For the second straight match, the Seattle Sounders dominated a quality opponent, this time facing Charlotte FC at Lumen in the MLS season opener. Unlike against Antigua where some crucial bounces went their way and they came out winners, in this one the home team had to settle for a 2-2 tie, as a late miscue and own goal in stoppage time changed this from a dominant, statement victory to a disappointing, single-point home opener. Seattle did dominate, creating chance after chance from all over the field, getting strong performances through the middle combined with aggressive wide play and back-to-front transition, and they would have scored more except for Charlotte’s excellent goalkeeping. Seattle’s defense limited Charlotte to few opportunities; unfortunately they also had late-game lapses in judgement and decision making, failing to see out the match and earn the full points. Although this game will likely be remembered for a few mistakes, the underlying stats and performances were promising, as Seattle’s offense already looks improved in 2025.
Going forward: This is one of the deepest teams in MLS history and it was surprising not to see earlier subs. Seattle’s failure to seal the game with a clinching goal or two, combined with unfortunate errors at the exact wrong time, will have the team rethinking how it played out.
Goalkeeper
Stefan Frei – 5 | Community – 6.0
Again Frei didn’t have a lot to do in a match, and again he conceded goals. Like at the start of last season, he doesn’t seem entirely comfortable, as he is learning the positional predilections of teammates and is being asked to use his feet more.
What I liked: Frei understands the game state well, and after making mistakes he almost always improves immediately within games. He did that after struggling with short distribution a few times, adjusting quickly. Late in the match, he ignored short possession in lieu of long clearances, smartly taking no chances in the back.
What I didn’t like: I don’t know what Frei was doing on the first goal. He stepped out toward the corner kick, then tried to backpedal, which put him off balance and helpless as Charlotte scored past him. He has to be better there, and to his credit he was better on the next corner when he punched away a similar effort.
Going forward: It’s not yet alarming, but it is odd that Stef has not been credited with a single save in 2025 and has conceded three times.
Defense
Nouhou – 6 | Community – 6.0 (off 87’ for Bell)
After a rocky start, Nouhou found his control and played a dominant defensive match on the left. Seattle almost completely left him alone to defend his side, and Nouhou responded with 90 percent passing on 70 touches. He was beaten a number of times, but had six crucial recoveries, and Seattle was rarely pressured down his wing.
What I liked: Nouhou’s step on an opponent in the first few minutes was surprisingly given as a yellow card. While he stayed in the match and managed that issue, he was clearly perturbed and it affected his play negatively as he maintained dialogue with the referee. He did find his head and with it excellent defending for the rest of his time on the field before leaving late.
What I didn’t like: Walking a fine line with a referee who made a statement call in the first minute is unnecessary, and it would be nice (and better for the team) if Nouhou could reign in his emotions. It looked like the Charlotte player who scored on the corner wasn’t marked by anyone particularly well, and it may have been Nouhou’s job.
Going forward: Nouhou has had some shaky moments, but no massive errors like his centerback partners. He needs to maintain his solid level of defensive play.
Jackson Ragen – 5 | Community – 5.0
Poor Ragen had an excellent game that will unfortunately be remembered for his massive errors, rather than his quality play throughout. He was great in distribution and control, and his decision making for a majority of the match meant quick, safe passing to teammates that helped keep Seattle in dominant control.
What I liked: His 90 percent passing, 3/5 long balls completed, seven defensive actions, and nine recoveries showed the well-rounded defensive and distributive play we love to see from Ragen. All the pieces were there for an excellent defensive performance.
What I didn’t like: A few massive errors defined this game more than the generally solid play. Jackson should have learned in the 84th minute when he tried a risky dribble in the back and was lucky not to lose it. But when he again tried multiple risky attempts in extra time, eschewing the safe play, Seattle paid the price in two dropped points directly from his errors.
Going forward: It’s not expected that Ragen will continue to make these giant mistakes, but it’s reminiscent of the start of last season where these issues seemed prevalent in nearly every match.
Yeimar – 6 | Community – 5.0
Yeimar was much improved from his midweek debacle in Guatemala, looking better in nearly all facets of play. Some of that may be due to Charlotte’s reluctance to send numbers forward, but overall this was a good sign just three days after a dreadful showing. He was connected to teammates, passed generally to Sounders, and displayed his defending abilities.
What I liked: After seemingly playing for the other team at times on Wednesday, Yeimar dialed in his distribution against Charlotte, completing 92 percent of his passes and showing more of the solid form from the end of last year.
