Nicolas Lodeiro hit the ground running in his Major League Soccer debut in late July, and it didn’t take him long after to notch his first MLS goal.
At home on Aug. 14, the newly signed Uruguayan Designated Player one-timed a well-placed pass from Andreas Ivanschitz past Real Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando from 12 yards out. Lodeiro would then assist on the would-be game-winner just 13 minutes later when he picked out Jordan Morris’ near-post run.
The goal would be the first of four regular-season tallies to go along with eight assists in 14 games. Through three postseason games, Lodeiro has now scored three times, which is tied for the most in Sounders’ playoff history.
His finish against RSL may not have been his most impressive — that one belongs to his free-kick effort against FC Dallas in the penultimate match of the regular season — but it kickstarted a fantastic arrival that has Lodeiro in the running for MLS Newcomer of the Year.
Lodeiro will look to add to his 2016 output when the Sounders host the Colorado Rapids in the first leg of the Western Conference Championship on Tuesday, Nov. 22 (7 p.m. PT; FS1, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360AM).
