When Sounders FC 2 Head Coach Ezra Hendrickson called Starfire Stadium a fortress, he wasn’t kidding. After winning three games at home to begin the season, then returning home to another comeback victory, the Tukwila complex is beginning to look impossible to conquer for a visiting team.
“Something every professional athlete will tell you is how important it is to win at home,” said Hendrickson. “We have made winning at home a priority, and it will be something we continue to drive into the players, and they have done a good job of that so far.”
Friday night, S2 defended its turf, needing a late penalty kick goal from Pablo Rossi to grab the victory that puts the team in first place in the USL Western Conference. S2 is now 4-0-0 at home this season with 12 goals scored and just four allowed.
Although undefeated, the home goal hasn’t been impenetrable, as the Rave Green gave up the first score when Orange County Blues FC forward Denzel Slager burned down the right side and sent in a cross that Christopher Ramirez headed home past diving S2 goalkeeper Charlie Lyon.
Things looked bleak for the Rave Green as they entered halftime down a goal, but it was not a spot they were unfamiliar with. Hendrickson’s club surrendered the first goal in its last match at home against Timbers 2, but came back to win 2-1.
Sixteen minutes into the second half, S2 struck back via a 20-yard blast from forward Sam Garza who came in at half for Darwin Jones. His half-volleyed shot rang off the crossbar and bounced across the line for the goal. There was initial confusion from the OC Blues FC defense and goalkeeper Pepe Miranda about whether or not the ball had crossed the line, but linesman Kelsey Harms raised her flag signifying the goal was good.
Garza continued to be a key factor in the second half, creating more chances for the team from the midfield.
“We put Garza in because we needed a bit more possession in the midfield,” said Hendrickson post-match. “His presence let us put Andy Craven higher up the pitch, and the runs that Andy made opened things up for us. It put the defenders on their toes during the second half.”
Once level, the Rave Green started to pile on the pressure, nearly getting the winner on multiple occasions. The second goal would eventually come after 19-year-old forward Oalex Anderson came on in the 82nd minute. Anderson only needed 60 seconds to make an impact as he made a lung-busting run into the box before being brought down by Blues defender Brenton Griffiths, earning S2 the chance to put the game away from the spot.
Rossi converted the penalty in the 84th, which would prove to be the final goal scored in the 2-1 victory.
“We have that extra little spark that will always get us through the end of the game and I was grateful to get a goal,” said Garza. “It’s amazing to win in front of these fans. I cherish every moment I am out there, it’s incredible.”
S2 will visit Sacramento Republic FC again this Saturday before returning home for a rematch against Oklahoma City Energy FC, one of the two teams that were able to beat Seattle earlier in the season.
Tickets to S2’s next home match can be found here.
