Realio’s Ratings: Let’s ride

The Sounders opened their 2025 season on the road in Guatemala against Antigua GFC. Scoring early and looking incredible as they rushed forward to attack, Seattle showed the improved offense that everyone wanted to see, and a smothering counter press that created opportunities all evening. Unfortunately, this came at the expense of some nervy defensive moments, one of which resulted in a goal against. A dominant second half included a handful of chances for Seattle, two of which they converted, and the end result was a comfortable 3-1 win. Road matches in CONCACAF are difficult, and this was the Sounders’ best away result ever in this competition. They are clearly still in preseason form, but the difference was depth, as Seattle brought in difference makers across the field and completely dominated the match. 

First Impressions: This team will be more dynamic on the attack, with flowing movement and the ability to counter press into immediate goals. As a result, the defense will be less compact and must better understand the gaps created and improve ball possession. The team’s tactic of working through the middle instead of crossing the ball was creative and produced big chances; that will be an exciting style of play with the potential for repeated quality results. 

Goalkeeper

Stefan Frei – 6

Frei didn’t earn a shutout, mostly due to an uncharacteristically sloppy defense in front of him. He was saved a few times by teammates, who controlled most of the match yet inexplicably gave up big chances. Frei did make a number of nice plays, including a near-post control in the 64th minute followed by a 79th minute parry of an Olimpico try. One of a few sloppy plays, Stefan’s 89th minute fumble in the box was nearly disastrous. Frei’s distribution and comfort on the ball were shaky, and as Seattle transitions to a three-man back line, he’ll need to be cleaner with his feet. Unfortunately, this means some long clearances from pressure, which will need to be addressed tactically. 

First Impressions: Frei showed exactly what he has been for years: a less mobile but positionally excellent keeper who gives his teammates a chance to win as long as they do their thing on the other end. 

Defense

Nouhou – 7

Nouhou was very strong against Antigua, especially when compared to other teammates who struggled across the back line. He had 12 defensive actions, and importantly won every duel and tackle presented on his side. He consistently came across to defend the backside as a leaky right and center of the defense offered up big chances for Antigua to surge through. A last-gasp defense from Nouhou was often needed to prevent goals. A 65th minute tackle was massive, preventing Yeimar’s mistouch from giving Antigua an opportunity to tie the match. Nouhou wasn’t able to stop the lone goal against, as the defense was ripped apart. He hustled back to the center of the field to guard an attacker, but was beaten by a good cross and finish combo from the Guatemalan side as the defense looked porous in transition. His 91st minute foul looked to be from fatigue, but it was a rough time and place to give up a set piece. 

First Impressions: There were some growing pains in the back, especially with spacing and transition moments, but the trade off seemed worth it on the score line. Nouhou’s pace is essential to limiting opponents’ transitions.

Jackson Ragen – 6

For the most part, Ragen did a good job in the center, pushing passes around and attempting to match up physically with different Antigua players who pressed and dropped into the middle. The nuances of the formation were a struggle for Jackson early, as he was beaten for speed while getting pulled out of position. A number of scary turnovers included a 33rd minute fumble to the opponents and an 80th minute perfect pass to Antigua who were in a great spot to take advantage. These mistakes were bewildering choices compounded by terrible execution that saw a number of turnovers handed to the opponents in a sloppy outing. 

First Impressions: Ragen was rusty, showing hesitation and poor spacing in the back, but still showed why he started in the middle. The transition to a back three system puts pressure on him to be central and distribute, and he showed well with his passing rate (91 percent) and team-leading 69 completed passes. 

Yeimar – 4

Without sugarcoating it, Yeimar was bad. He wasn’t just poor positionally or tactically in the Sounders defense, he was actively bad in distribution. It was like he was trying to pass to the other team. When he inexplicably lunged and was beaten on the 24th minute throw-in, there was not enough coverage behind him and Antigua scored. Even worse were the awful passes, with turnovers in the 34th, 43rd, 48th, and a terrible touch that put an Antigua attacker directly in on goal in the 65th. Nouhou cleaned up this last one and a combination of the rest of the team limited the fallout from his other turnovers, but this was a night to forget by Yeimar. His 14 defensive actions showed that he gets into good spots in support of team defense, and despite struggling, he was still strong at times with Seattle only conceding once. 

