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Seattle Sounders FC

Raúl Ruidíaz Named MLS Player of the Matchday

April 8, 2024 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Sounders FC striker Raúl Ruidíaz
Sounders FC striker Raúl Ruidíaz
(Seattle Sounders FC)

RENTON, WASH. - Sounders FC forward Raúl Ruidíaz has been voted Major League Soccer Player of the Matchday for Matchday 8 of the 2024 MLS season. Ruidíaz scored the opening two goals and added one assist in Saturday's 5-0 victory over CF Montréal, as the Rave Green earned their first win of the campaign. Ruidíaz leads Sounders FC with four goals this season (tied for seventh in MLS), extending his all-time club scoring record to 82 goals across all competitions.

Seattle jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 20th minute, as Sounders defender Jackson Ragen headed a ball down towards Ruidíaz who struck a thunderous, one-timed volley into the top corner of the net. After Albert Rusnák drew a penalty kick minutes later, the Peruvian forward stepped up and slotted his effort past the diving Montréal goalkeeper for a 2-0 lead in the 27th minute. Ruidíaz added an assist in the 81st minute through a quick passing combination with Rusnák, who located Alex Roldan for a tap-in finish from close range to make it 4-0.

Ruidíaz's 68 career regular-season goals rank first in club history and sixth among all active players. Of all players that have scored 50 career regular-season goals in MLS history, Ruidíaz currently ranks sixth in goals per game (0.56), behind only Robbie Keane (0.66), David Villa (0.66), Josef Martínez (0.63), Sebastian Giovinco (0.60) and Taylor Twellman (0.58).

Saturday's match marked Ruidíaz's 16th multi-goal game across all competitions for Seattle (13 regular season, two MLS Cup Playoffs, one Concacaf Champions Cup). With 15 multi-goal games in MLS play (including postseason), Ruidíaz is tied for fourth among active players.

Sounders FC returns to action next Saturday, April 13 with a road match at FC Dallas (5:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM) before returning home on Saturday, April 20 for a home fixture against Cascadia rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia, El Rey 1360 AM).

The MLS Player of the Matchday is selected each matchday of the regular season through both media and fan voting in a process conducted by MLS Communications. A panel of journalists from the North American Soccer Reporters (NASR) comprises 75 percent of the vote, while an X (formerly known as Twitter) fan vote represents the remaining 25 percent of voting. NASR consists of members of print, television, radio and online media.

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Sounders FC striker Raúl Ruidíaz
Sounders FC striker Raúl Ruidíaz
   

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