Sounders, using winning recipe, dismantle Real Salt Lake to climb atop league table
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – The Seattle Sounders were not so kind hosts, as they dominated visiting Real Salt Lake across the board in a 2-0 victory. The Sounders continue to open their 2023 campaign on what is shaping up to be a successful “revenge tour” if you can call it that for a group that missed the playoffs for the first time in their MLS existence but did become the first club in league history to win Concacaf Champions League in its current form. Just like in their win over Colorado in week one, the Sounders were propelled to victory with goals from Jordan Morris and Heber, while their defensive backline and Stefan Frei recorded a clean sheet. Seattle has looked dominant through their first two contests, and it may spell trouble for the rest of MLS once again.
“It’s not often that I have openers, after wins or losses, but I just wanna go on record... some of that play in the second half, I almost wish I wouldn’t have subbed. Josh, Leo deserved to play, I wanted to give Raul some minutes, but our team was really good. It was only 2-0, it was a shame we didn’t score again, but some of the passes, the one touch, that was some of the best soccer the Seattle Sounders have played in a very long time. It reminded me of some of the stuff Oba and Clint used to do, I thought that was a really entertaining match. ”
Pre-match scenes and sights before Real Salt Lake vs Seattle Sounders (Photos by Bryan Saldana)
Alex Roldan’s critical crosses propel the scoring
Right outside back Alex Roldan has gotten better production wise in his last two years leading into the 2023 campaign, and it seems like that positive trend will continue this season. The Seattle University alumni was as instrumental to the two Sounders goals as those who got credit for them on the score sheet, as his balls in play were in perfect position. Even though shortly before his first assist of the night his initial cross was blocked, Alex remained calm with the ball and took it aside to regroup and find his new target. The result was a beautiful spiraling ball that found Morris in the box, between two Salt Lake defenders mind you, for a redirect that goalkeeper Zac MacMath had no chance at. That sort of ball from an outside back is precisely what the Sounders could have asked for from Alex Roldan in that instance, and then some.
Right back Alex Roldan recorded two assists on the night and earned man of the match honors (Photo by Bryan Saldana)
His second of the night was perhaps a little less intentional than his first, coming off a saved shot of Roldan’s by Salt Lake goalkeeper Zac MacMath. Alex Roldan was able to get ahold of a saved shot of his brother Cristian, as the elder Roldan had his shot from just within the box only palmed by MacMath so that it landed at the feet of Alex. Alex fired the ball immediately as he received it, sending it on a straight line into the box, not at goal. The ball was directly at Heber, who just had to open his left foot towards goal to put Seattle’s second score of the night on the board. The two Sounders goals of the night were 90% Alex Roldan and the remaining 10% from the two who got credit for the score when it comes to how those plays developed.
“Alex is a really good player. His defending is good, his attacking movement is good, him and his brother have that backyard chemistry, some of that stuff they do... Alex was really good, very good tonight.”
Jordan Morris’ first half goal and the ensuing celebration (Photos by Bryan Saldana)
Morris making his mark to begin 2023
Mercer Island native Jordan Morris has hit the ground running a mile a minute to begin the current season, which is an extremely welcoming sight for the club and it’s fanbase. In my season preview of the club and the season, I mentioned how getting Morris back to a speed that we’ve seen when he’s been fully healthy pre-2022 was a major key to not only the success of Seattle but making his five-year extension this offseason worthwhile. Considering his current start and how it potentially projects for the rest of his 2023 campaign, that extension looks better by the day. If Morris can keep up this pace, we may see an MVP bid from the local kid.
“It feels great, I feel confident. I feel like the coaches and support staff did a great job in getting us prepared for the season, just gotta keep building on that.”
As a blond, Morris is continuing to take the phrase “use your head” quite literally as all his goals this season have come via header. With three so far this season, Morris has tied his career high for header goals in a season (set in 2016), doing so in 32 fewer games. When it comes to scoring goals, it usually is irrelevant “how” they happen, the “how many” is what often arises and so far, it seems like Morris is ready to push the boundaries of that latter question.
Seattle’s Yeimar chases the ball down (Photo by Bryan Saldana)
Sounders remain rock solid on the back end, potentially rebuilding “fortress” Lumen?
With the same group of starters on the backend as last week, the Sounders backline and goalkeeper Stefan Frei earned a second straight clean sheet to begin the season. The four of Nouhou, Jackson Ragen, Yeimar, and Alex Roldan were stout all night as they held Real Salt Lake to an abysmal two shots on target and an expected goals percentage of just 0.39. After a feeling out period in the first ten minutes, Seattle shut down and decimated any sort of buildup or offensive progression that their opponents tried to mount, and with a chance here or there, made Stefan Frei’s job very manageable in goal. With rumors swirling that the club is actively shopping center back Xavier Arreaga, and not being in any rush to get a deal done, this group is giving the Sounders no reason to think twice.
“That was one of Jackson Ragen’s better performances. Thought he was really good, won some of those aerial duels, he’s obviously clean on the ball... I thought his defending was good tonight. ”
Nouhou and Alex Roldan (in particular, obviously considering he has a whole section dedicated to him in this article) have been able to do their jobs on the back end while also contributing on the attack. Jackson Ragen and Yeimar have locked down the interior part of that line looking locked in as a tandem, something that we didn’t see consistently in the second half of last season. Their next two opponents in Cincinnati and LAFC will test their mettle and may gave us a better idea of what Sounders defensive group we may see as the year proceeds, but so far it looks like the defense we saw record a point in their first 13 matches in 2021.
