After a slow start to begin the 2024 MLS season, Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris finds himself in the best form of his professional career.
Morris came on at halftime in Saturday’s match at Austin FC and immediately turned the game on its head. He drew two yellow cards on defender Brendan Hines-Ike to reduce Austin to 10 men and scored the game’s lone goal in the 63rd minute for a huge 1-0 road win.
The Sounders Homegrown product has a whopping nine goals in his last 11 matches in all competitions and has scored in three straight. He’s just three goals shy of tying his MLS career high (12) that he set his rookie season in 2016, and there are 11 matches still to play.
“For goalscorers, when you’re playing with confidence, that helps,” said Morris. “I knew at the beginning of the season when things weren’t falling, and I’ve said this before, that you go through those times where it feels like you’re never going to score again. Obviously, a lot of it is up to the group and giving me really good balls.”
It’s no coincidence that Morris’ consistency in front of goal has overlapped with Seattle’s recent success. The Sounders are winners of five straight matches in all competitions, are unbeaten in their last seven (6-0-1) and have lost just twice in their last 17 (11-2-4).
“Playing up front a little more is a good spot for me and my speed because I feel like we’ve been good in transition recently,” said Morris. “That’s been a focus of ours especially playing away from home.”
Morris is always one quick to credit his teammates for his success, and his partnership in attack with midfielder Albert Rusnák has been tremendous. Rusnák has a team-high 10 assists this season, and even when he’s not directly contributing to Morris’ goals — Paul Rothrock had the honor on Saturday — their relationship in the final third has been contagious.
“Albert and I have developed a really good connection,” said Morris. “Whenever he gets the ball, along with Paul, Obed Vargas\], [Léo Chú\], \[[João Paulo], I feel really confident that when I make runs, they’re going to look for me.”
The Sounders will continue a busy July when they return to Lumen Field on Wednesday for a midweek tilt against St. Louis CITY SC (7:30 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS) before hosting a huge fixture against Western Conference-leading LAFC next Saturday (7:30 p.m. PT; MLS Season Pass on Apple TV | TICKETS). Morris will look to keep his impressive goalscoring streak going and hit double-digits in goals for the fifth time in his MLS career.
“I’m happy with my run of form but also happy with the run of form of the group,” said Morris. “I’m not scoring goals without my teammates and the work that they’re putting in to find me in really good spots.”
