Few things are more annoying than Sporting Kansas City looking broken and the Sounders deciding that’s the perfect time to be generous. Seattle scored in the 2nd minute through Paul Rothrock, controlled huge chunks of the match, dominated the ball, piled up shots, won corners, and still could only manage a 1-1 draw against a team that is one of the league’s saddest ongoing projects. That particular road point is not one to admire; it’s a bag of empty calories.
The Sounders had the ball, the field position, an early lead, and all the visual evidence of superiority. But when they gave up a goal in the 18th minute, they gave a bad SKC team something to work with: hope. A mistake from the usually reliable Cristian Roldan opened the door for Sporting’s equalizer, ex-Sounder Stefan Cleveland popped up in goal whenever Seattle remembered that a second goal would be nice, and another deeply irritating chapter was added to the long-running file titled, “Why do we keep giving these guys points?”
Hot start: Could not have asked for a better beginning. Scoring easily in the 2nd minute, Seattle looked to be flying, asserting themselves as shield contenders playing against the spoon contenders.
Cold middle: Let SKC off the hook and were never able to put them away. A lot of missed chances and nothing but a self-inflicted mistakes to hand a struggling team a point.
Empty calories: The stat line says control. The result says Seattle ordered a full meal but went home hungry. Against a good team, this was an okay result. Against Kansas City, it was a disappointing miss, and the first time all year the Sounders have given up a lead.
Goalkeeper
Andrew Thomas – 7 | Community – 7.0 (MOTM)
Thomas ended up doing far more than you want from a goalkeeper in a match like this. He made six saves and, more importantly, made sure this did not turn into a disastrous loss. When your team dominates the ball against a lower opponent and your keeper still has to be one of the best players, that’s not a compliment to the team in front of him.
Hot start: Made the saves he needed to make, and then made a few he shouldn’t have needed to. An 85th minute stop was huge, keeping the match from being a catastrophe.
Cold middle: Too busy for a match against this opponent. Didn’t do himself any favors by looking shaky on corner kicks and fumbling some of the saves, instead of holding on tight.
Empty calories: Good enough to save the point, not enough to save the mood. Disappointing concessions in the last two matches that should have been shutouts.
Defense
Nouhou – 6 | Community – 6.4
A solid Nouhou outing: active, physical, and increasingly stable. With 89 touches, he offered some decent service from the left, helped keep Seattle on the front foot, and generally looked more interested in doing things than some players ahead of him. The Sounders were very patient in control of possession and consistently attempted to build through the back.
Hot start: Energetic, involved, and consistently offering progressive movement, Nouhou only missed two passing attempts all match, earning 97 percent pass completion. That translated into three key passes and 12 passes into the final third. He added a sparkling 1-v-1 defensive intervention in the 68th.
Cold middle: Nouhou was part of a back line that let SKC feel alive at times, offering space, being susceptible to quick counters, and being stretched too far chasing the win.
Empty calories: Palatable enough, but nobody in defense gets to fully enjoy this one while the offense is shooting blanks for 88 minutes.
Jackson Ragen – 6 | Community – 6.4
Ragen had an afternoon where he was involved in plenty without making the whole thing feel more calm. He got forward on set pieces, picked up a yellow card, and was around a lot of the right moments without turning them into something positive. His late stoppage-time header over the bar felt like the whole match condensed into one play: a real chance, a lot of presence, and zero payoff.
Hot start: Kept Seattle pushing and controlled play from the back, using 94 percent passing to keep clean possession. With 14 passes into the attack, Ragen pushed high and locked SKC into their own area in possession.
Cold middle: The booking, the corner pressure, the general inability to shut this thing down cleanly are all things that need improvement if this team is a shield contender. That starts with Ragen centrally pulling the strings, but this was muted after his yellow. He completely lost his man in the 82nd as SKC nearly took the lead.
Empty calories: The game had plenty of action to watch, but Ragen tends to struggle with high lines after a yellow.
Alex Roldan – 6 | Community – 6.3
Alex had a mostly competent afternoon, which sounds good until you remember the opponent. He helped Seattle keep the field tilted the right direction and did his usual steady work in possession, but this wasn’t a game where the veteran took over his side of the match and made everything feel orderly. Seattle needed more creativity once things got annoying, but the game stayed annoying.
