Major League Soccer on Monday named Sounders FC forward Raúl Ruidíaz to the Week 1 MLS Team of the Week for his two-goal performance in Seattle’s 4-0 win over Minnesota United FC at Lumen Field on Friday night.
Coming off a campaign in which he was named to the MLS Best XI, Ruidíaz picked up right where he left off as he bagged a brace in Sounders FC’s 2021 home opener. Both goals were textbook examples of center forward play, with Ruidíaz drifting away from defenders in the box and calmly dispatching his goals.
Homegrown midfielder Josh Atencio, 19, was named to the Team of the Week bench after putting in a promising two-way shift against Minnesota in his first MLS start.
Sounders FC returns to action on Saturday as they visit LAFC at Banc of California Stadium (ESPN; 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).