Three the hard way: Sounders get past FC Dallas

SEATTLE – They left it later than they would have liked and it certainly wasn't pretty, but the Seattle Sounders got their three-game homestand off to a good start with a 1-0 win over FC Dallas on Saturday afternoon. Albert Rusnák, who had missed an open look a few minutes earlier, converted a penalty in the 86th minute to provide the winning margin. It was also his 25th career Sounders goal, making him just the second player in MLS history to have 25 goals and 25 assists for two different teams.

FC Dallas, who was playing their third game in eight days, made seven changes from their midweek U.S. Open Cup match against the New York Red Bulls and looked shaky early on. Jesús Ferreira got a good look at a header in the 2nd minute only to hit it high and had an even better look on the doorstep in the 9th minute only for Maarten Paes to make two spectacular saves while on his back.

The Sounders were hit with a bit of a blow in the 16th minute when Yeimar Gomez Andrade went down with a right hamstring injury, but that didn't seem to slow their momentum much. Rusnák had a clean look from 12 yards out in the 22nd minute only for teammate Ryan Kent to block the shot as it was headed on goal.

At halftime, there was a sense that the Sounders may have missed an opportunity to take control of the match.

Dallas nearly grabbed the lead against the run of play in the 57th minute when Ramiro ripped a shot from about 25 yards out, only for Stefan Frei to make a diving save to his right to keep it scoreless.

The Sounders nearly found the breakthrough in the 68th minute when they created a turnover at the top of the box, Rusnák was able to take a dribble to settle himself and then fired a wide open shot that appeared destined for the far corner of the goal only for it to pass a few inches wide.

In the 76th minute, Georgi Minoungou appeared to give the Sounders the lead when he put away a Kent cross with his knee, only for the offside flag to go up. Replays seemed to confirm that he was just a bit offside.

Just as the game seemed to be heading to a scoreless tie, though, Osaze Urhoghide handled a free kick from Rusnák. Referee Allen Chapman immediately pointed to the spot. Rusnák easily converted and then celebrated by ripping off his shirt and throwing it into the stands where Alex Roldan had to retrieve it.

Dallas wasn't quite ready to give in, though, and nearly found the equalizer in 3rd minute of second-half stoppage time when Lalas Abubakar found himself with the ball at his feet near the edge of the penalty area. He ripped a shot that beat Frei, only to hit the far post and ricochet to safety.

The Sounders at least temporarily moved up a spot in the standings to fifth in the Western Conference, pending LAFC's result. They will next face San Diego FC on Wednesday.

Key moments

Lineup notes: Jesús Ferreira starts at the No. 9 with Danny Musovski out with a muscle injury. Dallas heavily rotates after a midweek game.

2: Chance! Ryan Kent floats a cross into the box that Jesús Ferreira gets to first, but his header form the top of the 6 goes high.

9: Saves! A blocked pass falls to Ferreira just in front of goal but Maarten Paes comes up with a massive save and then does it again off the rebound.

16: Jon Bell replaces Yeimar, who appears to have picked up a muscle injury.

22: Chance! Pedro de la Vega cuts back a cross to Albert Rusnák at the penalty spot, but his shot is blocked by teammate Ryan Kent as it is headed on goal.

45+1: Chance! Rusnák finds de la Vega with a free kick, but the header goes high.

57: SAVE! Ramiro gets a clean look from about 25 yards out but Frei is able to get down to his right to push it wide.

68: MISS! Rusnák gets a wide open look from 17 yards out but puts it just wide.

70: WIDE! Nouhou gets a good look on a header from a corner kick but it goes just wide.

76: OFFSIDE! The Sounders create a turnover at top of box and Ryan Kent puts in a ball that Georgi Minoungou puts in off his knee, but he's flagged offside. Replays confirm he was just off.

85: HANDBALL! Osaze Urhoghide handles the ball off a free kick and Allan Chapman points to the spot.

86: GOAL! Albert Rusnák converts. That's his 25th career Sounders goal, making him the second player in MLS history to score 25 goals and have 25 assists for two different teams.

90+3: POST! Abubakar lines one up from an odd angle and beats Frei but pings it off the far post.

Quick thoughts

A win's a win: Look, there's no reason to pretend this was a wonderful performance but there are going to be games like this. Good teams figure out how to secure three points, especially at home, and that's exactly what the Sounders did. I'm sure they will find plenty to critique with how they built the attack, especially in the second half, but this was a result they needed in a bad way.

Exclusive company: Rusnák has taken his degree of criticism over the years, but it's at the point now where he needs to be considered among the elite attackers in MLS. He joins Steve Ralston as the only other player to have 25 goals and 25 assists with two teams – and Ralston did it in a very different era, having retired in 2009. Perhaps more relevantly, Rusnák now has seven goals and three assists this year, putting him fifth in MLS for goal contributions. He might even be putting together a MVP candidacy.

Home cooking: The Sounders are now 4-0-2 at home in MLS play, good for 14 points. Only FC Cincinnati is averaging more points per game at home. Seattle has only trailed for a total of four minutes at home. They weren't bad at home last year – they lost just twice – but securing wins exactly like this were lacking.

Notable quote

Player spotlight

Rusnák gets the game-winner and was in the middle of the Sounders' best chances, but Cristian Roldan is quietly playing the best soccer of his career. He was especially good on defense, where he won 6 of 6 tackles and 13 of 15 duels. Dallas could barely get out of their own end at times, in large part because of Roldan's back-pressing.