Hot start: Calm enough in possession and part of Seattle’s territorial control, Alex did a lot of things excellently. Starting in the 2nd minute to cross to Jesús Ferreira on the opening goal, Roldan was willing to look over the top to stretch Kansas City.
Cold middle: With Roldan in central defense, he wasn’t released to join the attack. He missed an open Jordan Morris in the 49th and was beaten in the 82nd as SKC threatened late.
Empty calories: This performance was fine, which should have been enough and somehow was not.
Kalani Kossa-Rienzi – 7 | Community – 6.2 (off 86’ for Kingston)
KKR got into enough good spots to be both encouraged and mildly tortured. He was active down the right, helped keep Sporting pinned back, and had one of Seattle’s better second-half chances denied by Cleveland. It was another one of those performances where the process looked promising and the final result was disappointing.
Hot start: Positive, aggressive, and active down the right, KKR created a big chance and had two shots of his own. The highlights were his 57th minute move to get to the endline for a cross and a 70th minute shot, both creating big moments that Seattle was unable to capitalize on.
Cold middle: Unfortunately, Kalani helped create the “this should be 2-1 or 3-1 by now” feeling without actually cashing it in. When he tried to dribble out of his own box in the 43rd minute, he nearly fumbled a big chance the other direction.
Empty calories: This was a useful performance swallowed by a useless result.
Defensive Midfield
Cristian Roldan – 5 | Community – 5.0
This is the painful one, because Christian is usually the least likely to do something annoying. He still did some good things. He got into the box, covered ground, nearly scored with headers, worked hard, and understood the game needed a second goal. But the equalizer came after his bad giveaway, a mistake he almost never makes, and in a match without Seattle’s killer instinct, that moment just sits there. Bad teams need gifts. Roldan handed one over.
Hot start: Cristian still found dangerous spots and did some midfield heavy lifting. He nearly scored on a 30th minute corner kick, and seven minutes later his defensive presence stopped a big counter attacking moment for SKC.
Cold middle: At the end of the day, the 18th minute blunder was huge, and the whole match soured from there. Apparently not seeing the opponent, Cristian passed a weak ball back and SKC’s leading scorer easily finished.
Empty calories: When your most reliable players blink, bad teams start believing. Someone needed to pick Cristian up the way he’s constantly picked up this team, but no one did.
Snyder Brunell – 6 | Community – 6.3
Brunell was one of the few bright spots in this game. He helped drive Seattle’s pressure, kept things moving, and looked like a midfielder fully interested in turning possession into something useful instead of just stacking touches. No, he did not run the game. But he did enough to make you wish a few others had matched his level of direct play.
Hot start: Snyder had good involvement, constructive passing, and real positive influence controlling in tight spaces and moving the ball forward into attacking areas. Most notable was a brilliant defensive job on Dejan Joveljić in the 54th minute, denying the Sporks from a potential game-winner.
Cold middle: After Seattle handed the goal to the opponent, they dominated the midfield, yet couldn’t find that breakthrough. Part of that was an overly patient buildup at times. Snyder was as guilty of this as his teammates, and right before half a big chance died on his foot as he was too slow on the ball.
Empty calories: Snyder was strong in this match, but he’s still too young to carry the team to victory from sheer force of will.
Attacking Midfield
Paul Rothrock – 7 (MOTM) | Community – 6.7 (off 67’ for Arriola)
After a few quieter matches, the Rock roared out of the gate, scored in the 2nd minute, was one of Seattle’s livelier attackers all afternoon, and provided the one bit of actual nourishment in an otherwise empty game. If you’re going to hand out an award in a draw this dumb, it may as well go to the guy who remembered the point of the sport. He also forced one of Cleveland’s better second-half saves. This is both a compliment to Rothrock and a reminder that Seattle only got one past their ex-keeper.
Hot start: Paul was an immediate menace and gave the impression this would be a normal afternoon after surging through in backside support (as always) and putting a tricky first time, left-footed shot far post for the early lead.
