Morris is Seattle’s man of the moment: Sounders stage dramatic 3-2 comeback to defeat FC Dallas
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – With just 24 minutes left in regular time, it seemed as though the Seattle Sounders FC were headed for another devasting, frustrating result at home as they trailed by two goals to the visiting FC Dallas, a side that sits just a few points behind them in the MLS Western Conference standings. The Rave Green had done well to dominate possession and get some half chances in the first half, but that meant nothing as Dallas had found some late magic to push themselves to a two-goal advantage and what seemed to be three points on the road. While their opponents had found those two goals in a four-minute span, the Sounders found their bundle of scores within a 16-minute stretch, and it mattered more because their last came in the dying moments of stoppage time to deliver a dagger to Dallas. Seattle, just as quickly as they had gone down to seemingly end things, had swung back swiftly to stun their opponent and keep hope alive that they’ll be able to pick themselves up enough to find another postseason berth this year. While there’s still plenty of soccer to be played before we get to that, the building block wins that the Sounders have been putting together over the past few months are necessary to even reach that point in the first place.
A special TIFO was raised pre-match as the Seattle Sounders FC celebrated their “Pride Match” when they hosted FC Dallas on Saturday, June 22nd, 2024 at Lumen Field. (Photo by Jane Gershovich)
Good early signs, yet again nothing to show for it
The first half of this match between two Western Conference foes that saw each other in the first round of last year's MLS Audi Cup playoffs went largely how numerous first 45’s have gone for the Sounders this year: with Seattle creating chances, largely mediocre ones, and failing to do much outside of that. The Rave Green have done a solid job at being able to hold onto possession and have the opportunity to dictate play and the pace of the match, but it’s looked more like a hurried mess than a controlled, complete system that we’ve largely come to expect from the Sounders in their impressive MLS tenure. Outside of a weak volley attempt from the top of the 18-yard box off a corner, Dallas didn’t do anything threatening towards goalkeeper Stefan Frei and the Seattle goal, while the Sounders had a handful of dangerous possession opportunities within the box and more than a few corners. It’s a positive sign to see them in control to begin the match, but it feels more like a waste when they haven’t been able to throw the first punch, which is often what happens. The first half ended scoreless, giving no hints towards the sort of bizarre and remarkable finish that this match later saw.
From the lowest lows to the highest highs
Even with Raúl Ruidíaz coming onto the pitch as a substitute in the 60th minute, the Sounders were still failing to do much damage against Dallas and really create any sort of danger against goalkeeper Maarten Paes, as Seattle’s two shots on target before the 65th minute were straight at the keeper and there was no rebound to take advantage of. With that lack of offensive execution, the match remained up for grabs and Dallas didn’t waste that opportunity, especially not when they had the ball near the Sounders box thanks to a turnover by Seattle defender Jackson Ragen. Following the interception, Dallas’ Logan Farrington sent a cross into the middle of the box that perfectly found Patrickson Delgado who had slipped behind Yeimar to redirect the pass past Stefan Frei in goal and break the deadlock. Another failed attempt to play from the back resulted in an interception and goal against for the Rave Green, something we’ve seen far too often during this 2024 campaign. Just three minutes later, Dallas was back in possession and on the attack nearing the Sounders box, as Delgado made his second goal impact of the night with a nice assist from the top of the box to a cutting Petar Musa, whose shot had just enough power behind it to glance off the left leg of Stefan Frei and into the goal to double the away sides lead. Just like that, within four minutes, FC Dallas had taken advantage of a mistake and doubled it to put themselves in excellent position to pick up their first road victory of the season. In a moment that could’ve crushed them, maybe should have crushed them, Seattle did not allow themselves to be kept down and the battle to get back was already on.
Seattle Sounders FC forward Jordan Morris celebrates his first goal of the match, the equalizer to put the score at 2-2 against FC Dallas in the 88th minute at Lumen Field on Saturday, June 22nd, 2024. (Photo by Jane Gershovich)
A rocket of a volley from Albert Rusnák had the Sounders awake once again following the second goal against and created a corner kick that went to waste, but Seattle’s #11 wasn’t going to stop at just having his shot attempts denied. A minute later, Rusnák whipped a ball into a crowded center of the Dallas box where an unlikely name leapt into the air and headed home the first Sounders goal of the night. Raúl Ruidíaz had gone up in front of a clump of both Seattle and Dallas players and ensured that the ball was going to get past Paes on an excellent header that cut the Dallas lead in half. With the Sounders alive and looking for an equalizer, once again Albert Rusnák stepped up when the moment of action presented itself as his laser of a corner kick found its way towards the penalty spot, just as his service on the Ruidíaz goal had, but this time a different forward had an excellent header find the back of the net: Jordan Morris, who was going to be on the end of the play that became the first goal before Raúl leapt in the way to make his mark, got on the scoresheet to equalize. From there, the Rave Green very well could’ve been happy with the fact that they’d equalized in dramatic fashion just as they did on the road against Houston just a few days ago, but that wasn’t the mindset that they had. Chaos took place over the first few minutes of six given minutes of stoppage time, as calls for handballs on both sides of the pitch against each time had the other arguing towards head referee Malik Badawi, but no real foul had been committed so play continued. With momentum on their side and a will to find a third goal, Obed Vargas sent an incredible ball through Dallas players to a streaking Jordan Morris who was through on goal, albeit with a defender nearly on his hip. While that defender could’ve been an issue, Morris had something on his side: goalkeeper Maarten Paes was far off his line and caught in an awkward position near the top of his box. Neither retreating nor approaching Morris would’ve done him any good, and the Mercer Island man made him pay for his mistake by slotting a ball into his right-hand side, giving Seattle the lead with only moments left in stoppage. From death to life, the Sounders had challenged the odds and won.
Seattle Sounders FC forward and Mercer Island native Jordan Morris celebrates his game winning goal, to give him a brace in the match, in the 90+4 minute against FC Dallas on Saturday, June 22nd, 2024 at Lumen Field. (Photos by Jane Gershovich)
Seattle has found its traction
For weeks, and months even, I’ve been wondering whether or not to believe in the results and points that the Seattle Sounders FC have been putting together. The start of the season was near historically bad for their standards, and it didn’t appear to be getting any better with any aging roster and coaching staff that seemed to need a reboot. It was over, they needed to hit the reset button and tear the thing down like your Lincoln logs tower was too boring and wasn’t bringing you the same sort of joy that it used to. After a match like this, in the fashion that they were able to collect all three points, I’ve changed my mind and I’m willing to say that once again I have faith in the Seattle Sounders. It easily could’ve been a result that saw them give up those two goals back-to-back within four minutes of each other and then they fail to push back or fight for at least a draw, as has happened a few different times this year and even the past few years, but that wasn’t the case tonight. The substitution to bring Raúl Ruidíaz on to the field proved effective given the header goal that he scored to cut the deficit in half, and then Jordan Morris seemed to find another gear that we haven’t seen from the Mercer Island man in quite some time.
Now, saying all that and preaching my belief once again is nice and all, but obviously Seattle must keep things going and continue to build upon the momentum that has slowly and painfully been started over these past few weeks or so. It’s a unique upcoming slate for the Sounders, as there’s a mixture of clubs that are sitting below the playoff line and sides that are right in the picture for the postseason, all while the Rave Green still have a U.S. Open Cup run taking place and Leagues Cup comes up in a few weeks. It isn’t going to be easy, and they’re likely going to need to pick their battles so to speak with the MLS regular season and perhaps even the Open Cup taking priority over the Leagues Cup this year. Seattle doesn’t have the premiere roster that they did that was able to compete in Leagues Cup and Concacaf Champions League as they did a few years ago, but that isn’t the main focus right now and we won’t lose sleep over that. Right now, seeing the resiliency from the club to come back from the jaws of defeat twice in the past two matches shows heart, it shows determination, and most importantly it shows life for a club that seemed destined for a retooling. As has just been said, there’s work to be done and they haven’t played their best match yet, but we’ve got some real hope for the Sounders for the first time in a while. And I’ll state once again that this is being done without having Pedro de La Vega available.
Quick Sounders notes
30,093 was the announced paid attendance at Lumen Field for tonight’s match between FC Dallas and our Seattle Sounders FC
That’s 43% of full capacity at Lumen Field (68,740).
Sounders FC sits in 10th place in the Western Conference with 25 points (6-7-7), level on points with ninth-place Vancouver for the final MLS Cup Playoffs position (Whitecaps FC holds the total wins tiebreaker).
Seattle is now 15-8-11 all-time against FC Dallas in MLS regular season play. Seattle is riding a five-match unbeaten streak (2-0-3) in the series.
Raúl Ruidíaz scored his team-leading eighth goal of the season in the second half, his 86th strike across all competitions for Sounders FC (first in club history).
With the late brace, Jordan Morris has seven goals on the season. His 60-career regular-season goals pass Fredy Montero for second in club history. With 73 goals across all competitions, Morris is third in club history, six behind Montero and 13 behind Ruidíaz.
With a pair of assists in the second half, Albert Rusnák now has a team-leading nine on the season, tied for seventh in MLS.
João Paulo recorded his second assist of the season on Ruidíaz’s goal. The Brazilian now has 25 career assists over five seasons with Seattle.
Obed Vargas recorded the game-winning assist on Morris’ stoppage-time goal, his fourth of the season.
What’s next?
Following tonight’s dramatic victory over FC Dallas at home as they hosted their Pride Match, the Seattle Sounders FC will have a full week ahead of their next match, the second of three consecutive contests at home for the Rave Green. Coming off this win, that actually keeps Dallas below them in the Western Conference standings, the Sounders next match comes on Saturday, June 29th with a kickoff time of 7:30PM PDT against the Chicago Fire FC, which will be broadcast on Apple TV – MLS Season Pass. The Sounders will being a strong form into this match, having tallied at least a point in four of their last five matches and have failed to tally at least a point in only three of their past nine matches in MLS play, but they won’t be alone in that strong recent form as the Fire have also tallied at least a point in four of their past five matches. Chicago has won their past two matches played against Seattle, but they will be without a star as Xherdan Shaqiri is with Switzerland in the Euro’s. Given their strong recent play and especially the nature in which tonight’s victory came, don’t be surprised to see the Sounders start to find some strong form and that’s been done without the performance of young DP Pedro de La Vega.