SEATTLE, Wash. – Rookie forward Jordan Morris struck again in Sunday’s 2-1 win against Real Salt Lake at CenturyLink Field. After recording two assists last weekend against Orlando City SC, the Homegrown player got back on the scoresheet himself, improving upon his already impressive debut season with the Sounders as the team's leading goalscorer.
Morris headed in the goal in after new designated player Nicolás Lodeiro provided the service in the 37th minute to take a 2-0 lead. Morris spoke to the media after the match about the immediate influence that Lodeiro has had on his game.
“Right when he came in he said he was going to look for me on those runs I like to make,” he said. “It helps Clint [Dempsey] and I to stay higher because Nico operates underneath… He’s been awesome, great addition for sure.”
Lodeiro himself also had some praise for the youngster after the match saying that he and forward Clint Dempsey were “class” players “renowned throughout the world.”
Morris nearly had a second goal when he took off from midfield just before the half, blowing by the RSL defense and almost poking it by goalkeeper Nick Rimando.
“I played a one-two with Clint and he got taken out…they were pretty open at that point so I just took it and ran,” he said. “But yeah I took a little bit too big of a touch and then I just tried to slide and toe-poke it but it went a little bit wide.”
Morris’ goal was, however, the game-winner in the match as RSL got one back in the second half. It not only moves him up to sixth all-time in total goals scored in a rookie season in MLS but tops his own teammate Dempsey's personal record, who scored seven in his rookie year. Morris said after the match that he is getting more and more confident by the game, and it’s easy to see from his play over the course of the season.
“I feel like at the beginning of the season I was hesitant, I just didn’t want to make a mistake but now I’m very comfortable playing with all these guys,” Morris told reporters. “It’s a lot easier to feel like I can try things and take people on which I wasn’t necessarily doing in the beginning of the year.”
Morris and the Sounders will be back in action at home next Sunday against Cascadia rival Portland Timbers in one of the biggest matches of the season (6:30 p.m. PT; FS1; KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360am).
