Sounders’ Home Unbeaten Streak Reaches 20 Matches after win over Dallas

The Seattle Sounders were the victors once again as they beat FC Dallas 2-1, thanks to goals from Jesus Ferreira and Jordan Morris. The Sounders have now extended their home unbeaten run to 20 games, with Paris Saint-Germain being the last club to defeat the Sounders at Lumen Field. The Sounders have also extended their home unbeaten streak against Dallas to a whopping 22 games, you will have to go all the way back to 2011 for the last time Dallas won in Seattle.

Prior to the match, Cristian Roldan was honored by the club for reaching 400 all-time appearances for the club. His 403 appearances are second only to Stefan Frei (525) in club history, and ninth-most amongst active players across Major League Soccer. Roldan did not play in the match, after suffering a head injury in training and being ruled out as he had not cleared concussion protocol.

Photo: Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders

Because of Cristian Roldan’s absence, the Sounders named Nouhou as the captain for the match. Nouhou most recently was also the captain for the Cameroon National Team. The 28-year-old defender has started every MLS game this season for the Sounders.

In the 5th minute, FC Dallas had the first real chance of the night. Off of a giveaway by Nouhou, the ball bounced around the box before Santiago Moreno kicked it right in the arms of Andrew Thomas. Moreno, the former Timbers player, just joined Dallas this season. The Sounders were lucky the shot was relatively tame and right towards Thomas, otherwise it would have certainly been an early goal for the visitors.

The first quarter hour of the match was all FC Dallas. The pressure from the visitors was relentless. The Sounders spent the majority of the first 15 minutes in their own half. Despite the mounting pressure from Dallas, it was the Sounders who struck first.

Just as the 15th minute rolled around, Jordan Morris got in behind the defense after a long ball over the top from Jackson Ragen allowed for Morris to run on to the ball in space. Morris cut the ball across to Jesus Ferreira, whose shot took a slight deflection but found the back of the net. Ferreira did not celebrate after the goal, showing respect to his former club.

“He wants to be more goal dangerous,” said Brian Schmetzer about Jesus Ferreira post-match, “But he is also very proud of setting up people for goals.” Schmetzer also alluded that Ferreira has played very well in that center midfield spot, and maybe challenging Rusnak for minutes in that position.

Photo: Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders

Just a moment later another chance was created for the Sounders. Once again it was Jordan Morris applying pressure to the Dallas backline, allowing for Kalani Kossa-Rienzi to get past his man. Kossa-Rienzi whipped in a cross which found the head of Danny Musovski, whose effort was saved by the young Dallas keeper Michael Collodi.

In the 27th minute, Dallas would earn the first booking of the match. 19-year-old forward Nicholas Simmonds was shown a yellow after a late tackle from behind on Hassani Dotson. Simmonds joined FC Dallas through their MLS NEXT Pro side North Texas SC in 2026. The young forward previously played for the Richmond Kickers in USL League One.

At the half hour mark, it was the boys from the Puget Sound making noise once again. A through ball by Snyder Brunell found Jordan Morris as he ran right by his defender. Morris got 1v1 with the keeper before neatly curling the ball into the far post. Ever since he started, Morris has always earned critiques about not using his left foot to strike, but if you can hit a trivela like that each time there isn’t anything to complain about.

The Sounders found a weak spot in Eric Quill’s side. Long balls over the top were killing the Dallas defense. Rothrock, Morris, Kossa-Rienzi and Ferreira were all able to make efficient runs in behind the defense early on in the match.

In the 38th minute, a back-tracking Danny Musovski turned the ball over just outside of Andrew Thomas’ box. The ball fell to Simmonds whose shot was once again relatively comfortable for Thomas to save.

Photo: Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders

Just a minute later it was the Sounders looking for their third goal. After earning a corner kick, the set piece caused real danger in the Dallas box. Rothrock flicked the ball back across the box with a header which turned into a scramble for the ball. Goalkeeper Michael Collodi made a pair of reaction saves to deny the home side their third goal.

