SEATTLE – The Seattle Sounders split the points with the Vancouver Whitecaps in a 2-2 draw that saw two of their starting defenders come off injured. Seattle held a lead for about 14 minutes thanks to a 54th-minute equalizer from Jackson Ragen and a 55th-minute goal from Albert Rusnák, but a headed goal from Mathias Laborda from a corner in the 69th paired with a frustrating opening goal from Brian White in the 52nd minute equaled their output.
The first half was a pretty quiet half of soccer, with two unfortunate exceptions. First in the 12th minute Alex Roldan had to leave the game after an apparent groin injury while battling for a ball around midfield. Just about a minute after he subbed out, Yeimar came up with an injury of his own and he was eventually replaced by Kim Kee-hee. With two early changes, the Sounders struggled to find much rhythm and neither side created much real cause for excitement.
Hot out of the locker room, Whitecaps substitute Brian White got the visitors on the scoreboard with a 52nd-minute strike. Snyder Brunell got his pocket picked in midfield and Vancouver immediately went towards Seattle’s goal. Thomas Müller picked out White’s run with plenty of room to operate, and White did what he does so reliably as he ripped his shot beyond Stefan Frei’s reach.
The good news was the Sounders didn’t wait long to find a response, and they drove down to the other end, won a corner, and Rusnák whipped in his service to Ragen at the back post for a header to equalize in the 54th minute. The goal clearly spurred the team on, and a minute later they were right back down putting the ball in the back of the net again.
Paul Rothrock drove at the defense before playing Jesús Ferreira in with a sharp outside-of-the-foot ball, and Ferreira played a cutback that took a touch on its way to the back post where Rusnák arrived late to hammer it into the roof of the net before Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka could arrive to the ball. Just like that Seattle were out in front in the 55th minute.
The bad news is that once the Sounders had a lead they couldn’t take control of the game and the next shot that either side took was a Whitecaps goal in the 69th minute. Sebastian Berhalter sent in a corner and Laborda jumped up to beat Ragen to the ball and Frei couldn’t do anything about the header as it hit the back of the net to level the score again.
Following the second equalizer both sides had good looks at goal. Cristian Roldan nearly put a header in the bottom corner, but Takaoka made a good diving save to keep it out in the 71st minute. In the second minute of stoppage time Georgi Minoungou had a great chance as he had a nice turn and shot from close range, but a player was on the line to block it. The rebound made its way to Roldan who hit a good, low shot, but it was deflected and then Takaoka made another good save to tip it over the bar.
A good tackle from Ragen in the 77th minute defused a dangerous moment before a threatening shot could come from inside the area. Frei made a pair of saves in the first and seventh minutes of stoppage time following dangerous Whitecaps free kicks to keep the score level.
The Sounders now have a week to prepare for their home match against the Portland Timbers next Saturday, October 4. The playoffs are secured, but seeding and momentum are very much up for grabs.
Lineups
The Sounders make three changes from their Starting XI against Austin FC last weekend. Jordan Morris takes over for Danny Musovski up top, and Ferreira starts on the right wing as Snyder Brunell drops back a line with Obed Vargas away at the U20 World Cup. In goal Stefan Frei returns to the starting spot with Andrew Thomas on the bench.
Tonight's Delta Starting XI! 😤 📰: sndrs.com/lk639rsc | #SEAvVAN
— Sounders FC (@soundersfc.com) 2025-09-28T01:41:32.417Z
Key moments
4 - Chance! Morris wins a free kick just inside Vancouver’s half. Rusnák sends the ball into the box where Yeimar has a look but it’s blocked away.
12 - Sub. Alex Roldan comes off with an apparent groin injury and is replaced by Kalani Kossa-Rienzi for the Sounders.
13 - Injury. Moments after Alex Roldan subbed off, Yeimar picks up an injury as he challenges for a ball on the right sideline.
18 - Sub. Kim Kee-hee replaces Yeimar, finally.
25 - Save! Ahmed takes a dangerous shot from the top of the box that Frei is able to stop. The flag is raised for offside on the play following the shot.
28 - Chance! Ferreira slips a ball in for Morris who gets to the end line and tries to play it across goal, but Takaoka blocks it.
29 - Shot! Seattle work the ball around and Rusnák sends in a cross with Morris and Rothrock making runs. Rothrock gets a head to it, but Takaoka catches it.
44 - Block! Vancouver have a funny little flurry in front of goal that never turns into anything, then after the ball recycles Müller tries to beat Kim who knocks the ball away for a corner.
HT - Subs. Danny Musovski comes on to replace Jordan Morris for Seattle. Brian White comes on for Vancouver in place of Daniel Rios.
