SOUNDERS WIN SHOOTOUT, AGAIN: The Sounders converted all seven of their penalty attempts and Stefan Frei stopped Tate Schmitt on the Dynamo’s final attempt to clinch the win. The Sounders now await the winner of LAFC-Whitecaps to see who they play in the Western Conference semifinals.

DYNAMO 1, SOUNDERS 1: Cristian Roldan scored an own goal at 90+3’ off a cross from Griffin Dorsey through the box.

Better late than never! 10 men @HoustonDynamo equalize through an own goal at the death!

Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/fRnBHlegvg
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 4, 2024

DYNAMO 0, SOUNDERS 1: Cristian Roldan scored just his second goal of the season to give the Sounders a late lead. Nouhou sent in the cross.

Cristian Roldan with a CLINICAL finish!@SoundersFC might've just sealed their spot in Round Two. 😱

Audi #MLSCupPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/MAS2OAj27q
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) November 4, 2024

LINEUPS: Missing Jordan Morris and Albert Rusnák, the Seattle Sounders were forced to rotate their lineup more than at anytime in the past few months. In Morris’ place, Raúl Ruidíaz gets the start while Cristian Roldan takes over for Rusnák at the No. 10 with Obed Vargas reclaiming his spot in the defensive midfield.

After winning Match 1 in a penalty shootout, the Seattle Sounders have a chance to secure advancement to the Western Conference semifinals with another win tonight. If the Houston Dynamo win, a decisive Match 3 will be played in Seattle next Sunday.

A couple of late injury announcements have thrown a bit of a wrench into the Sounders’ plans, though. With Jordan Morris already likely to rest a hamstring injury, the team revealed on Saturday that Albert Rusnák had felt some tightness in his hip and Danny Musovski has injured his quad. Musovski has already been ruled out, but the team is likely to also be a bit careful with Rusnák.

That gives head coach Brian Schmetzer several options that effectively leave him choosing between Georgi Minoungou or João Paulo. Either way, it probably makes the most sense to put Pedro de la Vega in the middle with Minoungou or Cristian Roldan on the wing.

Notes

Stefan Frei is one shutout away from tying Kevin Hartman for the most in MLS Playoff history. Hartman needed 49 games to get to 15 career shutouts, while Frei has gotten 14 in just 33 career playoff games.
The Sounders improved to 6-6 all-time in shootouts and have now won two straight after dropping four in a row. Match 1 marked the first time they’d ever finished a shootout 5/5 on their attempts.
If this game is tied at the end of regulation, it will again go straight to penalties.
The Sounders are 5-1-1 in their last seven match at Shell Energy Stadium, dating to March 4, 2017.