansen Miller
Total shots: 9
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 11
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 4
Saves: 3
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