52 - Goal, Vancouver. Brunell loses the ball and Vancouver go the other way. White receives a pass in space from Müller and beats Frei. 1-0, Whitecaps
54 - GOAL! Ragen with an immediate answer! Rusnák sends in a corner and Ragen rises up to head it in at the back post! 1-1
Jackson got 🆙 What a header for our first goal of the night!
— Sounders FC (@soundersfc.com) 2025-09-28T04:07:03.692Z
55 - GOAL!!! Rusnák! Rothrock plays Ferreira in and Ferreira tries to cut it back and a defender gets a touch to it, but not enough to keep Rusnák from getting to it ahead of the GK and roofing it! 2-1, Sounders
A goal and an assist in under 90 seconds 😱 Albert came out of the locker room FLYING!
— Sounders FC (@soundersfc.com) 2025-09-28T04:08:41.053Z
62 - Subs. Sebastian Berhalter and Jayden Nelson replace Thomas Müller and Emmanuel Sabbi for Vancouver.
69 - Goal, Vancouver. Laborda connects with Berhalter’s corner and levels the game for the Whitecaps. 2-2
71 - Shot! Rusnák sends in a free kick and Cristian Roldan gets a header that looks destined for the bottom corner, but Takaoka is able to push it away for a corner.
77 - Tackle! Vancouver have a dangerous look in the box and Ragen makes a strong slide tackle to break it up before a follow-up shot is hit out for a goal kick.
78 - Sub. Vancouver’s Rayan Elloumi comes on for Brian White after an apparent injury.
82 - Subs. Seattle bring on Osaze De Rosario and Georgi Minoungou, replacing Snyder Brunell and Jesus Ferreira.
90+1 - Save! Kossa-Rienzi gives up a dangerous free kick at the edge of the box. Berhalter takes the free kick and goes for goal, but it’s right at Frei who catches it.
90+2 - Chance! Kossa-Rienzi sends in a cross that bounces around before Minoungou gets off a shot that hits player on the goal line, and Cristian Roldan has a follow-up shot that’s deflected and then tipped over the bar by the GK.
90+7 - Save! Following a free kick Vancouver have a dangerous look from the edge of the box, but Frei makes a diving save to keep the game level.
Quick thoughts
A barely burning bonfire: The Sounders have played 3 of their 4 Cascadia matches for the season so far, and have yet to claim a win. Tonight marked their second draw following Vancouver’s 69th minute equalizer. This was their first Cascadia match played at home, but the team’s struggles against their regional rivals aren’t entirely new. They’ll now host the Portland Timbers in their next match, a team that’s posed a particularly tough challenge for Seattle at Lumen field. The Sounders clinched a playoff spot thanks to other results today, but if they want to make some noise in the playoffs they’ll need to put together complete performances down the stretch starting with the Timbers.
Bright spots heighten the shadows: Snyder Brunell started an MLS game for just the third time, and only the second time in his preferred position, when he lined up alongside Cristian Roldan in Seattle’s double pivot against the Whitecaps. It wasn’t quite the standout showing of his first start against Sporting Kansas City, but he still put in a quality performance. He completed 27 of 29 passes, creating one chance and drawing a couple of fouls. He won 3 of 5 duels, had one tackle, 5 interceptions and 6 recoveries. It was a good game, but amidst that good was a dangerous giveaway that could have turned into a goal in the first half and a worse one in the second half that did turn into Vancouver’s opener. With young players in particular, a strong performance can make mistakes more obvious, and those mistakes can draw more attention than anything else. The Sounders will need to get strong performances from the players alongside Cristian Roldan, including Brunell, while Obed Vargas is at the U20 World Cup. Fortunately for Brunell at the team, he’s surrounded by players who have been through this before and can help him learn from these mistakes.
Take control: Maybe the largest issue the Sounders have had since returning from Leagues Cup to MLS play is their inability to take control of games. Given the opportunity to grab hold of a match and impose their will, they’ve seemingly allowed a drive for more goals, the emotions of wanting or needing to earn their spot and prove they deserve minutes over guys competing for their place on the field, or the energy of a game to overcome whatever instinct or instructions they have to slow the game down, be patient and force their opponents to respond to them instead of the other way around. To make matters worse, they’ve struggled to adjust or adapt to how referees are calling games or the energy the opposition are bringing. They’ll need to find a way to adjust and impose themselves on games, particularly in order to see games out, as the playoffs approach.
Notable quote
Brian Schmetzer on Albert Rusnák: “Leadership, connecting some passes, we dropped him back in at the end when we were playing with our two forward set. ... tonight was a step forward for him to get 90 minutes under his belt and play with intensity."
Player spotlight
Albert Rusnák played 90 minutes for the first time in over two months, and he had the kind of impact you need from your highest-paid player with a goal and assist.