First Impressions: Yeimar had a slow start in 2024, and this looked to be worse. Even Antigua knew to back off and allow the Sounders possession to go through Yeimar. Long known as an erratic distributor, the execution from his head to his feet must improve. While 32 isn’t “old” in center back age, the slow starts would be more concerning if we didn’t have evidence from three months ago, when Yeimar was one of the best center backs in MLS. 

Alex Roldan – 6

At first glance Roldan was positioned in the usual 4-2-3-1, however Alex played it much differently than in past seasons. Gone was any deep movement up the wing, as Seattle ceded the width on his side. Instead Roldan pinched in and combined more centrally rather than overlapping into space in the corner. He didn’t attempt crosses or shots much (one each); instead he combined on the right and did some boring defensive work near midfield. His connection with Yeimar was an adventure, with a number of miscommunications, including a bad giveaway in the 29th minute. He was solid in his role, and in the 63rd minute he made a critical intervention with opposing runners open, showing the kind of defensive tenacity that Seattle needs from the back. 

First Impressions: The tactical shift was more pronounced than ever, and reimagining the Alex Roldan role is going to be a work in progress. Not relying on Alex to create offense is probably the right move toward consistent, diverse, and effective attacking. However, it’s hard to see how this position will utilize Roldan’s best qualities. 

Defensive Midfield

Obed Vargas – 7

A lot is expected of Obed this season, but he started out a little shaky in this game. All of the stats loved his play, which was highlighted by 11 passes into the final third and multiple secondary assists offensively. Overall he was solid, but there were clear moments when he struggled. A number of careless passes and turnovers were to be expected in tough conditions, but the positioning and decision making was somewhat more concerning. Vargas was still excellent in the middle, and even after an error in the 94th minute, he stole possession and immediately found Georgi Minoungou for a third goal. This is a repeatable process where Obed quickly converts central possession into forward thrust, and ultimately into goals. 

First Impressions: Obed enters 2025 with massive expectations, and everyone is watching how he lives up to those ideals. We have already seen the highs, but he will need to raise his floor and find more consistent positioning and decision making than he did in this opening game. 

Cristian Roldan – 7 (off 85’ for João Paulo)

Roldan started in the middle, a position he is expected to man for the entire season. He looked very comfortable, and while quiet in the first half, was part of nearly every good action that the Sounders had before intermission. As the defense struggled to find its tactical shape, time and again an intervention from Roldan was the difference between crisis and counterattack. The beauty of Cristian’s play as a defensive midfielder is his ability to combine with everyone around him. When Arriola pushed high, it was Roldan who shifted over. His positioning freed Obed to press and make diagonal support runs, and much of Seattle’s shape came from crucial movement by Roldan. As he tired, the defense struggled, and with both Cristian and Obed visibly fatigued, things got stretched centrally. 

First Impressions: This tactical setup asks a lot of the midfielders, with emphasis on Cristian who has to clean up the messes. His understanding of positioning makes him a good fit for this role, but stronger team cohesion in the back half of the team would make it less reliant on Roldan to fill the gaps. 

Attacking Midfield

Paul Arriola – 8 (MOTM) (off 67’ for Rothrock)

Paul Arriola stepped into a wide attacking position and repeatedly showed class, bouncing off opponents to feed in dangerous passes, combine with central options, and when the opportunity arose three minutes in, to smash home the opening goal. Arriola was fantastic as the attacking wingback, who impressed in nearly all facets of play. Especially intriguing was his passing, including a gorgeous 39th minute ball and another in the 47th that found teammates in prime attacking positions. Surrounding this impressive play was a tenacity that resulted in numerous fouls won in dangerous areas as the Guatemalan side wasn’t prepared for Paul’s tenaciousness on and off the ball. There were a few issues in connecting with teammates, passes that didn’t quite connect, and it would be nice to see him look for Jordan Morris at least once, but otherwise Arriola had a very tidy introduction as a Sounder. 

