SEATTLE - The wait is over for Seattle Sounders fans. After almost two months trying to get their first win of the 2024 MLS season, Brian Schmetzer's team finally got their reward this weekend defeating CF Montréal by five goals to nil, snapping a five-game winless streak to start the season which was tied for the longest such negative run in team history.
Here are five takeaways from a five-star performance at Lumen Field.
The return of the goals
After scoring just four goals in their opening five games of the season, the Sounders offense finally clicked against Montréal with four players getting into the scoresheet. The 5-0 win over Montréal was Seattle's biggest margin of victory in an MLS game in almost four years, when they beat San José to a franchise-record score of 7-1 in September of 2020.
Another clean sheet for Stefan Frei
Although Sounders FC kept their second clean sheet of the season against Montréal, it was Stefan Frei's first of the 2024 season. The veteran goalkeeper returned to the starting XI last month against San José but it wasn't until his third start of the year that the Swiss goalie reached a special milestone.
Frei recorded his 100th career clean sheet with the Sounders in MLS play since arriving from Toronto FC a decade ago (87 regular season, 13 playoffs). The club icon has been one of the league's best goalkeepers for a long time now and he is getting closer to the top spots in terms of shutouts in MLS history. His 106 clean sheets in MLS regular-season games are only bettered by Kevin Hartman (112) and Nick Rimando (154).
Raúl Ruidíaz keeps on scoring
The Peruvian striker scored his first brace of the season to take his personal tally to four goals in 2024. The Sounders FC all-time leading scorer had his 16th multi-goal game with the club against Montréal, taking his total to 82 goals in all competitions with the Rave Green.
HAVE A HIT 🥵 pic.twitter.com/fsABqtKQ79
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) April 7, 2024
"I'm very proud of the win and helping the team with two goals. I have been working very hard...I never stopped believing in myself, I think that's my biggest virtue," said Ruidíaz, who earned man of the match honors thanks to his two goals.
The hard work after a injury-riddled 2023 season has proven to be beneficial for the Peruvian, who is one goal shy of tying his total from last year. (5 goals in 18 games).
Latino connection
Seattle's Latino stars had a huge impact in breaking Montréal's defensive setup. Ruidíaz opened the score with a valiant long-ranged effort that surprised the goalkeeper and then followed it with a goal from the penalty spot. Cristian Roldán's precise cross to Jordan Morris for the third goal of the night was his 52nd with Seattle in all competitions, tying Freddy Montero in second place all-time.
His younger brother Alex Roldán also contributed with a goal, scoring the fourth one of the night coming off a beautifully constructed team play. The Salvadoran-American has now scored four career goals for the Sounders.
THE SQUAD IS ROLLIN' 🎞️ pic.twitter.com/0me0XKcw3t
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) April 7, 2024
Homegrown players
Youngster Dylan Teves put the cherry on top, scoring the fifth goal of the night just minutes after replacing club captain Cristian Roldán. Less than 10 minutes after entering the pitch, Teves put the last nail in the coffin scoring his second career goal for the team.
Born in Hawaii, Teves joined the Sounders when he was just 15 years old and is one of the more than 10 players currently in the team with deep roots around the Seattle metropolitan area. Established players such as Morris, the Roldán brothers and Jackson Ragen have also spent some of their youth years developing there.
During the post-game press conference, Schmetzer praised the impact homegrown players like Obed Vargas, Cody Baker and Teves have had this season. "I think there's a lot of great players that come from the Pacific Northwest. They come with that grit, determination and never-quit mentality. People from here...we know how to persevere in times of adversity,"
After starring for the University of Washington between 2018-21, Teves finally signed a contract with the Sounders in 2022 and since then has made 26 appearances for the club in all competitions.
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