Paul Rothrock and Jackson Ragen each scored goals to lead the Seattle Sounders to a rather dominant 2-0 win over Sporting KC on Sunday. The scoreline would have been considerably more lopsided if not for a disallowed goal, a saved penalty and several golden chances that went wanting. The Sounders moved up to fifth and just two points out of second in the Western Conference.
Highlights
Stats
Seattle Sounders FC: 2 (2.7 xG)
— MLS Statistics and Analysis 📊⚽️ (@mlsstat) September 16, 2024
vs
Sporting Kansas City: 0 (0.39 xG)#SEAvSKC | #Sounders | #SportingKC | #MLS pic.twitter.com/MAYdOYRLqg
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Sporting Kansas City 0
Sunday, September 15, 2024
Venue: Lumen Field
Referee: Drew Fischer
Assistants: Felisha Mariscal, Eduardo Jeff
Fourth Official: Elton Garcia
VAR: Edvin Jurisevic
Attendance: 31,898
Weather: 64 degrees and partly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Jackson Ragen 19’
SEA – Paul Rothrock (Jordan Morris, Albert Rusnák) 40’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Reed Baker-Whiting (caution) 29’
SKC – Dániel Sallói (caution) 37’
SKC – Zorhan Bassong (caution) 46’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei – Captain; Alex Roldan, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Jackson Ragen, Reed Baker-Whiting (Jonathan Bell 66’); Cristian Roldan, Obed Vargas (Josh Atencio 77’); Paul Rothrock, Albert Rusnák (Danny Leyva 85’), Georgi Minoungou (Pedro de la Vega 66’); Jordan Morris
Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Nathan, Dylan Teves, Léo Chú, Raúl Ruidíaz
Total shots: 17
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 9
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 9
Saves: 1
Sporting Kansas City – Tim Melia; Tim Leibold, Robert Voloder, Dany Rosero, Khiry Shelton; Zorhan Bassong (Memo Rodríguez 58’), Rémi Walter; Dániel Sallói (Alenis Vargas 80’), Erik Thommy, Johnny Russell (Stephen Afrifa 58’); Alan Pulido (William Agada 58’)
Substitutes not used: John Pulskamp, Andreu Fontàs, Danny Flores, Robert Castellanos
Total shots: 13
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 10
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 11
Saves: 2
Quotes
SOUNDERS FC HEAD COACH BRIAN SCHMETZER
On today’s match against Sporting Kansas City:
“We had some League Cup games here, but those were our first league game in a while, our first league match, and it was against a conference opponent. We started off kind of good, and then we scored a couple goals, and then couple got taken back. And then we are trying to get them fired up at halftime, because I thought we could play better. We challenged them a little bit at halftime, we came out and it is a shame we couldn't get the third goal, but I thought we played some entertaining soccer. So, for us, we love coming here, we love playing in front of the fans, and we hope that the next two home games are positive as well.”
SOUNDERS FC MIDFIELDER PAUL ROTHROCK
On playing with Georgi Minoungou after both being signed from Tacoma Defiance:
“It’s really awesome that we are both here now. I really like playing with Georgi [Minoungou], I think we are obviously different players but I think we compliment each other well on the wings and both of us can play on either side. I’m really happy for him and all the adversity he’s faced to get here and still be performing well and he brings great energy to the team, he’s a great person. He’s a great addition to our group.”
SOUNDERS FC GOALKEEPER STEFAN FREI
On Cristian clearing the ball off the line early in the game and helping the team get the shutout:
“I didn’t even know what happened there until I saw a replay later on after the game today. [Sporting Kansas City] put us under a little bit of pressure on corners. We had to have some clearances, I got trucked over there a little bit, but I didn’t realize It was cleared off the line until I saw it after the game. That’s the thing. I think earlier in my career, you get a shutout, it’s great, it helps you get a win, but you don’t realize how fragile these things are. I think today we are playing a really good game, we are creating a lot of chances to score. We ended up winning the game 2-0 and we think that everything is fine and easy, but the little moments can spoil a shutout just like that. And especially I think when you feel like you’re cruising things can kind of take their foot off the pedal but if we were to really preserve the shutout you have to have all eleven guys who are on the pitch buy in and take it home. And I think we did that today. It was a pretty easy game for myself and that’s a testament to how well the guys did in front of me.”
SOUNDERS FC DEFENDER JACKSON RAGEN
On how critical the current three-match homestand is:
“It’s huge. I believe all the teams are Western Conference [teams] and they are all pretty close [in the standings] besides Kansas City today. This is the home stretch, and every game is huge because it’s going to come down to our position in the playoffs.”
