Seattle, WA – The Sounders played host to the Colorado Rapids in the home opener of the 2026 MLS season. The Sounders battled their way to a 2-0 win for their first three points of the season.
The Sounders started off hot from the opening whistle. A flurry of chances in the opening five minutes, but they were unable find the net.
Photo: Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders
Jordan Morris was subbed off in the 8th minute with an injury and was replaced by Paul Rothrock. Head Coach Brian Schmetzer confirmed in the post-match press conference that Morris sustained a quad injury.
In the 15th minute, Rothrock created the opening goal by chasing down a ball and keeping it in play before whipping in a cross that found the head of Albert Rusnak.
“We laughed about Albert’s header because he doesn’t score many of those, but it was a really good technical heading glancing header. That was excellent. That was really, really excellent,” said Brian Schmetzer after the game when talking about Rusnák’s goal.
Photo: Earving Marquez / House of Sounders
The Sounders thought they had made it 2-0 just moments later, after Hassani Dotson found the back of the net. The goal was waived off after a VAR review deemed there was a foul in the build-up. The foul was called on Jesús Ferreira, despite being nowhere near actual play.
Schmetzer was critical on the decision to disallow Dotson’s goal, and after the game he congratulated Dotson on scoring his first Sounders goal regardless. Schmetzer said that he congratulated Dotson because “it was a goal,” saying “there was never a foul on that. I have no idea why that got called back.”
VAR was at center stage again halfway through 45 minutes after center referee Malik Badawi showed a straight red card to Rapids centerback Noah Cobb. After VAR, the call was changed to a yellow card.
The rest of the first half was a mixture of half-chances as the Seattle rain started to fall harder. De Rosario had a late chance in the half, but his effort went just wide.
Photo: Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders
In the 14th minute of first-half stoppage time (yes, you read that right. It actually went to 16 minutes!) Hassani Dotson had to be subbed off the pitch due to injury. Snyder Brunell entered the game as a replacement.
The second half began with the same intensity that the first half ended with. Maybe it helped that the rain took a break and let everyone warm back up again. It was the Sounders who looked the hotter of the two sides once again in the second half.
Seattle capitalized on their pressure in the 62nd minute. Jesus Ferreira’s cross found Paul Rothrock, who smashed it up and over the head of Zack Steffen in the Rapids goal. The ball rippled the top of the net, and Rothrock pointed to his wrist. It’s Paulie Primetime.
Photo: Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders
The Sounders then took a step back following the goal. Dropping into a more defensive shape. Despite this, the better chances still fell the Sounders way.
Andrew Thomas had little action in the match. Most of his saves were easy balls right to his gloves. A clean sheet to start the season will always feel nice.
Thomas did have to make a bigger save towards the end of the match. Denying Rapids forward Rafael Navarro at close range and keeping his clean sheet.
The Sounders will travel to Sandy, Utah, next weekend to face Real Salt Lake. It will be the first of five straight road matches in MLS action for the Sounders.
Cover Photo: Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders
