Ten-man Seattle Sounders beat Sporting KC for eighth straight win

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:28 am

Nicolas Lodeiro and Raul Ruidiaz scored as the 10-man Seattle Sounders set an MLS record in the post-shootout era with their eighth consecutive victory, defeating visiting Sporting Kansas City 3-1 Saturday afternoon at CenturyLink Field.

The Sounders (41 points) also got an own goal from Sporting KC defender Graham Zusi as they extended their unbeaten streak to 11 matches.

Sporting KC (45 points) had its four-match winning streak snapped, during which it hadn't allowed a goal.

Sporting KC took the lead in the opening two minutes.

The ball pinballed back and forth between SKC attackers and Sounders defenders near the top right of the 18-yard box before falling to Diego Rubio. His right-footed one-timer from about 16 yards left Stefan Frei flat-footed, with the ball sneaking just inside the left post. Gerso Fernandes was credited with an assist.

It was the eighth goal of the season for Rubio, tying him for the team lead. He has either a goal or an assist in each of his past seven matches.

Seattle Sounders celebrate a goal.
Seattle Sounders celebrate a goal.
Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports

Seattle evened the score on Ruidiaz's goal in the 12th minute.

Defender Brad Smith took a pass from Osvaldo Alonso near midfield and dribbled the ball all the way down the left wing into the 18-yard box. Smith's cross found Ruidiaz about five yards out near the far post, and Ruidiaz's one-timer went into the right side of the net as SKC defenders tried to appeal for an offside call.

That goal was the first Sporting KC allowed after a franchise-record 387 scoreless minutes.

The score was tied 1-1 at the half before the Sounders scored twice in a four-minute span.

Midfielder Harry Shipp didn't get his name on the scoresheet but was influential in both goals.

The first of which, in the 52nd minute, came when Shipp's cross deflected off Zusi and into the net, giving the Sounders a 2-1 lead.

Four minutes later, a Shipp cross hit Sporting KC's Ike Opara in the arm while in the box. Lodeiro converted the penalty kick to give himself a team-high seven goals this season.

Chad Marshall was sent off in the 81st minute.

The Sounders honored forward Clint Dempsey, who shares the franchise record with 57 career goals, before the match. Dempsey announced his retirement Wednesday.