Cold middle: Unfortunately, Rothrock was part of the group that kept letting Cleveland feel way too important, including a 6th minute shot that might have put the match away. Last week when I said to score early and often, Paul managed the “early” but failed at the “often.”
Empty calories: Paul was the least unsatisfying choice in a list of unsatisfying choices, and is the team leader in goals by consistently working hard, being in the right spot, and executing.
Jesús Ferreira – 7 | Community – 6.7 (off 86’ for Dotson)
Ferreira was all over the game without ever taking it over. He created chances, got into good spots, and found moments to produce something decisive. Then he mostly didn’t. That is a frustrating kind of performance against any team. Against this Sporting team, it starts to feel borderline negligent. He was involved enough to matter, but not clinical enough to fix anything. He ended with 90 touches (huge for an attacking midfielder), six key passes, four shots, the early assist and multiple other big moments.
Hot start: Starting at the 10 again, Jesús was involved, created chances, found useful pockets, and had a workrate reminiscent of a guy named Nico. His 2nd minute flick to the backside for Rothrock was perfect teammate awareness, giving Paul the chance that put Seattle ahead moments into the match. He continued his assault on the goal, including hitting the crossbar with a lovely chip in the 13th after some pretty interplay with teammates.
Cold middle: Jesús did everything except provide the clean final action Seattle needed, like missing a big chance in the 81st minute via some ridiculous other-Stefan wizardry.
Empty calories: Jesús dialed up what smelled like a good, wholesome meal, but it ended like a vending machine dinner of Pringles and a Powerade.
Jordan Morris – 6 | Community – 6.1 (off 67’ for Rusnák)
This was more like “effective” Jordan than “rusty” Jordan, which is good. He was lively, direct, and forced Cleveland into work. He also left the match without the final return that would have made that movement properly valuable. Too much “almost.” He only had 28 touches, but an amazing 10 of those were in the SKC box. A third of his play was camping in the opponent area making stuff happen, exactly as you would want.
Hot start: Morris was a dangerous runner, active, and one of Seattle’s better attacking outlets, but as impressive as his constant connection and movement in the box was his willingness to track back on defense. In the 17th and 40th he did just that, denying potentially big moments for Kansas City to transition the other direction.
Cold middle: Unfortunately, when you look at the final tally, there are too many “nearly” moments, not enough scoreboard damage. This included a big chance in the 47th that was saved, as yet again Stef C refused to help out his former team.
Empty calories: For Morris’ return and his flexibility position-wise, this was encouraging individually, frustrating in context. When he plays wide, his defensive rate covers KKR, and his movement helps the less mobile Moose.
Forward
Danny Musovski – 5 | Community – 5.1 (off 76’ for De Rosario)
Musovski gave Seattle one of those striker performances where you can see the function without feeling the effect. He helped connect a few things, gave Seattle a central body to play off, but never looked like he was going to actually finish the match off. Against better teams, maybe that’s acceptable. Against Sporting Kansas City in this form, it feels thin.
Hot start: Moose helped connect play and gave Seattle a target up front, and after a 4th minute turn, there was hope he was going to be galloping around finishing with aplomb. A nice link to set up Jesús’ chip shot in the 13th was more of this quality from the front.
Cold middle: Never really felt like the guy to end the argument, and the stats backed that up. With 24 touches, he did little with them, amassing a single key pass and putting his lone shot, a 57th minute header, over the bar.
Empty calories: This was a functional outing, which had some nice connection work but was still unfilling, especially from a guy who had nearly 20 goals last season.
Substitutes
Albert Rusnák – 5 | Community – 5.4 (on 67’ for Morris)
Rusnák entered and immediately gave Seattle some cleaner ideas. He created a couple of good moments, nearly set up a winner, and generally looked like a player trying to make the whole thing less dumb. Unfortunately, by the time he entered, the game was already fully committed to being dumb.
Hot start: Rusnák’s addition brought more quality on the ball and better final-third ideas.
Cold middle: Even Albert could not rescue this from one-point junk food, missing his 79th minute shot from a tight angle.
