Just one month ago, Osaze De Rosario scored his first MLS goal. On Sunday, he tallied the Seattle Sounders’ game winner in the team’s first-ever Leagues Cup championship win over Eastern Conference powerhouse Inter Miami.
“I feel great,” said De Rosario. “It was a great goal to start off the game to push us in the right direction for the win.”
In the 26th minute, the forward redirected defender Alex Roldan’s cross with a driven header toward the far post to give his team the opening lead of the night.
“We put on the pressure, and I think us scoring that early goal really set the tone for [the rest of the match],” said De Rosario.
The forward’s first half dagger marked his fourth of the tournament. Previously scoring goals in the semifinals match vs. LA Galaxy and Phase One matches against Club Tijuana and Cruz Azul, Sunday night’s close range finish was the perfect way to top off his strong showing in the Concacaf-sanctioned competition.
It is a surreal feeling for the 24-year-old, who signed to a team filled with an abundance of offensive talent. To break through into a position group with so much depth is a daunting task, but, with Danny Musovski out due to suspension and Jordan Morris recovering from an injury, the Sounders needed him to step up in one of the most important matches of the year.
He seized the moment, paving the way to the Sounders ninth North American title since the club joined MLS in 2009.
“It was the missing piece of the trophy cabinet,” said De Rosario. “I'm so happy and I'm so glad to be a part of this club [and] to be a part of the win.”
De Rosario is just one of the many Tacoma Defiance alumni who showcased their talents amongst the world’s greats in Sunday’s match, competing against the likes of Lionel Messi, Luis Suárez, Jordi Alba and Rodrigo De Paul.
The success of De Rosario and other former Defiance products in the championship match is a testament to the club’s trust in player development.
“I know you guys wanted some summer signings, but we signed Osaze and Snyder Brunell and Osaze scored against Miami tonight,” midfielder Paul Rothrock said to the media post-match. “Another Tacoma Defiance player, Georgi [Minoungou] comes on, changes the game, draws a PK.”
“I'm from Tacoma Defiance,” Rothrock continues. “This is a group of good human beings who work hard and believe in each other and play for each other and I'm really proud that our method won out tonight.”
Prior to joining the MLS NEXT Pro side, De Rosario was playing in a lower-tier European league when the Sounders began scouting him, according to Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. The club took a chance on him, and since then, his confidence on the pitch has skyrocketed. His performance in Sunday’s match was a prime example of that.
“He comes here and he plays for Defiance, he gets his opportunity, and he's ready for his opportunity, and that's part of the entire organization being structurally sound and intelligent in making good decisions,” said Schmetzer. “I'm very proud that we as an organization can build something from very humble roots.”
