The Sounders, in the second of a long stretch of road games, secured a victory against St. Louis City SC last Saturday. Seattle demonstrated resilience as they lost another key starter to injury and were forced into a first half sub again. They did enough on the attacking front to establish a 1-0 lead, and then were able to basically “close up shop” to protect their lead. The Sounders defense adapted well to tactical changes and was bolstered by excellent goalkeeping. St. Louis, to their credit, generated some quality scoring opportunities throughout the contest, but were denied by Seattle’s defensive discipline and organization. The Sounders maintained their shape, communicated effectively, and showed collective grit that has long defined their successful road performances. Departing St. Louis with all three points, they turned a potentially difficult fixture into a vital 1-0 win and showcased their depth and tactical maturity in the process.
On the right track: Even after the injury, Seattle’s back line made the St. Louis attack predictable and limited big chances. The team cohesion was much improved, and the Sounders continue to create just enough offense of their own.
Derailed: Another injury to an already decimated center back group is potentially catastrophic, with fixture congestion and multiple game weeks starting in mere days.
Full steam ahead: For now, the fill-in solution to the defensive losses appears to be holding, but this team is in dire need of some healthy bodies and production.
Goalkeeper
Andrew Thomas – 8 | Community – 7.5
This was Thomas’ best performance so far in 2026. He earned a quality shutout that highlighted his strengths throughout the game. Now with two shutouts in three matches, the defense and Thomas look to be getting dialed in. His command of the box is assertive, and the connection with the defense is improving with each match.
On the right track: Thomas’ aggressive ownership of the penalty area is readily apparent. His standout attributes are consistently coming out to catch the ball, fighting in traffic on set pieces, and being willing to attack opponents when they shoot rather than sitting back and relying on pure reflexes to save shots.
Derailed: The biggest downside with Andrew is his distribution, which remains an adventure. While he aggressively owns his space, he can struggle with pressure, and a number of his poor clearances lost possession. A 58th minute punch was the right attempt, but execution was sketchy, and St. Louis earned a shot.
Full steam ahead: Defense is what will get Seattle through their congested early season, and so far Thomas looks to be as good as advertised. With “Steven Fray” taking over midweek, Seattle has depth at the position.
Defense
Nouhou – 7 | Community – 7.1
Nouhou continued a strong season with a third match making smart decisions and playing excellent soccer. We saw both his usual lockdown defense as well as improved offensive support play. He had some standout defensive plays, especially after Seattle moved centerbacks due to injury. He picked his moments to surge into the attack via quality dribbles with precision and even showed off a different forward distribution than we’re used to. These small improvements added up to a quality outing that included 80 percent passing, 10 defensive contributions, and 10 passes into the final third.
On the right track: In the 47th minute, Nouhou and Jesús Ferreira combined to trap St. Louis in the corner, and when the opponent looked up and saw Nouhou’s perfect position, he slid a weak pass central. Jesús scooped it up and assisted the only goal of the match. For the rest of the half, that same wide player repeatedly saw Nouhou and quickly reconsidered any attempts to attack down his wing, before being subbed off. In the 80th minute, Nouhou flew into the attack, starting a break that forced a save.
Derailed: A 46th minute turnover was one of the few times Nouhou tried to do too much, and he was penalized for it.
Full steam ahead: Nouhou, 2026 edition, is so far a more nuanced and comfortable player who is making better decisions. Some of the biggest criticisms of his play are being answered in real time. If he can remain calm and continue to make the kind of choices that have defined the first three matches of the season, he could be in for a huge year.
Jackson Ragen – 7 | Community – 7.4
Ragen was his usual dependable self, easily adjusting from one centerback partner to another in the first half when Yeimar went down. Organizing the defense, his calm distribution and dominance in the air meant a second half under siege was easily handled, with Seattle dropping into a compact shell and refusing to be beaten. Jackson’s positioning was excellent, limiting any transition attempts, and he consistently and aggressively moved the ball to forward teammates.
On the right track: Ragen had a brilliant 29th minute step up the field to anticipate and cut off any St. Louis attack down the middle. He combined this with near-perfect passing (92 percent completion) as he continues to be a stalwart central force.