What I didn’t like: It’s a shame that he scored the own goal late. Ragen owns most of the blame for the poor decisions and execution up to the point Yeimar scored, but you have to wonder if fatigue at the end of 180+ minutes in four days contributed to Yeimar having to reach for the ball instead of casually kicking it clear.
Going forward: It was a relief to see Yeimar perform more solidly, and to fix the positioning and distribution decisions he made in the prior match. He needs a few more quality matches before he can erase the stink of that Antigua match, however.
Alex Roldan – 6 | Community – 5.9
Alex lined up as a fullback or winger depending on which graphic you saw online, and he continued to be quietly effective in whatever that role was. Tucking inside to combine through the middle, he also got into the box in the attack a number of times and had an excellent 43rd minute shot that forced a save right before halftime. He ended with 90 touches and three key passes.
What I liked: One reason Charlotte rarely got into the attack was tremendous defense from Alex, who was an excellent 6/6 on tackles, continually tucking in and being a brick wall for the opponent to ram into. He combined this with a good understanding of when to add to the attack.
What I didn’t like: A number of rough crosses killed attacks. It was exasperating to see him forcing balls into the defense in Seattle’s half such as the one he attempted in the 50th minute. These are unnecessary risks.
Going forward: Alex seems uniquely qualified to play this hybrid “wide midfender” role and much of that relies on good decision making and combination centrally. It’s hard to tell whether the team is benefitting as much as it could with this tactic.
Defensive Midfield
Obed Vargas – 7 | Community – 6.9
Vargas was again excellent in the center, pairing neatly with Cristian, finding the ball and passing forward. Ninety percent passing, two key passes and two shots of his own were excellent attacking numbers, as Obed understood how and when to get involved in the attack. He won all his attempted tackles and had six defensive actions with Seattle dominating the center of the field.
What I liked: In the 6th minute, Obed earned possession facing his own goal with a clear, safe pass back to the defense. He eschewed this option, instead turning into the middle to start an attacking sequence. This was a beautiful little nuance of improvement from Obed, who similarly bodied off three players four minutes later and played confidently all match.
What I didn’t like: There were so many “almosts” in this match, as Obed repeatedly did something great then lost the ball, like a 72nd minute give-and-go with Albert Rusnák followed by a weak shot right at the keeper. He is so close, and it’s frustrating without the payoff.
Going forward: In a year Obed has gone from questionable starter to locked-in dominant player. He does the little things you love centrally and is starting to add more big game-changing moments. The sky’s the limit.
Cristian Roldan – 8 | Community – 7.2
If his buddy Jordan Morris didn’t score twice, Cristian would have been an easy MOTM winner. He was fantastic, popping up all over the field, doing everything, and carrying Seattle to repeated success on both ends of the field. He completely dominated the middle, and the stats backed that up: 114 touches, 92 percent completion rate, three key passes, a great header off a corner kick that forced a save, and 12 recoveries defensively. Charlotte frequently had a small sniff of space centrally, only to have Roldan slide across to win a crucial battle and snuff out the attempt. Repeatedly it was Cristian’s control in the middle and distribution to release Morris, Rusnák, and more up the field.
What I liked: This was the kind of dominant center midfield play that Seattle has long depended on, and it’s a huge reason Seattle was in command of this match. Whether it was clearing after Nouhou fumbled a sideline ball in the 37th, putting Morris through in the 57th, stealing possession in the 64th, or an 83rd minute defensive stop, Cristian did it all.
What I didn’t like: While on the same page as just about everyone else, there was a severe lack of Rock and Rol in this match; Cristian was repeatedly unable to find Paul as these two struggled to combine.
Going forward: Some concern should be raised when the team is so dependent on Cristian, but his performance in back to back matches is an excellent start to the season and shows he can elevate his, and the team’s, play.
Attacking Midfield
Paul Rothrock – 5 | Community – 5.5 (off 61’ for Arriola)
The Rock earned his first start in 2025 and was okay, but failed to make the sort of impact he or the fans would have liked. Credited with two shots and a key pass, this was a muted match for Paul who at times didn’t have the touch or patience to effectively join the attack.
What I liked: Rothrock played the wing very vertically, pressing forward into the corner often and creating space for teammates to be effective on the opposite side.
