The Seattle Sounders returned to MLS league play with a convincing 4-1 win over St. Louis CITY. Cristian Roldan scored a brace in the first half, while Albert Rusnak and Osaze De Rosario scored a goal apiece in the second half. St. Louis scored a goal in stoppage time to stop the shutout.
It was the visitors who controlled the momentum to begin the match. An early chance in the 2nd minute from Marcel Hartel forced a save from Andrew Thomas. St. Louis controlled a large portion of possession through the opening 15 minutes, but they did not have very many clear chances to strike.
In the 21st minute, Snyder Brunell took aim from outside the box and forced a save from Roman Burki. His effort dipped just in front of the keeper, making it a tricky shot to save. The ball went out of play for a corner.
The ensuing corner in the 22nd minute flipped the game’s early momentum. Albert Rusnak’s corner was whipped toward the back post, where Cristian Roldan was left unmarked and all alone. Roldan had the simplest of tasks and just had to nod the ball past the keeper.
Photo: Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders
Just 15 minutes later it felt like Deja Vu for the Sounders. An effort from Snyder Brunell was saved and forced out for a corner. The corner then led to the score being doubled.
In the 37th minute, almost identical to the first goal, Albert Rusnak’s corner found Cristian Roldan surprisingly still unmarked on the far post. This time Roldan took the ball on the volley with his right foot, beating the keeper once again and giving the Sounders a two goal lead.
Just a minute later, St. Louis had a chance to equalize. A cross from Daniel Edelman into the box found the head of Conrad Wallem. Wallem’s header went just wide of the right post. There would have been no chance for Andrew Thomas to make a save had it been on target.
The Sounders went into halftime with a comfortable lead at home against a squad who sat second to last in the Western Conference. All things considered, this game was going as you would expect it to.
Right out of the gates in the second half, it was the home side immediately looking for a third goal. Cristian Roldan on the break found Paul Rothrock making a run into the box. Rothrock caught the ball back and was tripped by a St. Louis defender. Clear cut penalty and the ref called it straightaway. Now the question was who would take the penalty, considering Roldan was sitting on a hat trick.
Instead it was Albert Rusnak who took the penalty. The Sounders usual spot kick taker stepped up and calmly slid the ball into the net. The keeper dove the wrong way and it was 3-0 Seattle in the 49th minute.
Moments after the goal, Albert Rusnak left the match with what appeared to be an injury. During the post-game press conference, Brian Schmetzer noted that Rusnak did not have an injury, and rather was just dealing with fatigue.
Photo: Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders
The second half of the match was all Seattle. In the 57th minute, Jordan Morris beat his marker on the right wing and dribbled the ball into the box. Morris drove the ball low across the box, where Danny Musovski just touched it on to Jesus Ferreira, whose effort was saved by Burki. Ferreira is still looking for his first goal in 2026, though he leads the squad in assists.
Substitutions in the 60th minute saw Alex Roldan come off the pitch for Peter Kingston. The move then sent Cristian Roldan back to play center back alongside Antino Lopez for the remaining 30 minutes. The move was to remain on the attack and to continue to put pressure on St. Louis.
“I could’ve brought young Stuart Hawkins on, he deserves a chance to play,” said Brian Schmetzer when asked about the substitution decisions in the second half. “Cristian (Roldan) moving back and bringing Peter (Kingston) on keeps us on the front foot.”
In the 68th minute, it was Ferreira with a brilliant through ball to find Musovski in behind. Musovski hesitated on the shot, which allowed the defender to recover in time to get a slight block on the shot. The ball comfortably fell to the keeper after the deflection.
In the 84th minute, Paul Rothrock sent a chipped cross to Jesus Ferreira who was unmarked in the box. Ferreira’s header was sent just over the bar. The story of the second half was seemingly just how many chances could the Sounders generate.
The pressure from the Sounders resulted in a defensive giveaway in the 86th minute. Peter Kingston got a toe on a pass which deflected to Jesus Ferreira just outside of the 18-yard box. Ferreira slipped the ball through to Osaze De Rosario who was stuck between three defenders. De Rosario made his own space by dribbling the ball between the defenders before cutting a shot back across his body, beating the keeper to the far post. It was De Rosario’s first goal of 2026 and it gave the Sounders a 4-0 lead late in the match.
Photo: Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders
St. Louis got a consolation in stoppage time. Eduard Lowen scored a brilliant goal past Andrew Thomas in the 92nd minute of play, to give the visitors a positive from an otherwise dreadful match.
As for Eduard Lowen, it was a special moment for him. In early March, Lowen’s wife Ilona died from brain cancer at just 28 years old. The match in Seattle was Lowen’s first appearance since taking a step away to mourn his wife. If anyone on the pitch deserved a goal, it was Eduard Lowen.
The remainder of stoppage time went by without any real chances. The Sounders held the ball as the clock ticked ahead. The full time whistle was blown and the Sounders have now won four of their last five MLS matches and currently sit in fourth place in the Western Conference, and just five points off the supporters shield.
“We want to entertain people, we want to stay on the front foot. I want to give that team as much confidence as I can winning games, to help with the shield race,” said Brian Schmetzer.
The Sounders will host FC Dallas on Saturday, April 25 as they look to remain among the top teams in the league. Dallas currently sit in 7th place in the Western Conference, coming off a 2-2 home draw against the LA Galaxy.
COVER PHOTO: Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders
Sounders Starting XI:
(4-2-3-1)
Thomas
Kossa-Rienzi
A. Roldan
Lopez
Nouhou
C. Roldan ©
Dotson
Arriola
Rusnak
Brunell
Musovski
Substitutions:
(45’)
ON: Rothrock – OFF: Arriola
(53’)
ON: Ferreira – OFF: Rusnak
ON: Morris – OFF: Dotson
(60’)
ON: Kingston – OFF: A. Roldan
(80′)
ON: De Rosario – OFF: Musovski
Scoring Summary:
SEA 1-0 STL – 22’ Cristian Roldan (Assist: A. Rusnak)
SEA 2-0 STL – 37’ Cristian Roldan (Assist: A. Rusnak)
SEA 3-0 STL – 49’ Albert Rusnak (Penalty)
SEA 4-0 STL – 86’ Osaze De Rosario (Assist: J. Ferreira)
SEA 4-1 STL – 90+2’ Eduard Lowen (Assist: None)
