The Seattle Sounders defeated New York City FC 2-1 on MLS Decision Day on Saturday evening at Citi Field in Queens, N.Y. Jordan Morris and Jackson Ragen scored for Seattle while Nicolás Fernández tallied for the hosts.
After a chess match of an opening 20 minutes, the Sounders were dealt a blow when Pedro de la Vega was carted off the pitch with an injury following a challenge with Tayvon Gray.
The Sounders thought they had won a penalty in the 25th minute when Morris appeared to have been taken down in the box on a tackle by Thiago Martins, but after initially pointing to the spot, referee Chris Penso went to Video Review and called it off.
Stefan Frei was called upon for the first time in the first minute of first-half stoppage time and came up with a massive one-handed save on a strike from Justin Haak from the top of the box. Haak pinged a shot off a deflection that was headed to the near corner, but Frei stuck out a big left hand to keep the score level.
The Sounders had a solid opportunity in the 58th minute when Kalani Kossi-Rienzi took a first-time effort from the right side of the box that forced goalkeeper Matt Freese into a difficult save.
Seattle found the breakthrough in the 61st minute off a set piece delivery from Albert Rusnák. The Slovakian whipped in a beautiful cross to the six-yard box for Morris, who timed his jump well to redirect the ball past a diving Freese.
New York City had a few half-chances in quick succession in the 67th to 69th minutes on shots from distance that were right at Frei.
Jesús Ferreira was played in behind in the 70th minute after a beautiful through ball from Rusnák, but Ferreira’s shot from the right side of the box was hit low right at Freese.
In the 76th minute, Alonso MartÃnez took a cross down in the box and turned to fire a shot, but his effort was denied by a key block from Ragen.
NYCFC equalized in the 82nd minute after a Sounders turnover in midfield led to an NYCFC counterattack. The ball ultimately fell to the feet of Fernández, whose shot was deflected by Nouhou and redirected past Frei.
The Sounders needed just five minutes to regain their lead when Danny Leyva crossed in an excellent corner kick, and the hulking center back Ragen rose for an uncontested header that he sent to the far post.
The Sounders, who were playing in the only interconference matchup on Decision Day, end their regular season fifth in the Western Conference with 55 points from 34 matches (15-9-10).
Morris back on the score sheet
Morris recorded his first goal since July 12 and first in seven matches since returning from injury on Sept. 13. The Sounders’ all-time leading goalscorer has five tallies and two assists in fewer than 800 minutes this season.
Playing again at center back alongside Ragen rather than in his normal right fullback role, Alex Roldan was brilliant in defense. He exited in the 55th minute for Jon Bell having kept NYCFC off the score sheet and bereft of any real goalscoring threats. Roldan’s counterpart Ragen then found the crucial match-winner in the 87th minute.
Following the Sounders Decision Day win, the team will now shift their focus to postseason. While the team is locked in at the No. 5 spot in the Western Conference, their first round opponent (No. 4 seed) will not be determined until after tonight’s remaining matches. The Rave Green have the potential to face LAFC, San Diego FC, or Minnesota United.