What I didn’t like: Zero successful dribbles, 1/4 successful crosses, two blocked shots, 1/6 duels won: this wasn’t a great performance from Paul, who in the past has shown the tactical acumen to fit into the Sounders’ flowing offense. With the Seattle attack shading to the creative right, there was a lot of space available on his side, and Paul didn’t use it too effectively.
Going forward: Paul started most of the second half of 2024, and being able to rotate more in 2025 should make him more effective. He will be a tremendous depth piece who can give solid minutes during all of the congestion.
Albert Rusnák– 8 | Community – 7.2 (off 87’ for PDLV)
Rusnák was fantastic against Charlotte, showing his brand of DP level play. That meant control of the match, connective play that almost sneaks up on you when you look at the stats: he had five key passes, a beautiful assist, five shots, 93 percent passing, and a complete performance pulling the strings in the middle for Seattle.
What I liked: In the 49th minute, Albert made an inch-perfect pass that cut out four defenders and put Jordan Morris in on goal. But almost as impressive was what he did immediately prior. After getting a ball in space from Cristian, Albert bounced off a tough challenge from behind, kept control with a bit of dribbling wizardry that beat the defender, and opened up his vision to the middle of the field. His beautiful pass and some Morris finishing ended the sequence.
What I didn’t like: Seattle was a little lost without the control that Albert brought, and it’s worth wondering if subbing him off put pressure on Seattle late without a true possession attacking midfielder. There was a moment in the 84th where Rusnák received possession with Arriola, Ferreira and Morris forward and his too-slow play cost a chance to put the match away.
Going forward: It’s early, but worth watching if Rusnák can truly coexist with PDLV and Ferreira. Albert’s slower, deliberate play is very effective and is a proven combination with Morris, but the breakneck forward push of those players is a contrast and the season will likely earn its ceiling from how these players combine.
Georgi Minoungou – 7 | Community – 7.3 (off 79’ for Ferreira)
Georgi Minoungou is a serious mismatch for just about anyone in the league, as Tim Ream learned in the first half of the match. Time and again in isolation, Georgi found space over, around, and through his opponents on the right, diving into the box and looking for teammates. He eventually found Morris for the opener, as part of a busy and effective offensive outing.
What I liked: Seattle gave Georgi the time and space to create 1-v-1 and he created multiple chances through the right. The most successful was an early cross into a near post dash from Morris, with Jordan doing the rest. When Minoungou is on the field, Seattle always has an offensive option.
What I didn’t like: Georgi was only 2/7 crossing, and while he beat his man, he often blindly crossed back to dangerous areas occupied by defenders. The next step is for him to find a half second to recognize runs and find teammates in the box.
Going forward: Minoungou has already exceeded his 2024 effectiveness in two appearances so far in 2025. The sky’s the limit for what he can bring; he possesses the kind of innate talent that others dream of.
Forward
Jordan Morris – 8 (MOTM) | Community – 8.3 (MOTM)
Morris announced himself early and often against Charlotte. The newly minted DP striker added his name to the golden boot race, tallying twice and nearly scoring multiple other times. He was direct when necessary, creative and powerful, and most importantly finished his big chances. He only had three shots, but his 41 touches were a lot for him, and that was due to excellent combination and holdup play on a busy and productive evening.
What I liked: The first goal was great to see, as getting and redirecting a near post shot past an in-form keeper is extremely difficult. Getting his hips around the early cross was a textbook play and his goal-bound momentum ensured a goal. The second was nearly saved as well, but Morris understood the need to hit it hard and early. In the 15th and 53rd minutes Cristian dialed up Morris, and Rusnák found him forward another time as Jordan was a constant threat.
What I didn’t like: Leaving Morris on late was no doubt to try for a hat trick, and he got close. Unfortunately, as more attacking players arrived, Jordan struggled to combine with them, and at times he looked redundant with de la Vega.
Going forward: Jordan is already 15 percent towards his 2024 MLS goal total and shows no sign of slowing down. Getting more time with Jesús, Pedro, and Arriola should lead to him smashing his 2024 numbers.
Substitutes
Paul Arriola – 6 | Community – 6.4 (on 61’ for Rothrock)
Paul entered for Paul and was immediately more dangerous on the left, as Seattle adjusted to utilize the space wide and Arriola made some noise up his wing. Attacking the center of the field from wide was a helpful change as well, with Paul varying his attack and earning multiple corners.
