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MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Ruidiaz Rescues Point for Rave Green with Pivotal Goal in Second-Half Stoppage Time

November 5, 2020 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Raul Ruidiaz of Seattle Sounders FC vs. the LA Galaxy
Raul Ruidiaz of Seattle Sounders FC vs. the LA Galaxy
(Seattle Sounders FC)

CARSON, CALIF. - A Raúl Ruidíaz goal deep into second-half stoppage time secured a pivotal point for Seattle Sounders FC (10-5-6, 36 points) against the LA Galaxy (6-11-4, 22 points) at Dignity Health Sports Park on Wednesday night. The Peruvian's crafty finish came in the 93rd minute of play, capitalizing on intricate build-up play from teammates Will Bruin, João Paulo and Jordan Morris. Using Major League Soccer's recently announced points-per-game postseason qualification rules, Seattle heads into the final weekend of the regular season in third place in the MLS Western Conference. On 1.71 points-per-game, Seattle closes out the MLS regular season on Sunday, November 8 in a Decision Day matchup with San Jose inside CenturyLink Field (3:30 p.m. PT / JOEtv, Prime Video, 1090 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).

Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez opened the scoring in the 78th minute, when he snuck a ball past the right side of Stefan Frei to break the scoreless stalemate, putting the home side into the lead. Ruidíaz answered back close to the final whistle, when Morris played a through ball into the 18-yard-box, which the Peruvian buried for his 11th goal of 2020.

MATCH NOTES

Including postseason play, tonight's contest in Southern California was the 36th all-time meeting between Sounders FC and the LA Galaxy. In regular season action, Seattle has posted a record of 9-10-11, including a 4-6-11 record on the road.

With his strike in the 93rd minute, Raúl Ruidíaz netted his team-leading 11th goal of 2020, two strikes in front of Jordan Morris.

In the race of the MLS Golden Boot, Ruidíaz is in a three-way tie for second place with Columbus' Gyasi Zardes and Chicago's Robert Beric. All three strikers are on 11 goals, two tallies behind LAFC's Diego Rossi.

The strike was also the Peruvian's fourth goal against the Galaxy in five career appearances against the Southern California side.

Morris' assist on Ruidíaz's goal was good for his eighth helper of 2020, just one assist behind club captain Nico Lodeiro for the team lead. The Mercer Island native never had more than seven assists in any one campaign prior to this season.

João Paulo's secondary assist on Ruidíaz's goal was his fifth assist of 2020, trailing only Morris (8) and Lodeiro (9).

Seattle Head Coach Brian Schmetzer made five changes to the starting lineup from the group that started against Colorado three days ago at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Among those new starters was 17-year-old Ethan Dobbelaere, who made his first career MLS start on Wednesday night. Logging 54 minutes, the Sounders Academy product featured in his second-ever MLS contest. He debuted on July 27 vs. LAFC via a late substitute appearance in the MLS is Back Tournament Knockout Round.

Recent signing Jimmy Medranda made his Rave Green debut tonight, coming into the match for Nouhou in the 86th minute. Medranda was acquired in a trade from Nashville SC on October 21.

With tonight's result, Seattle remains third in the MLS Western Conference. On 1.71 points-per-game, Sounders FC closes out the MLS regular season on Sunday, November 8 in a Decision Day matchup with San Jose inside CenturyLink Field.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 1 - LA Galaxy 1

Wednesday, November 4, 2020

Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park

Referee: Silviu Petrescu

Assistants: Ian Anderson, Corey Rockwell

Fourth Official: David Gantar

VAR: Alejandro Mariscal

Attendance: Closed Door

Weather: 63 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

LAG - Chicharito (Efrain Alvarez) 78'

SEA - Raúl Ruidíaz (Jordan Morris, João Paulo) 90'+3'

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

LAG - Sacha Kljestan (caution) 20'

SEA - Xavier Arreaga (caution) 24'

SEA - Shane O'Neill (caution) 72'

LAG - Sebastian Lletget (caution) 84'

LAG - David Bingham (caution) 90'+3'

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Xavier Arreaga, Joevin Jones (Jordan Morris 54'), Shane O'Neill, Nouhou (Jimmy Medranda 86'); Gustav Svensson, Jordy Delem (João Paulo 74'), Alex Roldan (Will Bruin 86'), Nicolás Lodeiro, Ethan Dobbelaere (Cristian Roldan 54'); Raúl Ruidíaz

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Kelvin Leerdam, Shandon Hopeau, Josh Atencio

Total shots: 17 (C. Roldan, 4)

Shots on goal: 3 (Three players, 1)

Fouls: 9 (O'Neill/Nouhou, 3)

Offside: 0

Corner-kicks: 10 (Lodeiro, 9)

Saves: 2 (Frei, 2)

LA Galaxy - David Bingham; Julian Araujo, Giancarlo Gonzalez, Daniel Steres, Emiliano Insua; Perry Kitchen, Sacha Kljestan (Efrain Alvarez 69'), Yony Gonzalez (Rolf Feltscher 80'), Sebastian Lletget, Cristian Pavon; Ethan Zubak (Chicharito 69')

Substitutes not used: Justin vom Steeg, Nicholas DePuy, Joe Corona, Kai Koreniuk, Carlos Harvey, Emil Cuello

Total shots: 12 (Four players, 2)

Shots on goal: 4 (Four players, 1)

Fouls: 10 (Kitchen, 3)

Offside: 2 (Gonzalez/Zubak, 1)

Corner-kicks: 7 (Pavon, 7)

Saves: 2 (Bingham, 2)

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics




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Raul Ruidiaz of Seattle Sounders FC vs. the LA Galaxy
Raul Ruidiaz of Seattle Sounders FC vs. the LA Galaxy
   



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