When Minnesota United boarded their plane back to St. Paul after last Friday’s match against the Seattle Sounders, they must have left with a severe case of déjà vu.
The Sounders defeated the Loons 2-0 in the opening group stage match of the 2024 Leagues Cup, just a little more than a month after beating Minnesota 2-0 in the regular season. In each contest, Jordan Morris scored first, Paul Rothrock added an insurance tally and the Loons were reduced to 10 men.
Friday’s result was just a microcosm of the form that Morris and Rothrock find themselves in over the last few months.
“The ball he put in was perfect for me and then a great finish from him too with his left foot,” Morris said of Rothrock. “Whether he’s starting or whether he’s coming off the bench, he brings energy. We’re really happy for him because we see the work that he puts in on a daily basis in training. Recently, [it’s great] to have it pay off in games, scoring goals, getting assists, doing a lot of little things for the team that’s helping us win games and accepting whatever role he’s put in.”
Added Head Coach Brian Schmetzer: “It’s guys making plays. Paul’s been making plays since his timely and surprise entry into the group. Jordan’s been making plays for many years…Justly deserved goals and assists, both players.”
For Rothrock, the path to First Team success was untraditional. The 25-year-old former Academy product went the college route at Notre Dame and then Georgetown before joining Toronto FC where he made just two appearances in 2022. He then joined the Sounders’ MLS NEXT Pro affiliate Tacoma Defiance in 2023 and played his way into a First Team contract.
Now in his first full season with the Sounders, Rothrock has gone from an end-of-the-roster depth piece to an invaluable attacking addition with four goals and two assists in roughly 900 minutes in all competitions.
“I expected that this was going to come at some point,” said Rothrock. “It’s fun that it’s happened organically over the course of the season. Things like this take time. It takes time to build trust with your teammates, to build relationships with guys. That’s how I’ve had success.
“I have to continue to know what got me here in the first place and continue to do those things too and always bring the work effort that I have,” he continued. “I can’t forget about those.”
Rothrock’s connection with Morris has been especially notable, and Morris has responded with 10 goals in his last 14 matches. Rothrock said the two have developed a strong understanding of how the other likes to play and how to connect in the final third.
“A lot of what coach talks about that has led to our success is that guys are running in behind, stretching teams, using our athleticism to put teams under pressure,” said Morris. “I’ve always said that I think [the No. 9] is my best position. Last year and this year I’ve had good results and good success there. So much of it comes down to my teammates and giving me good balls and putting me in good positions.”
The Sounders put themselves in an excellent spot to advance to the knockout stage of the tournament, with the top two teams in each three-team group moving on. A favorable result on Matchday 2 when Minnesota hosts the other team in the group, Liga MX’s Club Necaxa, would also mean Seattle could book its ticket before its final contest begins.
Until then, the Sounders will prepare for their clash with Necaxa at Lumen Field on Sunday (7:30 p.m. PT; Watch FREE on Apple TV, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS), with both Morris and Rothrock eager to contribute yet again.
“That’s been part of the learning process, recognizing what the game needs from me in the moment,” said Rothrock. “For us, it’s just about taking it one game at a time and getting out of the group first. A good result against Necaxa guarantees that.”
