02/22/26 10:44:00
Printable Page
02/22 22:39 CST Paul Rothrock sparks Sounders to 2-0 victory over Rapids in
season opener
Paul Rothrock sparks Sounders to 2-0 victory over Rapids in season opener
SEATTLE (AP) --- Paul Rothrock had a goal and an assist after replacing an
injured Jordan Morris early in the first half and the Seattle Sounders beat the
Colorado Rapids 2-0 in a rainy season opener on Sunday night.
Seattle lost Morris to a noncontact injury in the 8th minute and Rothrock had a
hand in staking the Sounders to a 1-0 lead seven minutes later when he hustled
to keep the ball in play, setting up a header by Albert Rusnk for a long nifty
assist.
Hassani Dotson appeared to score three minutes later in his Sounders debut but
had it waived off for a foul after a video review. Dotson signed as a free
agent after seven seasons with Minnesota United.
The Rapids' Noah Cobb had a red card downgraded to yellow after another video
review in the 30th minute to keep the match at even strength.
Dotson took a blow to the head and was replaced by 18-year-old Snyder Brunell
in the 15th of 16 minutes of stoppage time as the 1-0 lead held at halftime.
Brunell made three starts in six appearances last season, scoring two goals.
Colorado had four players tagged with yellow cards in the first half after new
coach Matt Wells said that he wanted the Rapids be more aggressive. Wells
replaced Chris Armas after two seasons when he failed to lead the club to the
playoffs last year after a first-round exit in Armas' first season.
Rothrock used assists from Jess Ferreira and Osaze De Rosario in the 62nd
minute to score an insurance goal. It was his 11th goal in 65 career
appearances.
Andrew Thomas finished with four saves and claimed his fourth clean sheet in
his 26th career start for Seattle in league play. Sounders mainstay Stefan Frei
moves to a backup role this season.
Zack Steffen saved three shots to begin his third season with Colorado.
The Sounders won't play another match at home until April 12 due to stadium
updates ahead of the FIFA World Cup.
Up next
Seattle: At Real Salt Lake on Saturday.
Colorado: Hosts the Portland Timbers on Saturday.
___
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/soccer
|