FC Dallas found their response on a corner of their own. In the 40th minute, centerback Nolan Norris flicked the ball from the near post, gliding over Andrew Thomas and into the back of the net. The Sounders had not conceded from a set piece in MLS this season. The corner was taken by Santiago Moreno, who unfortunately has some fond memories playing in Seattle when he was with the Timbers.

Just moments before halftime in the first minute of two added, Dallas looked primed to score the equalizer. Another giveaway from Musovski led to a Dallas counter-attack, and a very real shot on goal. Midfielder Patrickson Delgado took a shot which deflected off of Ragen. Andrew Thomas had to make a diving effort to get his fingertips to the ball.

Dallas were unhappy when the ref signaled the halftime whistle, believing they should’ve earned another chance. A yellow card was shown to Delgado after he and a few Dallas players surrounded match official Tori Penso. After the booking, the players walked away and down the tunnel. The Sounders led 2-1 at the break.

The Sounders came out of halftime looking to re-establish a 2-goal lead. A couple of set pieces earned in the attacking half gave them chances from dead ball spots. This all began to add up, and after a nifty run from Paul Rothrock to weave in and around the defense, he earned a penalty kick after Lalas Abubakar took him down in the box. It was Abubakar’s third foul in the opening 7 minutes of the second half, earning him a yellow.

Jesus Ferreira stepped up to the spot to take the penalty against his former club in the 53rd. Ferreira’s penalty was a weak effort to the right side of the keeper, who dove the right way and saved the spot kick. Another chance went begging from the Sounders, still trying to find a third goal. Lalas Abubakar was subbed out of the match following the penalty attempt.

“We should’ve had a 3-1 lead, but penalties are not 100%,” said Brian Schmetzer during the post-match press conference. Schmetzer was also asked about how the team decides who takes the penalty, and he said that he lets the players decide on the field, depending on who is the most confident.

Photo: Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders

Both teams had a couple of chances nearing the 60th minute. Dallas midfielder Ramiro had a shot deflected straight up into the air, which Andrew Thomas caught. Moments later it was Danny Musovski with a chance at the top of the box, but his effort was blocked and cleared.

Dallas looked dangerous when they earned set pieces. Another corner in the 63rd minute required a save from Andrew Thomas or the game would have been level. The Sounders had been very stern on defending corners this season, but they looked unsteady against Dallas.

It was the Sounders for most of the second half up into the 73rd minute. The Sounders were creating half-chances left and right. Their best chance was in the 73rd minute, when Paul Rothrock connected with a Peter Kingston cross. His effort was saved by Collodi, as the ball was headed with pace but right towards the keeper.

Dallas picked up the pace as the clock rolled past the 80th minute. While they were struggling to find clear cut chances, they were pressuring the Sounders into mistakes and poor passes. Dallas had not had this type of pressure since the opening 12 minutes of the match.

In the 88th minute, the crowd got its loudest roar of the second half. Nouhou streaking down the field at full pace. He dashed from one box to the other before sliding the ball to Paul Rothrock in the area. Rothrock attempted to cut a cross through the box but it was blocked and cleared away.

The Sounders had to hold off Dallas for an additional four minutes beyond the 90. Some well executed “keep-the-ball-away” plays in the corner successfully drained a huge chunk of the added time. Dallas would still get their chances, but had much less time to do so.

A corner conceding in the 90th+4 was the last chance for Dallas. Keeper Michael Collodi, perhaps inspired by Toronto keeper Luka Gavran’s magical winner on Wednesday, went up for the set piece. The effort was blocked and eventually cleared away and the referee blew for full time. The Sounders held on for a 2-1 win at home, and a 22nd straight game unbeaten at home against Dallas.

(Cover Photo: Ryan Hampton / House of Sounders)

Sounders Starting XI:

(4-2-3-1)

Thomas

Kossa-Rienzi

A. Roldan

Ragen

Nouhou ©

Brunell

Dotson

Morris

Ferreira