Report by Jace Cortinas/La Voz
The Seattle Sounders faced off against Sporting KC on the warm evening of the first of October. Seattle hoped to extend their seven game unbeaten streak and leave their historically underwhelming summer record in the past, proving it was just a bad stretch, not the new norm. With SKC having the most goals conceded in the Western Conference, and the fewest goals scored in the entire league, Sounders fans were expecting not just goals from the front line, but a clean sheet at the back. However, Kansas winger Andre Luiz-a Brazilian with years of European experience-has been in great form in his first month with the club.
The game started with more chances for Kansas than Sounders likely expected, with quick linkup play creating a handful of half chances for the away side. In the 43 minute, after a failed Alex Roldan clearance was deflected, the ball fell to the feet of KC winger Luiz, who fired his shot near post past Cleveland to make it 1-0. This is now his fifth goal in just over two weeks, with four in his previous three games.
Just six minutes into the second half, Cristian Roldan sent a deep ball over top to Jordan Morris, who brought it down and held it up in the box, before laying it back to Sebastian Gomez, who fired his shot past the keeper to make it 1-1. The substitution of Musovski for Gomez after only 45 minutes seemed strange, with no injury apparent, but it quickly paid off. Seattle continued putting on pressure.
In the 90 minute, Sounders broke through and Jordan Morris played through Cristian Roldan, but his pass was just short, as SKC defender slid and intended to send the ball out for a throw. But Cristian persisted, and the clearance went straight into his outstretched foot, resulting in a slow pass past the keeper in a comical but match-winning goal for Seattle.
