Captain Nicolás Lodeiro opened the scoring in the first minute of the Sounders’ Decision Day match vs. the Earthquakes, but his 49th minute goal stole the show. Lodeiro volleyed home a right-footed strike from 20 yards out off an attempted clearance from a Sounders corner.
Albert Rusnák played a good ball in that the San Jose defense couldn’t dispose of properly. Lodeiro waited patiently at the top of the box before unleashing a scorcher with his weaker foot that gave the Sounders a 2-1 lead. Despite a draw on the day and in a match that ultimately couldn’t send the Sounders back to the MLS Cup Playoffs, Lodeiro capped the 2022 campaign with a bang.
The Uruguayan Designated Player finished the season with seven goals and 11 assists in 28 MLS matches. He also recorded five goals and two assists in six Concacaf Champions League contests, helping lead the Sounders to the continental title.