SEATTLE — The Seattle Sounders struck for a pair of early goals and never looked back, eventually securing a 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids at CenturyLink Field on Saturday.
Kelvin Leerdam and Raúl Ruidíaz each scored in the opening eight minutes. Leerdam opened the scoring for a second straight week in just the fifth minute after a mad scramble ensued following a cross from left back Brad Smith. Leerdam finished a beautiful left-footed volley past a diving Tim Howard.
Ruidíaz then doubled the advantage just three minutes later, smashing home a laser finish. The Peruvian has now scored in seven straight MLS games, with 10 total during that streak.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
QUICK WORK
The Sounders were all over Colorado in from the jump, with Leerdam’s tally five minutes in the third clean opportunity Seattle had to score following the opening kickoff. The Sounders didn’t let up either, with Ruidíaz’s goal coming before the game had even hit double-digit minutes. That’s the type of start that will lead to three points more often than not.
KELVIN CASHING IN
Leerdam isn’t paid to score goals, he’s paid to defend against them and set up his teammates when does join the attack. Before he netted Seattle’s season-opener against FC Cincinnati last weekend, Leerdam hadn’t scored since his first start for the club in July 2017. The 28-year-old doesn’t figure to be doing a Ruidíaz impression all season, but for the moment, Head Coach Brian Schmetzer is no doubt enjoying the luxury of his goal-scoring fullback.
STARTING STRONG
Getting off to a strong start to the MLS season was a point of emphasis throughout all of preseason, and step one was accomplished by taking maximum points from the first two home matches of the year. To keep it going, however, the Sounders will hit the road for their first away match of the season when they face the Chicago Fire at SeatGeek Stadium next Saturday (7 p.m. PT; JOEtv, YouTube, TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).
