MATCH RECAP: Sounders FC Records 2-0 Road Win over St. Louis CITY SC in Regular-Season Finale

ST. LOUIS – Sounders FC (14-9-11, 53 points) defeated St. Louis CITY SC (17-12-5, 56 points) 2-0 Saturday evening in a Decision Day matchup at CITYPARK. Stefan Frei recorded his 14^th shutout of the season – setting a single-season club record and the best mark in MLS for 2023 – as the Rave Green finish the regular season on a nine-match unbeaten run (4-0-5) and now head into postseason play holding second place in the Western Conference.

Albert Rusnák opened the scoring for Sounders FC in the 23^rd minute. Cristian Roldan took the ball into the area, sending in a cross in front of goal to Rusnák, who slotted the ball past St. Louis’ Roman Bürki and into the back of the net. The strike marked the Slovakian international’s fifth goal of the season and Roldan’s third assist.

Seattle doubled its first-half lead courtesy of an own goal. Reed Baker-Whiting took the ball up the left flank, playing give-and-go with Léo Chú before sending in a cross that took a deflection into goal off of St. Louis’ Tim Parker.

On the back of tonight’s result, second-seed Seattle now faces seventh-seed FC Dallas in Round One of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs, a three-match series. As the higher seed, the Rave Green are set to host Match One of the series, with date and timing details forthcoming.

MATCH NOTES

• Following tonight’s win at CITYPARK, Sounders FC finishes the 2023 MLS regular season in second place in the Western Conference. Seattle now faces FC Dallas in Round One of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs. Details for the three-match series will be announced in the coming days.

• Prior to today’s matchup, Seattle and St. Louis only met on one previous occasion, a 3-0 win for the Rave Green on April 8, 2023 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field. Seattle now holds a 2-0-0 record against St. Louis, including a 5-0 goal difference.

• Albert Rusnák’s goal in the 23^rd minute was good for his fifth of the season. The Designated Player has tallied eight goals in all competitions since joining Seattle ahead of the 2022 season.

• With his league-best 14^th clean sheet of 2023, goalkeeper Stefan Frei set a new single-season club record for shutouts in a campaign, passing the previous mark he set in 2017. Frei now has 105 overall shutouts in his career, good for third in MLS history.

• Since Leagues Cup play concluded in late July, Seattle has lost just one match out of nine contests (August 20 vs. Atlanta United). In its last nine games, Sounders FC is unbeaten (4-0-5).

• Since Major League Soccer implemented the Decision Day format in 2015, Sounders FC has never lost the regular-season finale matchup. The Rave Green have amassed a 7-0-2 record in Decision Day play.

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 2 – St. Louis CITY SC 0

Saturday, October 21, 2023

Venue: CITYPARK

Referee: Jair Marrufo

Assistants: Corey Rockwell, Jeffrey Swartzel

Fourth Official: Jon Freemon

VAR: Edvin Jurisevic

Attendance: 22,423

Weather: 68 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Albert Rusnák (Cristian Roldan) 23’

SEA – Own Goal (Tim Parker) 38’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SEA – Yeimar (caution) 18’

SEA – Cristian Roldan (caution) 32’

SEA – Jackson Ragen (caution) 71’

STL – Tim Parker (caution) 75’

SEA – Léo Chú (caution) 80’

SEA – Josh Atencio (caution) 87’

SEA – Nico Lodeiro (caution) 90’+5’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Reed Baker-Whiting (Nouhou 59’); João Paulo (Obed Vargas 80’), Josh Atencio, Cristian Roldan, Albert Rusnák (Xavier Arreaga 87’), Léo Chú (Nico Lodeiro 80’); Jordan Morris

Substitutes not used: Stefan Cleveland, Kelyn Rowe, Raúl Ruidíaz, Héber, Fredy Montero

Total shots: 15

Shots on goal: 5

Fouls: 17

Offside: 1

Corner-Kicks: 7

Saves: 5

St. Louis CITY SC – Roman Buerki; Jake Nerwinski, Joakim Nilsson, Njabulo Blom (Indiana Vassilev 46’), Anthony Markanich (Tomas Ostrák 77’), Akil Watts (Jared Stoud 46’), Tim Parker; Eduard Loewn, Aziel Jackson (Célio Pompeu 88’); Joao Klauss, Nicholas Gioacchini (Sam Adeniran 77’)

Substitutes not used: Ben Lundt, Josh Yaro, Kyle Heibert, Nokkvi Thorisson

Total shots: 16

Shots on goal: 5

Fouls: 8

Offside: 2

Corner-kicks: 7

Saves: 3

- SOUNDERS FC -