If Osaze De Rosario’s goal celebration on Thursday night looked a little familiar, it’s because one would have seen it over 100 times across 13 years in MLS from 2001-14. The iconic “Shake and Bake” dance, consisting of shimmying while strutting, was made famous by MLS legend Dwayne De Rosario, Osaze’s father.
When DeRo The Younger scored the Sounders’ fourth goal in an eventual 7-0 shellacking of Cruz Azul in their Leagues Cup opener, he busted out a tribute fit for an MLS great.
“[That was] the original celebration my dad created,” said De Rosario. “That was one situation where I wanted to show the fans that the new De Rosario is in town.”
Goalscoring runs deep in De Rosario’s blood, and he’s continuing his father’s legacy with his first two Sounders First Team goals in back-to-back matches after signing from Tacoma Defiance earlier this year. The 24-year-old Guyana international headed in a go-ahead stoppage time goal against Atlanta United last weekend before finishing off a Ryan Kent cross on Thursday to thoroughly put away Cruz Azul.
De Rosario has been making instant impacts as well. He scored just six minutes into his appearance against Atlanta and needed just four minutes to get on the score sheet against the reigning Concacaf Champions Cup winners.
“This is what I came here to do,” said De Rosario. “The first to react is the one to get the outcome. It’s very important to be the first to react, to read the play and make the right move.
“Just being around the net is key,” he continued. “Coach always tells me to be in ‘my office,’ which is in the box. The more I do that, the more I receive the ball and do what I do, which is score.”
With Jordan Morris sidelined with a shoulder injury, De Rosario has been taking advantage of the chance at more valuable playing time. A true poacher No. 9, he’s giving Head Coach Brian Schmetzer some good problems to think about moving forward.
“Osaze [came] on and [is] making the most of his opportunities,” said Schmetzer.
De Rosario and the Sounders will get another strong test on Sunday when they host Santos Laguna (7:30 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV | TICKETS) in their second of three Leagues Cup Phase One contests before welcoming Club Tijuana to Lumen Field next Wednesday (8 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV | TICKETS). The games are coming thick and fast, but with the form that Seattle is in — the club is unbeaten in its last seven contests (4-0-3) and has scored 21 goals — the more eager the players are to get back on the pitch.
“[The environment in the locker room] is very, very good,” said De Rosario. “Everybody’s happy. We understand that we have another game coming up, so there’s also that in the back of our heads. But of course, a 7-0 win is very good to any team and we’re proud of it.”