Heber’s goal, frame by frame (Photos by Bryan Saldana)
Heber continues make the most of his opportunity with Seattle as Ruidiaz makes a quick return
Brazilian forward Heber has immediately contributed for the Sounders as Raul Ruidiaz continues to get back to full strength following a “minor” leg ailment that sidelined him entirely for the first match and made him a late sub in this contest. It seemed noteworthy when Brian Schmetzer said that the coaching staff was looking at a potential formation change to get Heber involved more, and we’re seeing why that thought came about as he becomes the first Sounders since Fredy Montero to score in his first two games with the club. While neither of the now two goals that Heber has scored have been “Golazo’s,” being able to take advantage of positions to find the back of the net is something that not every player can do, or else Seattle may have just kept Will Bruin this season instead of pursuing a different option.
“He had another really good game, he was tremendous... It’s gonna be horrible. I don’t know what I’m gonna do, we’ll work on it.”
Getting a jolt off the bench was something that gave Will Bruin a job when he was a Seattle Sounder, and once the club failed to get that out of him anymore, they had to turn elsewhere because of the urgency to compete with some of their core aging. As mentioned, following the win over Colorado, some scoffed at the trade that acquired Heber because of his age and his “lack” of supposed star power. That was silly, and Heber is making that chatter look silly as he’s scored in back-to-back wins while filling in for Ruidiaz. Going forward, it may be tough to have to decide between the two forwards, but it’s a “good problem” to have as a coaching staff. Who knows, maybe we’ll see that formation change.
Is Sounders forward Jordan Morris can continue his current run of form, he may be in the running for the MVP award (Photo by Bryan Saldana)
Still early, but wins like this make you wonder...
Again, I must reiterate that it is only week two of this young 2023 MLS season and we do not quite know yet which clubs are truly “good.” With that in mind though, the Sounders look damn impressive as they look to rebound from missing the postseason for the only time in their existence in this league. With Seattle’s brick wall backline, Stefan Frei looking sturdy in net, the ministers of the midfield in Joao Paulo and Albert Rusnak, plus Jordan Morris and Heber racking up goals up top? Seattle, based off these two results, is primed to return to their juggernaut form that clubs and fanbases around MLS have loathed for a little over a decade. Also note that with those factors mentioned, Raul Ruidiaz has only played about ten minutes this season, Obed Vargas has not stepped on the pitch for a match yet, while the team still has quality performers on the bench that aren’t those two.
I continue to preface my comments about Seattle being “back” because we’re only two matches into a 34-match season and we aren’t quite sure yet how these two opponents of Colorado and Salt Lake are. BUT, and it’s a big one, the results on paper tell you a story that the Sounders are back and they’re coming for their spot atop the league once again. Rotating in their bench options will be key to keeping this group fresh, given several of their injury histories, and Seattle has some good young options to choose from when they need to. Having Obed Vargas return to the lineup as a starter-quality midfielder (as a 16-year-old) and getting the most out of young attacker Leo Chu adds even more danger to a loaded starting group.
In addition to his ball distribution, midfielder Joao Paulo made some solid defensive plays tonight (Photo by Bryan Saldana)
Quick notes
Following tonight’s result, Sounders FC remains in first place in the Western Conference after two weeks of play. The Rave Green have taken the maximum six points from their opening two games, level with expansion side St. Louis on points in the West, but ahead of the Missouri-based club on both goals scored (six) and goal difference (+6 to St. Louis’ +3).
For the fourth time in club history, Seattle begins its MLS campaign with a 2-0-0 start. The Rave Green previously started the season with the maximum six points from two matches in 2009, 2012 and 2019.
Seattle’s 12-4-2 home record against Real Salt Lake is fourth-best in club history in fixtures played more than 10 times at Lumen Field.
In a rivalry defined by success for the home club, Seattle moves to 13-15-5 in regular season play against RSL all-time.
Jordan Morris’ headed goal in the 35th minute of play was his third goal in two matches this season. With 55 career goals in all competitions for the Rave Green, Morris is now just one goal shy of tying club captain Nicolás Lodeiro for fourth in all-time scoring.
Alex Roldan’s assist on Morris’ strike was his 14th career regular-season helper, followed by his 15th career assist on Héber’s goal in the 58th minute. This marks Roldan’s first multi-assist match in his MLS career.
Saturday’s match was also Morris’ 125th MLS regular season start. The Mercer Island native joined his hometown club as a Homegrown Player prior to the start of the 2016 season.
With his 58th-minute goal, Héber becomes the first Sounder since Fredy Montero (2009) to score in each of his first two MLS appearances for the Rave Green. The Brazilian now has 28 goals in league play between Seattle and New York City FC (regular-season and MLS Cup Playoffs).
Goalkeeper Stefan Frei recorded his second shutout of the season. With 93 career clean sheets, Frei ranks third all-time in MLS behind Nick Rimando (154) and Kevin Hartman (112).
Entering the match in the 81th minute of play, striker Raúl Ruidíaz made his 2023 MLS debut. The Peruvian returns from a right hamstring strain that forced him to miss the club’s opening MLS match vs. Colorado.
What’s next?
Following their miniature homestand of two games to open the season, the Sounders head on to the road for the first time this season for their next matchup. Seattle will travel to Ohio for a battle with FC Cincinnati on Saturday, March 11th with a kickoff time of 4:30PM PST. As Cincinnati only joined Major League Soccer back in 2016, Seattle has only faced off against the club twice, having never lost to the organization. The Sounders will look to continue that positive form against Cincinnati, who has opened the season with a win and draw in their first two contests as they edged Houston and came to a scoreless tie with Orlando.