Derailed: Like a few of his defensive teammates, Ragen was caught in the attack a number of times early, and in the 6th minute Seattle nearly paid the price as Jackson dribbled a little too much, prompting some adjustments.
Full steam ahead: Excelling in any formation, it’s unequivocally Jackson Ragen who leads the defense. His positioning and distribution set the tone across the entire line, and when he steps up with authority the defense follows.
Yeimar – 5 | Community – 5.6 (off 23’ for Kossa-Rienzi)
Seattle was able to start the same back four for the third game in a row, and they started off strong. In his short time on the field, Yeimar was extremely active, earning 20 touches in 23 minutes, completing 94 percent of his attempts, and adding a successful dribble. He combined this with three recoveries and looked on track for a strong outing.
On the right track: Yeimar looked the part, aggressively charging forward to support Seattle’s counter pressing. He had two accurate long balls, both entries into the final third, that helped push the Sounders aggressively vertical.
Derailed: Unfortunately, one of those aggressive attacks forward saw him get the worst of a questionable tackle, and he limped off the field in pain. This forced a sub in the 23rd minute and further weakened an already thin centerback group.
Full steam ahead: Hopefully this is a small setback for a key part of the Sounders defense that is already missing Kim Kee-hee, Stuart Hawkins, and Ryan Sailor.
Alex Roldan – 8 (MOTM) | Community – 7.5 (MOTM)
Alex has been excellent this season, and he was at his best against St. Louis. With 59 touches, and 83 percent passing, he found all the best connections going forward. Even more impressive was his defensive workrate, rivaling any individual effort from Seattle this year. He had 20 recorded actions, including seven recoveries and eight clearances. He won four headers, moved seamlessly from outside to a more central position, and was a standout all game.
On the right track: A beautiful sliding save in the 6th minute was tremendous, and overall Alex was spectacular on both sides of the ball. Able to keep up defensively and add speed even when moved centrally, his distribution was exceptional, his decision making near-perfect, and his tactical flexibility essential to the winning effort.
Derailed: Roldan missed a few passes, failing to connect forward, and he took an unfortunate 44th minute yellow card.
Full steam ahead: At some point, potentially sooner than later, the Sounders need to take a close look at a back-three formation. Every single time Seattle is “forced” into playing him central, Alex Roldan looks comfortable, showing the pace, vision, and control to make this a viable and excellent tactical plan l.
Defensive Midfield
Cristian Roldan – 7 | Community – 6.9
Cristian had another quiet evening, but one that was full of quality play that slipped under the radar. His 68 touches and 80 percent passing don’t jump off the page, but his ability to move to danger spots and snuff out any potential issues for Seattle was excellent, as time and again he rotated to support, allowing the Sounders to clear danger.
On the right track: Cristian, for whatever reason, looked more comfortable after Yeimar left. He started to show some of the toughness and control of the midfield that defined his exceptional 2025. His connection with Hassani Dotson looked improved as well.
Derailed: There is still a valid concern about the connection in the middle. Since the defensive midfield unit both drives the team and was so excellent last year, there is a high bar. Seattle still has some positioning issues to fix to add more forward impetus, and it starts with this pairing.
Full steam ahead: Captain Roldan is the Sounders’ most important player, and as he settles in the team performance should only improve.
Hassani Dotson – 6 | Community – 5.5
Dotson again started next to Cristian, and while there was improvement, Seattle failed to create enough central push. With 47 touches, Hassani had an opportunity to show a central strength, but this wasn’t often translated forward. He did work well defensively, consistently gumming up midfield areas with quality movement, and this forced St. Louis wide.
On the right track: In this outing, Cristian and Hassani were better at staying out of each other’s space. There were some improved hand offs and tactical spacing throughout the entire match, which bodes well for the future.
Derailed: A number of poor choices indicate a slow adjustment to the Seattle style. Hassani had a stellar dribble sequence out of trouble in the 55th, but then he held the ball too long and turned it over in a bad spot. He showed visible fatigue in the 64th minute, failing to effectively track central runners.