Empty calories: While it was great to see his injury wasn’t severe, this ended as a helpful cameo, not a heroic rescue.
Paul Arriola – 5 | Community – 5.3 (on 67’ for Rothrock)
Arriola brought fresh legs, direct running, and his usual sense of productive urgency. He also managed to turn all that useful energy into a lot of blocked shots and no breakthrough, which is the perfect summary of Seattle’s late-game attack. Busy, helpful, but ultimately not enough.
Hot start: Paul brought immediate pressure and energy off the bench, with a nice cross in the 70th and a shot.
Cold middle: For all the movement and attempts, Arriola didn’t have the ability to consistently beat his man or create for others. Blocked shots and no actual breakthrough were less than expected.
Empty calories: Great hustle is pretty easy to find. What Seattle is starved for is direct creativity and connection. Paul hasn’t shown that this season, outside of a few brief glimpses.
Osaze De Rosario – 5 | Community – 5.1 (on 76’ for Musovski)
De Rosario got involved quickly, had a late chance, and forced their goalie into another save. So credit there. He at least tried to drag something positive out of the ending. The problem is that his cameo ended the same way everything else did: with Stefan Cleveland feeling much better about the afternoon than Seattle wanted.
Hot start: Coming on with only 15 minutes to play was curious, as he brought immediate involvement and a real chance late. His holdup is light years ahead of what Moose gives Seattle.
Cold middle: While he brought new ideas and some better footwork, in the end his was just another attack that went nowhere.
Empty calories: To his credit, ODR at least he tried to order dessert and looked solid in his short minutes. He may be jockeying with Moose for playing time, but as the team heals, neither may be starters.
Hassani Dotson – 5 | Community – 5.2 (on 86’ for Ferreira)
Dotson barely had time to do much besides enter, pick up a yellow card, and help Seattle throw bodies forward. There’s not much to rate here beyond “showed up for the final bit of irritation.”
Hot start: Fresh legs for the final push allowed Seattle to throw bodies forward and search for #BBQTears.
Cold middle: Somehow he earned an immediate booking, had no real influence, and only a single touch.
Empty calories: Hassani was more witness than participant, a microcosm of his season so far.
Peter Kingston – 5 | Community – 5.2 (on 86’ for Kossa-Rienzi)
Kingston arrived with Seattle already in full swarm mode and mostly blended into the collective desperation. Not much time, not much blame, not much actual impact.
Hot start: Paul Kingston was a fresh body in the final wave. Two touches, one accurate pass attempted and completed.
Cold middle: Wasn’t his fault, but he arrived too late to shape anything. He missed his only cross attempt.
Empty calories: An anonymous cameo in an annoying ending.
Referee
Sergii Demianchuk – 7 | Community – 5.9
This was not a horror show, which already qualifies as a decent MLS road refereeing day. Demianchuk booked Seattle twice, Sporting not at all, and mostly stayed out of the spotlight while the Sounders spent 88 minutes arguing with their own finishing and life choices. This ref only needed to call 17 total fouls, and was generally out of the picture as this once testy rivalry was fairly tame. The bigger problem is that Seattle treated a bottom-table opponent like a respectable sparring partner instead of lunch.
Hot start: This ref did not make the match about himself, and that’s great. A 31st minute yellow for obstruction was the right call.
Cold middle: Occasionally this game had that MLS-road-weirdness glaze, such as a drop ball in the 60th after being hit in the middle of play, or a 65th minute no-foul called on a break involving Cristian.
Empty calories: The referee wasn’t the reason Seattle dropped points.
Sporting Kansas City MOTM
A former Sounder and a starting goalkeeper, it was clear that other-Stef was going to dominate opposing MOTM voting. Unfortunately for Seattle, Cleveland also dominated his area, racking up seven saves, relying on his woodwork and his teammates to clear chances off the line as needed. He did especially well to deny Morris from a tight angle in the 47th minute. Similarly, he cleaned up a good KKR effort in the 70th, denying Musovski any scraps. Finally, he cleaned the plate in the 80th as Ferreira looked to curl in a winner.
Coming up: Back home against a San Diego team having a sophomore slump is a good chance to get back on track.
