The Seattle Sounders defeated the Houston Dynamo 5-4 on penalties after a scoreless draw in regulation in Game One of their Best-Of-3 Round One series at Lumen Field on Monday. Raúl RuidÃaz, Albert Rusnák, Jackson Ragen, Cristian Roldan and Alex Roldan all scored for Seattle from the spot, while Erik Sviatchenko was the only miss for the Dynamo in the fourth round.
The Sounders forced goalkeeper Steve Clark into a massive save in the sixth minute to keep a Cristian Roldan effort from finding the top corner.
The Sounders and Dynamo traded half-chances throughout a cagey first half as the two teams felt each other out.
Seattle nearly took the lead in the 56th minute when Yeimar’s shot from 12 yards out was deflected off the back of Hector Herrera and out for a corner.
The match was turned on its head in the 66th minute when Dynamo central midfielder Coco Carrasquilla was sent off after Video Review. Referee Ted Unkel initially cautioned Carrasquilla before going to VAR and upgrading the offense to an ejection.
Nouhou unleased a rocket of a shot heading toward the far post in the 77th minute, but it was cleared away off the head of Micael.
Unkel awarded the Sounders a penalty in the ninth minute of stoppage time when Cristian Roldan’s header hit the arm of Micael, but Unkel waved off the penalty after Video Review.
The Sounders will head to Houston, Texas, on Sunday for Game Two of this Best-Of-3 Round One series (3:30 p.m. PT). Last year, all eight winners of Match One in Round One advanced to the next round.
THREE TAKEAWAYS
Defensive clamps
The Sounders boasted the best defensive record in the league this season, conceding just 35 times in 34 matches. Seattle not only kept Houston off the score sheet on Monday, but it did not allow a single shot on target.
Minoungou shines off the bench
Georgi Minoungou entered as a substitute five minutes into the second half and was instrumental in unbalancing the left side of Houston’s defense. The MLS rookie drew several fouls as well to set up Rusnák with ample opportunities from set pieces.
Carrasquilla to miss second match
The Dynamo will rue the loss of Carrasquilla on Sunday in the second match of this first-round series as he will serve his suspension. The Panamanian was recently named the Concacaf men’s player of the year and is a catalyst in Head Coach Ben Olsen’s midfield.
