Seattle, WA – After failing to find the back of the net in four of their past five outing, the Seattle Sounders bust through with an Albert Rusnak strike in the 67th minute against a ten-man Houston Dynamo. A physical battle that saw six cards in total, the Sounders were able to generate some quality and be the better attacking team, and they’ll surely take these three points given the sort of run that they’ve had that somehow keeps them at third in the Western Conference. The Sounders saw their dominance against the Dynamo at Lumen continue, and this sort of result might help the club get their attack rolling.
Leo leads the offensive attack
Sounders left winger Leo Chu has been a key factor for Seattle’s offensive over the entire course of the season, and that has remained true even through the clubs scoring drought and minimal output on the scoreboard through May and June. Chu, now in his third year with the club, has taken a major leap in his progression. The sort of presence that he provides while on the ball has resulted in many a dangerous possession for the Sounders, he has just struggled with getting a final ball on target towards his teammates in the Seattle box. While that has been a primary difference for the Sounders between goals and missed opportunities, Chu was able to help make it count today with his assist on Albert Rusnak’s game winner. Seeing the young Brazilian forward put the pieces of the puzzle together has been fun this season, and the growth displayed presents excitement for what he’ll be able to do in the coming years.
Seattle Sounders FC defender Cody Baker showed great fight, but got a bit feisty towards the end of his shift (Photo by Paul Kahl)
Card chaos
Although there was nothing to show for it once the Dynamo and Sounders headed to their locker rooms, Seattle was the better club on the stat sheet. It wasn’t much, as the club’s four registered opportunities on net all had an expected goal percentage of less than a tenth of a percent expect for a Raul Ruidiaz shot off a throw in that was blocked. Given their recent run of play, having only allowed more than one goal once over their past five matches, it made sense that the Dynamo’s defensive unit was holding up as Seattle searched for the right pocket to strike within. It was more of a feeling out half for the Sounders, as the real fireworks (in multiple ways) came in the second half of play.
The next 45 minutes after the break unleashed physical play and multiple chances for both sides in this contest. Houston wasn’t going to be pushed around by Seattle, and the Sounders weren’t going to put up with any of the Dynamo’s sly tricks here and there. Young fullback Cody Baker provided some of that brash behavior for Seattle as he tried to bring the ball up for his club on the right side of the pitch, but ended up in some trouble to warrant a card in the 54th. The physicality continued as the match went on, and Houston’s Micael managed to get himself two cards in a span of a minute to take the Dynamo down to ten men. The Sounders were given a golden opportunity with 28 minutes left to play. It was just up to Seattle, who had failed to score at home in 405 minutes before their winner, to find the back of the net.
After scoring his goal in the 67th minute, Albert Rusnak had to avoid a Houston defender (Photo by Paul Kahl)
Rusnak’s strike the savior
With the Dynamo down a man, the Sounders desperately needed to take advantage to find the back of the net and secure a victory, considering their recent form and their struggles to extend their lead atop the Western Conference. Left winger Leo Chu continued his strong play up the solid of the field, bringing the ball up once again to attack Houston. From young Obed Vargas in the middle of the field, Chu took the ball up the side ahead of the box, finding Nico Lodeiro inside for a give and go. Near the end line, Chu sent the ball on the ground into the middle of the box where Raul Ruidiaz left it for Albert Rusnak, who fired away with his left foot with a shot that Dynamo keeper Steve Clark could hardly react to. With some beautiful passing and a strong strike, the Sounders had snapped their goal drought at home and taken advantage of Houston being down a man.
What’s next?
Following tonight’s home victory, the Sounders continue a six-match month that sees them listed as a visiting squad for four of those contests while three of them are at Lumen. The next match that the club plays is on July 8th, as Seattle will search for their first Cascadia victory of the season when the club returns to BC Place in Vancouver for a battle with the Whitecaps. The Sounders must use this victory as a launch point to furthered success and increased offensive production, considering their place in the Western Conference with Real Salt Lake just two points behind them in fourth. Seattle looks to maintain that third-place spot and hopefully even jump up a few pegs, when they battle Vancouver on Saturday the eighth with a kickoff time of 7:30PM PST.
Check out Paul Kahl’s match gallery here!