First Impressions: The wingback/wide attacking hydra head looks like a near-perfect fit for Arriola, who excelled at diving into the attack as an extra body, a combiner who created big chances, and can be the direct goal scoring threat that Seattle has lacked. His passing could be more accurate and his defense more compact, but there's a lot to like about this savvy, underrated roster move. 

Pedro de la Vega – 8 (off 76’ for Minoungou)

Pedro looked both fantastic and just okay, depending on when you watched. The fantastic part was wowzers stuff, attempting (and converting) half bike passes, heel flicks, audacious dribbles, holding the ball under multiple threats and diving into the box to create a plethora of chances. A 61st minute strike was so powerful it deflected off a face and in. He was dynamic, goal-dangerous, and combined with others to get in the box and make stuff happen. The “okay” stuff was some of last year’s struggles popping up, attempting to take on the entire opposing team and failing, and trying to do too much when a simpler option was a better choice. Being able to do the fancy stuff and using it when necessary is great; finding balance is the goal now. To that end, this was a promising but incomplete performance.

First Impressions: This is the PDLV we thought we were getting last season, a game changer who can create both for himself and others with and without the ball. Perhaps most impressive wasn’t the fancy flicks and play, but the pace to get to the end line and find teammates and the clear bulk he has put on in the offseason. His ability to hold the ball via incredible balance and agility was the difference in his play against Antigua and should be an important factor in his 2025 success. 

Jesús Ferreira – 6 (off 67’ for Rusnák)

Jesús introduced himself to Sounders fans in the 3rd minute, opening up on the right side and then recognizing the gravitational Morris pull and putting a clean assist in the backwash to his old Dallas teammate Arriola. This play seemed innocuous but it represented a fundamental shift to how Seattle approached the match. Ferreira consistently cut inside from the width to connect centrally or popped up in the box as a key third man run as Seattle transitioned quickly and assertively, often through Jesús’ distribution. There was much to like about his first Sounders minutes, but also plenty to improve upon. Ferreira’s corner kick service left a lot to be desired (but might have been affected by altitude), and in the 57th minute he got a near-perfect pass in the middle of the box but was unable to put it away. 

First Impressions: The Sounders completely changed their tactical setup, and it’s one that fits Ferreira well. His ability to get the ball in the half spaces and find accurate passes through the middle was on display, as was his willingness to crash the box and find big moments inside the penalty area. This led to Seattle having numbers in the area in a fashion much improved from previous seasons. 

Forward

Jordan Morris – 6 (off 76’ for Musovski)

Morris had a quiet but effective match. Unable to get on the scoresheet, he did all the little things you want from a forward. Time and again a quality run (such as on the first Sounders goal) opened space for the technical players behind him to utilize in creative fashion. His important pressure continually offered up counterpress angles behind him, as especially in the second half the Sounders created a lot of opportunities from quick transition. All that being said, 18 touches and zero shots isn’t the line you want from your star striker. If Seattle is going to use this formation, they need someone to recognize Jordan’s movement earlier, as the defense repeatedly closed down while Sounders were too late to recognize the options Morris presented. Jordan could also improve on some tired hold-up attempts that resulted in turnovers later in the second half. With touches at a premium, Jordan doesn’t have many opportunities to waste. 

First Impressions: Jordan did important things, but he needs to be found to be effective. He has never (sans one San Jose match … and one LAG one?) been the guy who gets the ball at midfield and runs through everyone with fancy dribbles or scores from audacious angles. Albert Rusnák can find Morris, and now the rest of the team must also find him, because he cannot have zero touches in the box for an entire outing. 

Substitutes

Paul Rothrock – 5 (on 67’ for Arriola)

Replacing Arriola as the first sub was Paul of the Rock, who entered and immediately won a foul. Outside of that, however, this was a muted appearance for the second Paul to enter the match, failing to find moments to impact the game. His 67 percent passing was due to a small sample size, but his miscues did include a rather embarrassing bad touch in the 81st minute to lose possession. 

