After tallying a hat-trick of assists in the Sounders 3-2 win over the Houston Dynamo, Sounders FC midfielder Nicolás Lodeiro is now the club’s all-time assist leader during the regular season with 35. And with 15 assists on the campaign, he has also set a club record for most assists in a single season.
Asked about the records, Lodeiro quickly deflected praise to the players around him.
“I’m very happy,” he said. “I’m very happy because I always work very hard every day. I am happy for the team because we feel confident, and I want to say, ‘Thank You’ to the players, to the staff, to the fans, and to everybody who always helps me to get better.”
The Uruguayan playmaker’s first two assists came courtesy of a pair of inch-perfect corner kicks, dropping the first ball directly onto the head of Chad Marshall, whose glancing effort spun beyond the outstretched arm of Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric.
Lodeiro then repeated the feet a few minutes into the second half, this time providing a perfect cross for Gustav Svensson to power into the back of the net.
With Houston clawing their way back into the game, Seattle’s No. 10 iced the match with a patient through-ball to Raúl Ruídiaz, who subsequently rifled a shot to the far post that proved too much for Deric to push away.
Head Coach Brian Schmetzer lauded Lodeiro’s instant impact since joining the club midway through the 2016 season.
“That’s a very hefty achievement,” said Schmetzer. “Nico has done it a very short amount of time. His set piece deliveries tonight were very good.”
Since signing with the Sounders from Boca Juniors during the 2016 MLS Secondary Transfer Window, Lodeiro has guided the club to back-to-back MLS Cup appearances, helping the team secure its first ever league title in his inaugural campaign. He entered the day one back of club legends Fredy Montero and Mauro Rosales on the all-time list, but his three assists against Houston give him sole ownership of the accolade.
The Sounders return home for a Decision Day clash with the San Jose Earthquakes on Sunday, October 28 (1:30 p.m. PT; JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360AM; TICKETS).