Full steam ahead: Dotson deserves some time to settle in, and his underlying numbers look solid.
Attacking Midfield
Jesús Ferreira – 7 | Community – 6.9 (off 64’ for Arriola)
Jesús switched to the left side against St. Louis, and again he found a way to impact the scoreboard. His control and passing were on display, as he turned 30 touches into two key passes and a vital assist. Perhaps the most underrated parts of his play, quick counter pressing and defensive positioning, were exceptional in this match.
On the right track: Jesús is Seattle’s only wide player who can find some of the passes he finds, and one such was a brilliant look to Kalani Kossa-Rienzi that earned Seattle their goal. Instead of lumping a right-footed cross into the area hoping for a striker, he found KKR in the 47th minute for the game-winning assist.
Derailed: Ferreira’s single shot was again a weak fading header. He is getting in good spots but doesn’t have the power to make them count, and he isn’t getting clean looks with his feet.
Full steam ahead: Seattle is leaning into Ferreira as a pocket winger, and he’s contributing every match from all over the field. He’s already sitting second in the league on assists.
Albert “Roosnock” – 6 | Community – 6.4 (off 85’ for Petković)
Even though the announcers couldn’t seem to pronounce his name right, Albert had a good game. He started centrally but shaded to the left often, combining with Nouhou and Ferreira to drive the Sounders attack forward. He had 42 touches and created a big chance and multiple other big moments for teammates. As usual, he was able to control the tempo of the match in order to control the game tactically.
On the right track: A brilliant effort in the 40th minute showed something Seattle at times lacks: the ability to take a touch and slam a goalbound shot. This forced a save from St. Louis, and it reminded teammates that it’s okay to test a keeper from outside. (Prophetic!)
Derailed: Albert is doing the little things needed to play centrally in the Sounders system, but he’s missing some of the big things and needs dynamic parts to connect with him more often.
Full steam ahead: Roosnock isn’t the type of player to carry the team with individual play, and needs to find more ways to combine with others to impact the scoreboard.
Snyder Brunell – 5 | Community – 5.8 (off 85’ for Baker)
Young Brunell got his first start for the Sounders in 2026, this time in the wide right attacking role, due to multiple injured teammates. This wasn’t a perfect fit, as his instincts as a winger need refinement, but he held down the side and often combined with essential control and defensive possession work. He had 43 touches and added a shot, although his pace was exposed when tracking back on a few occasions.
On the right track: The ideas were there. A possession controller on the wide area, using his strong body to retain the ball and recycle was an interesting wrinkle wide, and Snyder was not dispossessed easily.
Derailed: Snyder isn’t a natural winger, and his positional discipline was lacking. He at times struggled to give Seattle the spacing they needed to be successful up the wing. He had a big chance in the box in the 80th but was unable to find an open Danny Musovski at the back post.
Full steam ahead: Any minutes Snyder gets are good minutes, similar to another young defensive midfielder that Seattle frequently played wide during his growth.
Striker
Osaze De Rosario – 5 | Community – 5.3 (off 64’ for Musovski)
Earning his third start was De Rosario, who again showed some cultured skills but failed to get on the scoreboard. A 13th minute vertical run exhibited the pace and direct play that Seattle needs, but most of the match he was used for holdup and connection. He was active (28 touches) and took good angles defensively to start the Sounders press. He managed a single blocked shot.
On the right track: The holdup play is some of the best Seattle has ever had. The highlight was a lovely 40th minute control with his back to the goal, combined with layoff to a surging central Rusnák, who got a great shot on goal which forced a big save.
Derailed: In the 63rd minute, Osaze had a chance to get 1-v-1 with the defense facing the opponent’s goal. He flubbed this opportunity, getting his attempt blocked, and he must do more with these limited moments.
Full steam ahead: All the peripheral play ODR brings is essential for defending from the front, but either he needs better or more frequent service, or he must be more direct on goal himself.
Substitutes
Kalani Kossa-Rienzi – 6 | Community – 7.4 (on 23’ for Yeimar)
Pressed into earlier service than planned, Kalani subbed into the match in the first 25 minutes and did well. He had 49 touches, took a shot (and made it count) and added seven defensive actions.