First Impressions: The takeaway from this game is that Paul was healthy enough to give solid minutes, and that is great news for a Sounders team that showed so much depth. Paul will be fine, ready to terrorize the opponents when they least expect it. 

Albert Rusnák – 7 (on 67’ for Ferreira)

Albert came into the match and was an immediate calming presence, exactly what the team needed. His ability to monitor the pace of the match meant Seattle gained important control, which showed up as they exerted their influence throughout the second half. Immediately earning a free kick, Rusnák’s mere presence allowed Seattle a release valve and increased possession. His slower pace was a drastic change from the breakneck speed the team played with prior to his entrance, but what wasn’t a change was Albert’s precise finishing in extra time, a beautiful first-time shot that was perfectly tucked away. That finish earned his team vital breathing room and increased opportunity for rotation, and it was started by Albert’s own pressure forcing an errant clearance. 

First Impressions: Similar to Rothrock, the main thing was that Albert was healthy enough to get on the field in tough conditions. The goal was exactly the kind of class you expect from a DP, and the question isn’t whether Rusnák will impact the scoreline, it’s how often. 

Georgi Minoungou – 6 (on 76’ for PdlV)

Georgi came in and immediately started terrorizing the Antigua left side, running over, around, and through the defense to set up multiple chances. His impact included a 76th minute lovely dribble with pace through the defense before pulling the ball back towards the spot and creating a massive chance that went wanting. Near the end of the match he released forward after a turnover and made the kind of one-touch perfect cross that you love to see.

First Impressions: Last season Minoungou got in great spots but couldn’t find that bit of class in the final third to translate his hard work into goals. If one game is any indication, he’s in for a big year. The vision and understanding to immediately make that pass allowed Seattle to get an important third goal, as Georgi showed rapid improvement exactly where he needed it. 

Danny Musovski – 5 (on 76’ for Morris) 

Added onto the field for Morris, Danny didn’t help or hinder the Sounders’ game. He was almost invisible and had little impact on the match. The statsheet showed slightly better for Musovski, as he recorded multiple passes into the final third and a touch in the box, but other than an 89th minute press that earned Seattle a throw-in, he was mostly a non-factor. 

First Impressions: With the amount of rotating Seattle is likely to do, there are still opportunities like this for Danny to show well enough to earn consistent time. Unfortunately, this 15 minute outing showed more of the same underwhelming play from last year. 

João Paulo – 5 (on 85’ for Cristian Roldan) 

JP entered late and was a leader in the middle, organizing the back after some nervy moments. He had clean passing, a defensive intervention, and calmed down the middle to help Seattle see out the win. 

First Impressions: Adding another quality player this far down the bench shows incredible depth. JP adds not only control and calmness on the ball, but team leadership that is critical, especially late in matches. 

Referee

Katia García – 9

García’s refereeing of the first half was perhaps the best ever witnessed by a Sounders team. This was amazing, given it was a CONCACAF road match in Guatemala, which has consistently showcased some of the most flagrant shithousery on record. García started with a beautiful 5th minute advantage play and then repeatedly continued this trend, even offering delayed yellow cards after playing out an attack. Her control of the game was excellent, adjudicating the pressure of the match and making quick, assertive calls. Throughout the first half, play was allowed to flow, but the whistle and control of the match were firmly in the hands of the referee crew, who didn’t seem to miss a single call. The start of the second half began with much more physical play, and García struggled to adjust, allowing too much contact and a number of play-on moments that eventually led to some heated dangerous play. To her credit, the referee made a quality in-game adjustment, and outside of those 15-20 minutes with no calls or cards for dangerous play, the match was refereed with quality and coherence, and finished with much less drama than we are accustomed to in this competition. 

First Impressions: Outside of some interesting halftime adjustments, this entire female referee group was fantastic. I hope we see more of them. 

Upcoming: MLS season opener against Charlotte, Saturday at Lumen Field.

First Impressions: Team depth is essential to an early surge in MLS play, and the CCC match showed Seattle has plenty of lineup options.