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MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC Wins 2-0 over FC Dallas in Opening MLS Cup Playoffs Match at Lumen Field

October 31, 2023 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Albert Rusnák of Sounders FC reacts after his goal against FC Dallas
Albert Rusnák of Sounders FC reacts after his goal against FC Dallas
(Seattle Sounders FC)

SEATTLE, WASH. - Sounders FC defeated FC Dallas 2-0 on Monday evening on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field in the first match of the best-of-three Round One series of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. Albert Rusnák and Jordan Morris both scored for the Rave Green with Stefan Frei recording the shutout, as Seattle now travels to Dallas on Saturday, November 4 as it looks to close out the series at Toyota Stadium (6:00 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia Seattle, SiriusXM FC 157, El Rey 1360 AM).

Rusnák got Seattle on the board first, converting a penalty kick in the 43rd minute. After Cristian Roldan drew a foul at the top of the area, the Slovakian international stepped up to the spot and slotted the attempt past Dallas' Maarten Paes. The strike marked Rusnák's sixth with Seattle this season, and second career postseason goal.

Morris doubled the lead for the home side in the 74th minute. Nouhou took the ball up the left flank, sending in a cross that met Morris' head inside the six-yard-box for the easy finish. The goal was good for Morris' team-leading 12th of the season, and seventh career postseason goal, fourth among active players.

A win in Saturday's away leg would see Seattle advance to the Western Conference Semifinals, with a loss sending the series to a third match, which would be played on Friday, November 10 in Seattle.

MATCH NOTES

Sounders FC opened its Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs campaign with a 2-0 win against FC Dallas at Lumen Field. Game two of the three-match series is set for November 4 at Toyota Stadium. Should a series-deciding third match be needed, Sounders FC is set to host that contest at Lumen Field on November 10.

Following the win, Sounders FC's postseason record moves to 23-13-7 dating back to the club's 2009 inaugural MLS season.

Tonight's match marked Seattle's ninth all-time postseason contest against FC Dallas. The Rave Green are now 5-2-2 in those contests. Prior to tonight, the two sides most recently played in the 2020 Western Conference Semifinals, with Seattle winning that match 1-0.

Sounders FC has not lost to FC Dallas in 18 matches in all competitions at Lumen Field, with its last defeat at home against the Texas side coming on May 25, 2011.

Seattle's late-season unbeaten run continues and now stands at 10 matches (5-0-5). This is now the club's longest unbeaten run in all competitions since Sounders FC rattled off 13 matches without a defeat to open the 2021 season.

Slotting home his 43rd-minute penalty kick to open the scoring for Seattle, midfielder Albert Rusnák recorded his first goal in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the Rave Green and his second postseason tally all-time.

Jordan Morris' headed goal in the 74th minute of play was his seventh postseason goal dating back to his rookie year in 2016. The Mercer Island native is fourth among active players in MLS in postseason scoring, with former Sounder Will Bruin (9) and current teammates Raúl Ruidíaz (9) and Nico Lodeiro (8) in front of him on that list.

Nouhou's assist on Morris' goal was his first helper in the MLS Cup playoffs. The Cameroonian has eight assists in MLS regular-season action.

Nico Lodeiro earned a secondary assist on Morris' goal, building upon his club record. The Uruguayan now has 95 total assists, 43 ahead of the next closes player in team history (Fredy Montero, 52 assists). Eleven of those assists have come in the MLS Cup Playoffs, the most among active MLS players.

Getting the starting nod tonight at right wing, Cristian Roldan equaled former Sounder Osvaldo Alonso's career high for postseason appearances by a Rave Green field player. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei leads all Sounders with 29 appearances in the postseason.

Roldan's 25 postseason appearances are also good for fourth in MLS among active field players. Entering the match tonight as a second-half substitute, Nico Lodeiro is tied for sixth all-time in this category, as well, with 23 postseason appearances.

Stefan Frei's 29 appearances in the MLS Cup Playoffs are fourth all-time in league history. Former MLS stalwart Kevin Hartman leads this category with 49 all-time appearances.

Frei also hit another major club milestone this evening, becoming the first Sounder in club history to record 350 appearances in all competitions for the club. He added to his single-season high in shutouts in the process, capturing his 15th clean sheet of 2023 (MLS regular season and postseason).

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 2 - FC Dallas 0

Monday, October 30, 2023

Venue: Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field

Referee: Joe Dickerson

Assistants: Jeremy Hanson, Jeffrey Greeson

Fourth Official: Nima Saghafi

VAR: Jorge Gonzalez

Attendance: 30,741

Weather: 50 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA - Albert Rusnák (penalty) 43'

SEA - Jordan Morris (Nouhou, Nico Lodeiro) 74'

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA - Jesus Ferreira (caution) 45'+3'

SEA - Jackson Ragen (caution) 52'

FCD - Nkosi Tafari (caution) 81'

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; João Paulo, Josh Atencio, Cristian Roldan, Albert Rusnák, Léo Chú (Nico Lodeiro 66'); Jordan Morris (Raúl Ruidíaz 83')

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Kelyn Rowe, Héber, Fredy Montero, Xavier Arreaga, Nico Lodeiro, Paul Rothrock, Obed Vargas

Total shots: 19

Shots on goal: 6

Fouls: 16

Offside: 3

Corner-Kicks: 2

Saves: 4

FC Dallas - Maarten Paes; Marco Farfan (Sam Junqua 70'), Nkosi Tafari, Ema Twumasi, Sebastien Ibeagha; Asier Illarramendi, Paxton Pomykal (Bernard Kamungo 77'), Alan Velasco (Liam Fraser 18'); Paul Arriola (Eugene Ansah 77'), Jader Obrian (Dante Sealy 70'), Jesus Ferreira

Substitutes not used: Jimmy Maurer, Jesus Jimenez, Sebastian Lletget, Amet Korca

Total shots: 10

Shots on goal: 4

Fouls: 9

Offside: 1

Corner-kicks: 2

Saves: 4

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Images from this story

Albert Rusnák of Sounders FC reacts after his goal against FC Dallas
Albert Rusnák of Sounders FC reacts after his goal against FC Dallas
   



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