What I liked: Although he only had one shot, Arriola had 88 percent passing and created more than the first Paul did in twice the time. Getting into the box and combining forward was a great injection of attack for Seattle.
What I didn’t like: An awkward play in the 91st minute was indicative of a front group that didn’t seem to have the communication and coordination you want. Holding a lead late, these players were all forward and the shape wasn’t compact.
Going forward: Switching between the two Pauls gives a great contrast in styles, although so far this season Arriola has been the more effective player.
Jesús Ferreira – 5 | Community – 5.7 (on 79’ for Minoungou)
Jesús came in at the wing and struggled to make an imprint on the match. Removing the dynamic dribbling push up the right wing for the combination and central drift of Ferreira was a big tactical switch, and Seattle was slow to adjust. With perfect passing and smart tactical movement, Ferreira did a good job taking what the gamestate gave him and combining with teammates.
What I liked: Jesús made three vertical runs in behind in the 81st minute, none of which was rewarded by a pass. Understanding the attacking spaces he uses that are different from others on the width is important, and when people start to see them he is going to be effective.
What I didn’t like: In the 83rd minute, Jesús brilliantly stole a pass and immediately transitioned into a flowing counter attack … before a long-touch turnover killed the chance. It’s clear the talent is there, and he was so close to breaking open the match on multiple occasions, but the execution wasn’t there that time.
Going forward: Being more forceful and demanding the ball might help see how he fits into the match, but Jesús is smartly taking what the game allows and figuring out how he fits. He has an excellent ability to move to the right space to support others.
Pedro de la Vega – 5 | Community – 5.6 (on 87’ for Rusnák)
Yet another offensive sub late brought PDLV into the match to replace Rusnák and it didn’t seem to work too well. The clash of styles was massive, and Seattle struggled to figure out where everyone should be late in the game.
What I liked: He only played a few minutes, but he combined with teammates and ended with perfect passing.
What I didn’t like: Gone was the positional structure that Rusnák brought; instead there were moments when Paul, Pedro, and Jordan were all near the corner flag, creating too many gaps behind as Seattle’s shape was a mess.
Going forward: Pedro was excited to join the attack but ran himself out of some good spots chasing the game, and hopefully he’ll understand the game state better next time he arrives late.
Jonathan Bell – 5 | Community – 5.3 (on 87’ for Nouhou)
Bell came in late as a defensive addition, removing Nouhou on the left. The strength of the defense had been leaving the left side to Nouhou to control. With him out, Ragen found himself shading more to that side and ultimately that’s where the big error came late.
What I liked: Jonathan came in ready and was okay combining up the side, doing his job and combining forward.
What I didn’t like: Bell was slow to recognize Ragen’s errors, and transitioned back on defense slowly and not centrally enough to support on the own goal play.
Going forward: Bell didn’t have much to say about this match.
Referee
Filip Dujic – 5 | Community – 4.6
After hyping up this referee from 2024 stellar appearances, Dujic announced his villain candidacy by displaying a 2nd minute yellow card for a late challenge. After this early card, somehow only one other was shown all match, with constant “last warning” chats in lieu of cards that confused players and fans alike. The fouls called were even between both teams, but neither seemed happy with the cadence of the refereeing performance.
What I liked: The yellow card given to Liel Abada in the 59th minute was the kind of call that rarely earns a card in MLS and needs to become standard. The Charlotte player jumped into Yeimar, who was exposed winning a defensive header, and it was nice to see this lack of soccer play being penalized.
What I didn’t like: This felt like very shaky and inconsistent refereeing. Yes, Nouhou stepped on the player but a talk might have been more appropriate, especially in lieu of a number of other calls deserving cards that weren’t shown. Particularly egregious were a 17th minute whistle on Cristian Roldan and a 45th minute play that was bungled so badly the ref ended up giving a drop ball.
Going forward: A big improvement for this referee would have been making consistent calls. If a hard foul in the 2nd minute is a card, that reciprocal call should be made when Cristian Roldan or Paul Rothrock are being suplexed throughout the match.
Charlotte FC MOTM
Kristijan Kahlina was immense against the Sounders. While he may feel he should have done better on both goals conceded, he was clean in dealing with the plethora of other chances created by a dynamic Sounders attack. He was the difference between 4-1 and Seattle’s own goal not mattering, and a point on the road. Hell, he even parried Yeimar’s offside header from a corner in the 26th minute.
Upcoming: Antigua, juego numero dos on Wednesday – with a comfortable lead at home.
