By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

Sounders Bounce Back with 3-0 Win Against Querétaro

In his match-day minus one press conference, Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer was looking for a fast start and not for his team to concede the first goal in their Champions League match with Mexican side Querétaro.  After a 3-0 lambasting by Toluca in Mexico, Schmetzer was also looking for a bounce-back effort.  It took all of four minutes into the contest for Schmetzer’s side to check all the boxes.

 Four minutes into the contest, the Sounders scored one of the best team goals in memory.   It was a classic Sounders counterattack that saw Danny Musoviski pass to an on-rushing Albert Rusnack, who laid the ball off to Paul Rothrock, who then perfectly weighted the ball into the far post to a wide-open Sebastian Gomez for the 1-0 dream start. It was Gomez’s first team start after four appearances and repaid  Schmetzer’s belief in his ability to bring speed down the right flank.

IMAGES BY FRANCINE SCOTT

CONTINUED  PRESSURE

Queretaro coach Estan Gonzalez made nine changes to his starting lineup after the team’s 2-0 round one loss to Dallas FC. The changes had an effect on the Queretaro side, which was content to succeed possession against the Sounders while looking to pounce on the counter. That moment came nine minutes after the Sounders goal when   Queretaro winger Waldo Madrid’s right-footed shot forced a sprawling save from  Stefan Frei.  Frei’s save inspired his teammates to hunt for a second goal. With the lion’s share of the possession, the Sounders continued to use the flanks to attack the Queretaro defense.

 The speed and pace of Paul Rothrock on the left and Gomez on the right saw the Queretaro chasing ghosts on the flanks, which left the top of the box with open space for  Albert Rusnack,  Musvoski, and  Pete r Kingston to occupy.

SOUNDERS DOUBLE LEAD BEFORE THE BREAK

 With decisive movements and quick interplay, the  Sounders doubled their lead in the 41st minute.  Kingston’s line-splitting pass found a sprinting Rothrock down the left wing. Without hesitation, RothRock laid on a perfect pass to the center of the goal box for the onrushing Musoviski, who slotted it home.  The Sounders entered the break with a 2-0 lead.

SECOND OF CONSTANT PRESSURE


With the home crowd in a party mood, the Sounders obliged them with continued interplay and quick, creative passes that led to several chances. In the 62nd minute, Schmetzer inserted Jesus Ferreria for Alex Roldan, who was on a minute restriction as he recovers from a nagging hip injury.   Ferreira’s fresh legs energized the Sounders’ attack, which put the game away in the 68th minute on Rusnak’s goal after a exquisite pass from Gomez. The goal extended the Sounders to 3-0

  With the game in hand, Schmetzer inserted Pedro de la Vega for Rusnak, which brought the loudest cheer of the day.  It was the first time De la Vega had seen game action since October 25th 2025. The euphoria was lived, and  Sounder Nation hearts were broken.  10 minutes after entering the game, De la Vega left with a leg injury. The Sounders held on to the shutout and snapped their seven-game losing streak.

POST GAME NOTES

MATCH NOTES

  • With the win, Seattle sits in 12th place in the MLS table of the Leagues Cup 2026 standings with thee points (1-1-0). The top four clubs from both MLS and Liga MX tables make it to the Knockout Rounds.
  • Sebastian Gomez – making his first-ever start for Seattle, scored in the fourth minute – his first goal for the Rave Green as well. The goal is tied for the second-fastest strike by a player making his first start for Seattle. He also assisted Albert Rusnák’s strike in the second half.
  • Danny Musovski scored his fourth goal of the season in all competitions in the 41st minute.
  • Paul Rothrock assisted on Gomez’s and Musovski’s goals, giving him three assists on the season in all competitions.
  • Albert Rusnák scored his sixth goal in all competitions in the 68th minute.
  • Today’s victory snapped Seattle’s seven-match losing streak in all competitions, the longest such run in club history.
  • Sounders FC attacker Pedro de la Vega made his first appearance of 2026 for Seattle as a substitute in the 77th minute of play. It was the first time the Argentinian had seen the field for the Rave Green since injuring his knee at the end of the 2025 campaign. De la Vega exited today’s match with a separate injury.
  • Brian Schmetzer made four changes to the lineup from Wednesday’s match against Toluca FC with Antino Lopez, Alex Roldan, Sebastian Gomez and Danny Musovski replacing Stuart Hawkins, Snyder Brunell, Jesús Ferreira and Osaze De Rosario, respectfully.
  • The Rave Green finish Leagues Cup Phase One play with a matchup against Liga MX side Chivas de Guadalajara on Wednesday, August 12 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 3 – Querétaro FC 0

Sunday, August 9, 2026

Venue: Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field

Referee: Luis Enrique Santander Aguirre

Assistants: José Ibrahim Martínez Chavarría, Juan Francisco Zumba

Fourth Official: Andrew Wesley Gabriel Samual

VAR: Diana Stephanía Pérez Borja

Weather: 71 and party sunny

Attendance: 28,306

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Sebastian Gomez (Paul Rothrock) 4’

SEA – Danny Musovski (Paul Rorthrock) 41’

SEA – Albert Rusnák (Sebastain Gomez) 68’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA – Max Anchor (caution) 44’

QUE – Santiago Homenchenko (caution) 60’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei – captain; Kalani Kossa Rienzi, Antino Lopez, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Alex Roldan (Jesús Ferreira 63’), Peter Kingston; Sebastian Gomez (Mark O’Neill* 77’), Albert Rusnák (Pedro de la Vega 77’), Paul Rothrock (Edson Carli* 83’); Danny Musovski (Osaze De Rosario 83’)

Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Max Anchor, Ryan Sailor, Stuart Hawkins, Kim Kee-hee, Snyder Brunell

*Tacoma Defiance player available via Short-Term Agreement

Total shots: 9

Shots on goal: 5

Fouls: 7

Offside: 1

Corner-kicks: 2

Saves: 4

Querétaro FC – José Hernandez; Sergio Garcia, Diego Reyes – captain (Lucas Abascia HT), Carlos Villanueva, Darío Rodríguez (Enzo Gimenez 72’); Waldo Madrid, Erik Dueñas; Jean Unjanque (Paulo De Almeida 72’), Juan Martínez Jr. (Santiago Homenchenko HT), Jesús Arellano; Eduardo Peréz

Substitutes not used: Ali Ávila, Pualo De Almeida, Alejandro Alcala, Juan Robles, Guillermo Allison, Daniel Parra, Juan Cázares, Juan Barriga, Julian Alcocer

Total shots: 12

Shots on goal: 4

Fouls: 15

Offside: 0

Corner-kicks: 4

Saves: 1

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