SEATTLE, WASH.- Forward Will Bruin scored the lone goal in a gritty MLS Western Conference match on Sunday evening, as Seattle Sounders FC (5-6-4, 19 points) claimed victory over the Houston Dynamo (7-6-2, 23 points) in front of 40,258 fans at CenturyLink Field. Bruin's fourth goal of 2017 came against his former club, with the striker having spent his MLS career in Texas prior to this season from 2011-2016. With the win, Sounders FC has earned nine out of 12 possible points in its last four MLS matches, with three-consecutive 1-0 home wins at CenturyLink Field.
With Brad Evans back in Brian Schmetzer's starting lineup for the third time in four matches, in addition to the return of Román Torres and Chad Marshall, Seattle fielded its first-choice backline for the first time in 2017 on Sunday evening. This shift allowed Gustav Svensson to push into central midfield, with Cristian Roldan playing in a more advanced attacking position. With this personnel, Seattle dominated possession in the first half, keeping more than 70 percent of the ball and maintaining a passing accuracy of 86.9 percent, but with no goals to show for this collective effort.
Finally Sounders FC broke through in the second half. Bruin fired Seattle into the lead in the 69th minute, scoring a vital goal against his old club, vaulting the Indiana product into tie with Clint Dempsey for the team lead in scoring this season (four MLS goals). Substitute Aaron Kovar initiated the attack, weaving through the Houston defense to keep the play alive and laying the ball off to Osvaldo Alonso. Seattle's captain charged ahead before playing a through ball to an onrushing Roldan on the right flank. Roldan then delivered a beautiful cross into the six-yard-box, finding Bruin's head, with the effort beating Dynamo netminder Tyler Deric at his far post.
Seattle held on for the victory, securing its third win in four matches, and three-consecutive victories at CenturyLink Field dating back to May 20 versus Real Salt Lake. The win moves Seattle above the red line in the race for a ninth-consecutive postseason berth, with the Rave Green currently sitting in a three-way tie with Vancouver and San Jose on 19 points. When considering the total wins tiebreaker, Vancouver holds the edge over Seattle (six wins to five), with Whitecaps FC occupying fifth place and Seattle holding sixth position in the Western Conference.
With 15 matches played thus far in the 2017 MLS regular season, Sounders FC now heads into the upcoming FIFA international break. Seattle resumes play on Tuesday, June 13 when the Rave Green host Portland in the Fourth Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup at Starfire Stadium (7:00 p.m. PT / SoundersFC.com, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM). Schmetzer's side then resumes MLS play with a visit to Yankee Stadium, as Seattle pays a visit to New York City FC on Saturday, June 17 (10:00 a.m. PT / ESPN, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM).
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 - Houston Dynamo 0
Sunday, June 4, 2017
Venue:
CenturyLink Field
Referee:
Baldomero Toledo
Assistants:
Apolinar Mariscal, Gianni Facchini
Fourth Official:
Baboucarr Jallow
Attendance:
40,258
Weather:
63 degrees and partly cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
SEA -
Will Bruin (Cristian Roldan, Osvaldo Alonso) 69'
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
HOU -
Alex (caution) 28'
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Brad Evans (Aaron Kovar 54'), Román Torres, Chad Marshall, Joevin Jones; Osvaldo Alonso - captain, Gustav Svensson, Nicolás Lodeiro, Cristian Roldan, Alvaro Fernandez (Nouhou Tolo 75'); Will Bruin (Jordy Delem 88')
Substitutes not used: Tyler Miller, Seyi Adekoya, Zach Mathers, Oniel Fisher
Total shots:
12 (Bruin, 4)
Shots on goal:
2 (Bruin, 2)
Fouls:
7 (Svensson, 2)
Offside:
4 (Four players, 1)
Corner-kicks:
9 (Lodeiro, 8)
Saves:
3 (Frei, 3)
Houston Dynamo - Tyler Deric; Dylan Remick, Leonardo, Adolfo Machado, A.J. DeLaGarza; Juan David Cabezas, Ricardo Clark - captain, Alex (Boniek Garcia 67'); Mauro Manotas, Andrew Wenger (Vicente Sánchez 75'), Erick Torres (Alberth Elis 55')
Substitutes not used: Joe Willis, Jalil Anibaba, Joseph Holland, Kevin Garcia
Total shots:
8 (Three players, 2)
Shots on goal:
3 (Manotas, 2)
Fouls:
13 (Alex, 3)
Offside:
1 (Torres, 1)
Corner-kicks:
3 (Alex, 3)
Saves:
1 (Deric, 1)
MATCH NOTES
- Sounders FC is now 5-6-4 this season and sits in a three-way tie for sixth place in the Western Conference alongside the San Jose Earthquakes and Vancouver Whitecaps FC. The victory marks the third-consecutive 1-0 win at home for Seattle, who is now 4-1-2 at CenturyLink Field this season.
- The Rave Green are 5-0-1 this season when scoring the first goal.
- Seattle improves to 6-4-6 all-time against Houston in regular-season play, including an 6-0-2 mark at CenturyLink Field. The visiting team has never won a match in the series.
- Forward Will Bruin recorded his fourth goal of the season in the 69th minute, which ties Clint Dempsey for the team lead in 2017. Assists on the score were credited to midfielders Osvaldo Alonso (first assist of the season) and Cristian Roldan (second assist of the season).
- Midfielder Aaron Kovar made his season debut in the 54th minute. The Homegrown Player, who was sidelined for the start of the 2017 campaign due to groin surgery, has made 26 MLS appearances for the club since 2014.
- Defender Chad Marshall hasn't had an incomplete pass in any of his past three appearances. Seattle is 3-0-0 with three shutouts in those matches.
