When Víctor Rodríguez rifled home a shot on Saturday, the fourth goal in the Seattle Sounders’ 4-0 rout of the Colorado Rapids, his celebration was subdued. No smile, no change in expression, just his trademark “A” with fingers for his daughter Astrid, to whom he blew a kiss.
The goal was Rodríguez’s second in 15 matches this season, a self-proclaimed difficult campaign for the 29-year-old Spaniard the Sounders acquired last summer. He has been sidelined by injury for half the year and has found some rhythm over the last several matches.
“I needed this game, I needed the result, I needed this goal,” Rodríguez said post-match on Saturday. “I’m not 100 percent, I know I can do a little bit more, but little by little, step by step, I’m working a lot during the week. I’m very happy for today because the team had a great performance, and this is the most important for us.”
Rodríguez was a massive addition toward the end of last year, recording three goals and three assists in 11 total matches to help lead the Sounders back to MLS Cup for the second consecutive year. With Harry Shipp currently sidelined with a right hamstring strain, the Sounders need Rodríguez to continue to perform and flash that creative skill he’s demonstrated on multiple occasions since arriving in Seattle. He’ll have a chance to do just that on Monday, Oct. 8, when the Sounders host the Houston Dynamo (7:30 p.m. PT; JOEtv, YouTube, TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS).
“I needed this goal because it was very important for me, for my daughter, for my family,” he said. “They are my support always, and this goal is for them.”
