The Seattle Sounders clinched home-field advantage in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs with a 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday. Albert Rusnák scored the game’s only goal, finishing off a rebound from a Jordan Morris shot and Stefan Frei recorded his 11th shutout of the season.
Highlights
Stats
Colorado Rapids: 0 (0.71 xG)
— MLS Statistics and Analysis 📊⚽️ (@mlsstat) October 6, 2024
vs
Seattle Sounders FC: 1 (2.09 xG)#COLvSEA | #Rapids96 | #Sounders | #MLS pic.twitter.com/QTNUuyy6mc
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Colorado Rapids 0
Saturday, October 5, 2024
Venue: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
Referee: Timothy Ford
Assistants: Adam Garner, Eric Weisbrod
Fourth Official: Ricardo Montero
VAR: Alejandro Mariscal
Attendance: 18,096
Weather: 77 degrees and clear
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA – Albert Rusnák 48’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Yeimar Gómez Andrade (caution) 27’
SEA – Jackson Ragen (caution) 65’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei – Captain; Alex Roldan, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Cristian Roldan, Obed Vargas; Pedro de la Vega (Georgi Minoungou 64’), Albert Rusnák (João Paulo 82’), Paul Rothrock (Reed Baker-Whiting 89’); Jordan Morris (Danny Musovski 89’)
Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Nathan, Jonathan Bell, Josh Atencio, Danny Leyva
Total shots: 13
Shots on goal: 2
Fouls: 6
Offside: 2
Corner-Kicks: 6
Saves: 3
Colorado Rapids – Zack Steffen; Sam Vines (Reggie Cannon 62’), Andreas Maxsø, Lalas Abubakar, Keegan Rosenberry; Connor Ronan, Oliver Larraz (Jasper Löffelsend 89’); Jonathan Lewis (Omir Fernández 62’), Djordje Mihailovic, Calvin Harris (Kimani Stewart-Baynes 78’); Rafael Navarro
Substitutes not used: Michael Edwards, Sebastian Anderson, Jackson Travis, Adam Beaudry, Wayne Frederick
Total shots: 14
Shots on goal: 3
Fouls: 8
Offside: 0
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves: 1
Quotes
Brian Schmetzer
On how much pressure this win relieves for the season finale: “None. It’s Portland, it’s going to be a big game we want to win.”
“We’ve always been good defensively. The expectation when you come here, they all have to defend. They have to do the job. The clean sheets, the hard-to-beat aspect of this team will drive us farther in the playoffs. Let’s see. I thought de la Vega defended well. Things are good defensively.”
On Pedro de la Vega: “I thought he was really good. You saw glimpses of what he can do. As he gets fitter … this was a big test. Never played at altitude. He passed the test. We’ll monitor his output. We’ll push him in training and games. He had a solid, good performance.
On claiming home-field advantage: “Was a point in pregame talk. We didn’t want to leave it late. The guys executed.”
On Albert Rusnák’s performance: “He’s playing with a very good team. He has a lot of good players around him. The way we play suits his style. The position he plays suits his style. When he first came to us, he was deeper. He’s been great this year. He’s given us a lot of critical goals. Tonight was one of those moments where he finished off a play and we got three points.”
On Jordan Morris’ play: “Three games in a week, the third away from home, to put pressure on a team isn’t easy. Remember he wasn’t allowed to play in three game weeks because they were worried he’d break down. He’s found a good training rhythm and has shown he’s durable, is fit, can do the work. Although his name is not on the scoresheet, his defending, pressing upfield, ability to toe poke. I know he wanted to score that goal but Steffen made a good save and Albert was there for the rebound.”
On the play of Vargas and Roldan in central midfield: “They are getting comfortable with each other. Glad to get JP back on the horse. Cristian and Obed have done extremely well.”
Stefan Frei
“This is our third game in a week and we’ve had a good week so far. To come to altitude at the end is difficult. You have to find times to possess ball, we battled and fought hard and we deserved the result. We were good on crosses. We did quite well. Figured out some things with their throwing and adjusted well. We’ve been frustrated in terms of giving up late goals, but we have 13 shutouts. It’s a testament to our squad that takes pride in that.”
“I do sense a confidence in the squad and it stems from the difficulties we’ve dealt with this year. At the start of the year, everyone was negative and we weren’t happy but we believed we had a good team. We put our heads down and worked and now I think we’re reaping the rewards of that. Everyone is feeling confident and it allows difference-makers to shine. In terms of momentum, it’s important for playoffs. Last year was a learning experience, the format is terrible because it kills the momentum. Now you have that big break after the first round. If that does occur we have to draw from what happened last year. I thought we played well against LAFC but had a disappointing exit. I hope we can learn from that and push farther than we did last year. Hopefully, there’s many games to play. It would be nice if we could replicate what we did in previous years.”
Albert Rusnák
“It’s probably the best spell, the best 3-4 months, it’s the best of my career. I’m not a statistical guy and there are many ways you can be a good player. Goals do help. Today was a lucky one, but when you do things right you just keep with it. Try to be professional and if you do it over a long term I believe you’ll have some luck like you had tonight, it’s not the best goal I’ve had and they all count the same. We’re going to host the first round and still fighting for CCL spot. Three-game week and two of those on the road, it wasn’t easy and it wasn’t our best performance. But at end of the day, the results are what’s important and sticking together. We defended, cleared crosses, full credit to everyone.”
“It’s credit to all my teammates. I’m not taking the ball and dribbling past everyone. It’s not just me. The better the team started playing, the better I was playing. It wasn’t easy at start of the season. Got hurt and then took a few games to get into rhythm. I remember what everyone was saying at the start of the season, they didn’t believe and were writing me off. Most of American sports are based on stats and when the stats are good everyone is happy. I’m just trying to train well, be a good teammate and do the little things right.”
“Being out of contract was never on my mind. I know what type of player I am. At some stage in my career I’ll go 3-4 months of not playing so good but that’s when you find out. I was in situations like that before. I knew this can happen. There was no pressure, just pressure I put on myself. I want to be a good leader. I don’t talk much but I train and play well, that’s how I lead. I was never panicked. I believe in my abilities and we have a really good team. The start of the season was a disappointment for us and not up to the standards of this club. It’s a credit to everybody.”
“I’m happy the goal meant three points for us. I don’t set personal milestones. I’m happy, don’t take nothing away, but it’s nothing that I set and clearly have to reach every year. It’s nice to hear and see and I’m proud of it, but we still have one more game to go and the playoffs are something we want to do better than last year.”
On his relationship with his dad: “We talk pretty much on a daily basis basis. He has some time on his hands. He does these little videos he cuts up for me and goes through opposition. It seems to be working. Credit to him for doing that. That’s what he’s doing. It’s not just our job, but for our family this is our lives. it’s the only thing we really talk about on a daily basis. We talk about soccer more than anything else. I’m sure he’s happy and proud and I’ll tell him to keep making his little videos.”
On Jordan Morris: “His hold-up play is huge but so is his speed and ability to get behind. His ability to get behind has helped.
“He’s done an amazing job. He brings a different attribute than most 9s. Jordan’s speed is definitely his biggest strength and we try to use him to our advantage. He’ll be disappointed not to score that goal but he’ll get them when they matter more. He created that goal by himself. His speed allowed him to get behind defender and he did all the right things.”
