After more than 100 days without any sort of positive result, the Seattle Sounders were more than due for a little bit of relief.
It ended up coming in multiple ways on Saturday. First, there was a report that the Sounders are close to finalizing a deal to bring in Sporting KC striker Dejan Jovelić on a $6 million “cash-for-player trade.” The Sounders then did their part on the field, grabbing a late goal to secure a come-from-behind point against FC Cincinnati.
Even without an actual on-the-dotted-line signing or three points, it all felt like a massive step forward.
"There were a lot of proud and happy faces in the locker room today," Sounders captain Paul Rothrock said. "That’s a big result. Hugely rotated lineup, backs against the wall. I’m really proud of the team. I think a lot of the guys have a lot to be proud of.
"We’ve been talking about something to build on and there were several things to build off of. Now we have to stack another one."
Part of what made it all so satisfying was how all of this positivity seemed to come as a complete surprise.
The Jovelić report, for instance, seemed to come out of nowhere. The Sounders have not spent any real money on a transfer fee in more than two years and hadn’t even made a notable summer signing since 2021. Jovelić would emphatically tick both boxes. At a reported fee of $6 million and a salary of more than $3 million, Jovelić would instantly become one of the Sounders’ most expensive-ever acquisitions. He’d also arrive with an impeccable resume that includes more than 100 professional goals and a proven track record in MLS, at just 27 years old.
For now, that's all theoretical.
"Until it’s official, it’s still a rumor," Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer cautioned. "Joveljić is a very talented player. He would fit well with our squad. Until anything is official, though, I can’t comment. I told you everyone is working on stuff. I’ll wait until we get confirmation to make a statement."
The performance against FC Cincinnati was far more tangible.
FCC came into the match as the league's top-scoring team and had only dropped seven points in their previous 10 home games. In addition to having lost eight straight, the already short-handed Sounders also made nine changes to their starting lineup. On paper, the Sounders were as big of underdogs as they’ve been all year.
It ended up not really mattering. Even with the heavily rotated lineup that featured nine players who came through Tacoma Defiance, the Sounders kept it close in the first half mostly on the strength of a standout performance from goalkeeper Andrew Thomas. The only goal they allowed came after a double-save by Thomas and another goal-line clearance by Paul Rothrock, only for Evander to blast it home on the fourth attempt.
The Sounders started to turn the tides around the 60th minute when some of their normal starters entered the game. The biggest moment came in the 83rd minute, starting when Nouhou made a desperation tackle as FC Cincinnati looked to be getting out on a counter. Instead, the Sounders pushed it back into the attack with Kalani Kossa-Rienzi spraying it wide to Albert Rusnák, who took a couple dribbles into the box before crossing it to the penalty spot. That's where Kossa-Rienzi arrived a struck his shot off a half-volley, beating Roman Celentano for the equalizer.
"It’s huge," Kossa-Rienzi said. "When you hit rock bottom, the only way to go is up, but you have to make the first step. This was a great first step.
"On that play, when you break that first line they are a little lazy to get back. That applies to all over the field. When Nouhou made that tackle, I knew a guy would be behind me. They were lazy to get back. Albert was wide open. He’s always looking for that cutback. He put it on a platter."
A point is just a point, but for a team as desperate for momentum as the Sounders have been, it felt like so much more.
"In these moments and these difficult stretches, all you can do is focus on good behaviors and good reactions and believe that a good moment is right around the corner," Rothrock said. "I think we put ourselves in a good position. I’m proud of a lot of people.
"We looked like the Sounders again tonight."
