SOUNDERS 1, RAPIDS 1: Kevin Cabral equalized, cleaning up a rebound off a Sam Vines free kick that Andrew Thomas had saved off the post.

PENALTY SAVE: With the Sounders already down a man after Josh Atencio was shown a second yellow, the Rapids won a penalty when Jackson Ragen tackled Rafel Navarro in the box. Djorde Mihailovic stepped up and Thomas dove to his right to save it rather easily.

HUGE save from Andrew Thomas to keep the lead! 👏 pic.twitter.com/QjqWolakQq
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) March 16, 2024

SOUNDERS 1, RAPIDS 0: Raúl Ruidíaz tied Fredy Montero for the most goals in Sounders history, converting a penalty in the 11th minute. It was his 79th career goal with the Sounders.

🤌 panenka 🤌

An early lead for Seattle courtesy of Raul Ruidiaz.

📺 Free on Apple TV: https://t.co/eEP7BSVfoo pic.twitter.com/MbsbANE4h6
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 16, 2024

LINEUPS: As expected, the Sounders rolled out the same lineup as last week’s rained-out affair with the Philadelphia Union with Raúl Ruidíaz and Jordan Morris up top in a 4-4-2.

The Seattle Sounders are still looking for their first win of 2024 as they head into this afternoon’s match against the Colorado Rapids, a team they’ve historically dominated.

The Sounders have gone 16-2-1 against the Rapids at home in MLS play, which includes a 7-0-1 record since 2016. Their chances will be bolstered by the return of Albert Rusnák to the gameday roster as well as the availability of Yeimar Goméz Andrade. Neither player has appeared in a MLS game this year.

The Rapids, though, come into the match a very different team. This last offseason they underwent significant change, including hiring Chris Armas as their new head coach and spending big money to bring in U.S. internationals Đorđe Mihailović and Zach Steffen.

So far, the results have been mixed. They were blown out in a Week 1 loss to the Portland Timbers, tied Nashville SC at home in Week 2 and then beat Real Salt Lake on the road last week.

Notes

The Sounders have an overall record of 25-8-4 against the Rapids in MLS play. Those 25 wins are the most the Sounders have against any team since 2009.
The last time the Rapids visited Lumen Field was the 2023 season opener, a game the Sounders won 4-0 behind a brace from Jordan Morris.
Alex Roldan is expected to make his 100th career MLS start in this game.
Former Defiance head coach Chris Little was one of the coaching staff holdovers from last year and remains on the Rapids’ sideline as an assistant.

Absences: Injury, international duty and suspension

Seattle

OUT: Reed Baker-Whiting (left hamstring); Pedro de la Vega (hamstring); Stefan Frei (right hamstring); João Paulo (left hip); Braudilio Rodrigues (right hamstring)

QUESTIONABLE: Nathan (not due to injury)