MATCH RECAP: Sounders FC Vaults to the Top of the Western Conference With 3-0 Win Over St. Louis CITY SC

SEATTLE, WASH. – In a clash between the top two teams in the Western Conference, Sounders FC (5-1-1, 16 points) defeated St. Louis CITY SC (5-2-0, 15 points) on Saturday evening on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field. Josh Atencio scored his first career MLS goal and Raúl Ruidíaz opened his 2023 account as the Rave Green jumped to the top of the Western Conference. Brian Schmetzer’s side now travels to Portland for its first Cascadia Cup match of the season on Saturday, April 15 at Providence Park (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia, El Rey 1360 AM).

Atencio opened the scoring in emphatic fashion with his first career MLS goal. Nico Lodeiro laid off a ball just outside the area for Atencio, who smashed a shot into the roof of the net for the lead in the 65th minute. It marked the fourth assist of the season for Lodeiro, second on the team and tied for third in MLS.

Ruidíaz scored his first goal of 2023 in the 71st minute after coming on the match as a second-half substitute. Alex Roldan played a cross into the area that was parried away by St. Louis’ Roman Bürki, deflecting to the feet of the Peruvian who put away the point-blank chance. It was Ruidíaz’s 74th goal in all competitions for Seattle, two behind Fredy Montero for most in Sounders FC history.

The Rave Green added a third in the 89th minute, forcing an own goal on a corner kick. Stefan Frei made two saves en route to his fourth shutout of the season and 95th of his MLS career, ranking third all-time. The goalkeeper also broke Osvaldo Alonso’s club record in the MLS era with 323 career starts across all competitions. Frei still trails Alonso’s club record for all-competitions appearances (339).

Seattle now prepares for its first Cascadia Cup match of 2023, traveling to Portland for a matchup with the Timbers on Saturday, April 15 at Providence Park (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

• Tonight’s victory vaults Sounders FC into first place in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference with 16 points, one point ahead of St. Louis CITY SC. Seattle heads back on the road in a week’s time, facing archrival Portland at Providence Park on Saturday, April 15.

• Today’s match marked the first meeting between the Rave Green and expansion side St. Louis. Seattle’s all-time record when facing expansion clubs for the first time moves to 7-4-4.

• Including Saturday’s match, Sounders FC has lost just once in 11 home matches against expansion clubs, a 1-0 defeat to LAFC in 2018.

• At Lumen Field in 2023, the Rave Green move to 3-0-1 through their first four matches on home turf. Notably, Seattle has not conceded a home goal thus far in 2023.

• Sounders FC has kept a shutout in four-straight home matches for the first time since April – May of 2015.

• With his goal in the 65th minute of play, Homegrown Player Josh Atencio scored his first MLS strike in his 53rd regular-season appearance. While playing for developmental side Tacoma Defiance, the Bellevue native netted two professional goals prior to his promotion to the First Team.

• Club captain Nico Lodeiro assisted on Atencio’s strike, good for his fourth helper of 2023. The Uruguayan playmaker now has 74 assists in MLS regular-season play and 88 across all competitions in Rave Green, the most in club history in both categories.

• Substitute Raúl Ruidíaz’s 71st-minute goal was his first tally of 2023 and his 60th regular-season goal in MLS play. The Peruvian now has 74 goals across all competitions for Sounders FC, just two shy of tying the team lead held by teammate Fredy Montero (76 total goals).

• With the starting nod on Saturday, Sounders FC goalkeeper Stefan Frei broke Osvaldo Alonso’s club record in the MLS era with 323 career starts across all competitions. Frei still trails Alonso’s club record for all-competitions appearances (339).

• With just three goals allowed in 2023 through seven matches, Seattle is tied for second in MLS in goals conceded.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 3 – St. Louis CITY SC 0

Saturday, April 8, 2023

Venue: Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field

Referee: Rubiel Vazquez

Assistants: Michael Barwegen, Ben Pilgrim

Fourth Official: Mike Rottersman

VAR: Edvin Jurisevic

Attendance: 31,789

Weather: 55 degrees and light rain

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Josh Atencio (Nico Lodeiro) 65’

SEA – Raúl Ruidíaz 71’

SEA – Own Goal (Jake Nerwinski) 89’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

STL – Lucas Bartlett (caution) 6’

SEA – Yeimar (caution) 38’

STL – Tim Parker (caution) 84’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan (Héber 82’), Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Nouhou; Albert Rusnák, Josh Atencio (Obed Vargas 90’), Cristian Roldan, Nico Lodeiro, Léo Chú (Raúl Ruidíaz 61’); Jordan Morris

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Ethan Dobbelaere, Fredy Montero, Sota Kitahara, Xavier Arreaga

Total shots: 12

Shots on goal: 6

Fouls: 6

Offside: 8

Saves: 2

St. Louis CITY SC – Roman Bürki; Jake Nerwinski, Kyle Hiebert, Lucas Bartlett (Isak Jensen 74’), Tim Parker; Eduard Löewen (Tomas Ostrák 74’), John Nelson, Indiana Vassilev, Miguel Perez (Njabulo Blom 64’, Célio Pompeu 78’); João Klauss, Nicholas Gioacchini (Sam Adeniran 74’)

Substitutes not used: Jared Stroud, Josh Yaro, Selmir Pidro, Ben Lundt

Total shots: 9

Shots on goal: 2

Fouls: 10

Offside: 0

Corner-kicks: 3

Saves: 4

- SOUNDERS FC -