On the right track: In the 47th minute, Kossa-Rienzi was lurking with intent at the top of the box. Handling a smart pass from Jesús, he controlled, shifted his position, and slammed a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner of the net.
Derailed: He didn’t complete either of his long ball attempts, and those turnovers were part of a few times when Seattle struggled to clear their defensive zone.
Full steam ahead: Kalani did what was needed upon subbing in, and as an audition for more playing time, this was a great appearance.
Danny Musovski – 5 | Community – 5.6 (on 64’ for De Rosario)
Similar to earlier matches, Danny subbed in for Osaze and brought his own style of attacking from an advanced central position. He had 10 touches, but only completed 60 percent of his passes and flubbed a big chance.
On the right track: Instantly active, Moose earned a foul after a nifty 66th minute turn. Later he was a consistent threat directly on goal.
Derailed: With a giant chance in the 92nd minute to fully put the match to bed, Danny somehow was denied on a close shot he would usually finish.
Full steam ahead: Musovski shows he hasn’t forgotten how to get in great positions for big chances, even if they haven’t fallen yet in 2026.
Paul Arriola – 5 | Community – 6.3 (on 64’ for Ferreira)
Arriola continued to ramp his minutes up, this time arriving to play a third of the match. He was very active in his time, with 21 touches and popping up all over the field.
On the right track: Paul wasn’t going to let Seattle give up any points. He seemed to be everywhere, defending deep on the right, materializing in the middle, and combining up the left side to create chances and stop anything STL attempted. His perfect entry pass to Nikola Petković set up a big moment late.
Derailed: His one shot was well off target, and later he was beaten and took a yellow card.
Full steam ahead: Paul looks to have returned from injury with renewed purpose. He can greatly elevate the team if he continues this trajectory.
Nikola Petković – 5 | Community – 5.5 (on 85’ for “Roosnock”)
Again, Petković got a few minutes to play, and this time looked excellent. He had five touches and at times showed brilliant attacking play.
On the right track: After a slow start, Nikola was impressive, connecting with teammates and dropping a gorgeous 92nd minute forward pass to a charging Moose that was nearly converted into a game-sealing score.
Derailed: He made a bad choice to cross the ball in the 91st minute.
Full steam ahead: Petković’s defense is unknown, but his vision and the forward thrust of his play are potentially very exciting.
Cody Baker – 5 | Community – 5.8 (on 85’ for Brunell)
Baker came in late to help defend on the wing, and he did his job.
On the right track: Five touches; completed both his passes: exactly what you want when added to kill off a match.
Derailed: He missed his only cross attempt, and his only header try.
Full steam ahead: Baker is showing a defensive toughness that is valuable for these tight road matches.
Referee
Tim Ford – 6 | Community – 6.3
Ford started the match reluctant to whistle, but he grew into the game and was in firm control throughout. He ended up calling 20 total fouls, with only seven against the Sounders.
On the right track: There were a number of good calls, such as protecting ODR after a defensive shove in the 54th. The match settled down and was physical, but not dangerous.
Derailed: Seattle had half the number of fouls and three times as many yellow cards. This included a physical first 20 minutes where multiple uncalled fouls resulted in direct transition moments for St. Louis. On the other side, Ford didn’t give Ragen an early yellow, on what looked like a denial of a breakout for the home team.
Full steam ahead: Although it’s frustrating to have overly physical play allowed early in games, this one was mostly balanced. That bodes well for consistency in future refereeing.
St. Louis City SC MOTM
Goalkeeper Roman Bürki kept it close throughout this one. His first big action came in the 39th, as he did well to parry a wicked Rusnák effort from outside the box. Later, in the 80th, he stifled Brunell’s shot that came at the end of some smooth transition play from Seattle. His distribution, especially long when available, allowed St. Louis to manufacture opportunities in the second half.
Upcoming: Fixture congestion hits a Sounders team with a lot of injuries. Midweek against a quality Vancouver side will provide an indication of the team’s character.
