Player Ratings: Seattle Sounders FC Hold On For 1-1 Draw vs Colorado Rapids
Even with Jordan Morris seemingly back to 100 percent health, Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer went with the “stick with what has worked” strategy when picking his starting 11 for Saturdays game in Colorado and made zero changes from the team that beat Nashville earlier this month.
Danny Musovski would reward his manager with a timely goal at the tail end of the first half to give Seattle the lead. But in other areas that Seattle has been able to rely on consistently as of late, they fell short in a performance that was lucky to end in a 1-1 draw against Colorado away from home.
Here is how each individual Sounder fared in the 1-1 draw against the Rapids:
Stefan Frei - 7
Frei only had 3 shots on goal against, and made two of those three saves. There was nothing he could do on the goal against as Mihailovic smartly went underneath the wall and left no chance for the Sounders keeper. But his biggest moment in the match came in the dying moments as he came up with a huge save on a header to keep the game tied, and then a big punch on the ensuing corner kick as the ref blew the final whistle.
Heroics in the net 🦸
A stunning save from @Stefan24Frei to preserve the draw! pic.twitter.com/bRNcDl9qmG— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) April 27, 2025
Nouhou - 7
It was a solid match for the 27-year old defender. So often the best way to evaluate a defender is how much of an impact did their counterpart have. If you look across the way, Cole Bassett did have a good game but in the moments where he was 1-on-1 with Nouhou, the Sounders defender shut him down. In his new role as a center back in a back three, Nouhou finds himself more connected with his other defenders and covering for them as well, so there’s less isolation 1-on-1 and it really is growing his game each day.
Kim Kee-Hee - 6
Kim has filled in admirably for the injured Jackson Ragen the last few games, especially for someone that wasn’t supposed to be a starter after being signed, but Saturday was the first time the Korean defender looked his age. There were multiple occasions where he would get bullied off the ball and unable to deal with the aerial presence of Colorado. The Rapids were a threat every single corner kick and Seattle was lucky to only concede one goal as a result.
Yeimar - 5
Center backs can often rely heavily on partnerships. That is looking like it is the case for Yeimar, because ever since Ragen has gone down, he has not looked himself. Yes, he may have more ground to make up with a less athletic Kee-Hee instead of a younger Ragen in the lineup, and there is something to be said about chemistry as well, but this was the worst performance of the season for Yeimar, who gave the ball up cheaply on multiple occasions, and conceded the foul that led to the Colorado goal.
Kalani Kossa Rienzi - 8
Kalani was Seattle’s best player in the match. At this point, Schmetzer probably wants to put Alex Roldan back into the starting lineup, but he can’t take Kossa Rienzi off the field. He did really well in picking his moments to get forward and got in behind Colorado’s defense multiple times, eventually taking a great through ball pass from Jesus Ferreira and feeding it to Danny Musovski, who had a tap in to give the Sounders the lead going into half time. He also did excellent in his defensive work and in possession throughout the game.
Paul Rothrock - 6
After the Nashville game, it seemed like the breakout player of 2024 was finally making a similar impact in 2025. But Saturday was unfortunately another game in which the commentators weren’t calling his name enough. As we revisit which players might be well suited for the 3-4-3, and which ones seem uncomfortable with it, Rothrock would be someone that should fall into the latter category. A wing back role just doesn’t suit his strengths very well and while there are moments where he is able to capitalize on the positions he’s in, those are few and far between.
Obed Vargas - 6
A rare down game from Seattle’s 19 year-old phenom. Vargas actually had the fewest touches of any player on either team to play the full 90 minutes, which is definitely not by design. The Sounders are a better team when Vargas is involved in buildup play and chance creation and on Saturday, it was neither.
Cristian Roldan - 7
On the flip side, it was great to see Roldan get more involved in the game once again. He did his job helping to protect the middle of the field and doing what he can to get Seattle a few chances going the other way, but for the most part, his main job was on the defensive side of the ball. Most of the chances Colorado was able to generate were either down the outside or via set pieces. Roldan also is starting to get more involved in possession, which can partly explain the subsequent less involvement from Vargas.
Pedro de la Vega - 7
More often than not, the Sounders #No. 10 is the type of player to make risky passes, try and get his teammates involved and be the spark plug for creating chances in the Sounders attack. This was not the case on Saturday night, but it was still a tidy performance from the Argentine. He kept possession well, didn’t try to force something that wasn’t there, and connected the midfield well with the attack. This is an important development in de la Vega’s game because far too often we would see him almost desperate to imprint the game that it wouldn’t come to him. Can he be more involved? Absolutely, but the maturity to just do your job when it isn’t falling for you is a welcomed sight.
Jesus Ferreira - 6
Ferreira has been a major talking point in the early season amongst Sounders fans, with most expecting more than what he has given at this point in the season. Saturday was a microcosm of what he has and hasn’t done in his early Sounders tenure: he created the Sounders goal by picking up the ball in midfield and playing a perfect pass splitting the Colorado defense to find Kalani Kossa Rienzi in behind, who then played it to Danny Musovski and he tapped it in for the 1-0 lead. But then, later in the match, after Colorado had tied it back up, Ferreira found the ball at the penalty spot with time and space and fluffed his lines, missing the chance to take the lead and score his first Sounders goal. He does the little things well in attack, defends well, connects with his teammates, and drops deep to receive the ball when an option is needed, but he just can’t seem to find the finishing touch.
Danny Musovski - 6
Scoring in your third straight game as a striker is about all you can ask for from your No. 9, and Musovski was able to just that. Other than the goal, however, Musovski struggled, so with almost the inverse of Ferreira, they get the same score. He isn’t winning duels, he is unable to match the physicality of bigger defenders, and his hold up play has regressed in the past couple games. But, this game is about goals and results, so all that gets overlooked when you score in three straight games, and his goalscoring instincts are improving steadily.
THE MOOSE IS (ONCE AGAIN) LOOSE.
Danny Musovski gives us the 1-0 lead just before half! 👏 pic.twitter.com/7Xyu7v7vak— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) April 27, 2025
Jordan Morris - 5
This is a tough one to take. After working his way back from a hamstring injury, it was great to see Morris make his return in the second half, but it would be short lived. He would exit in the 90th minute looking to have suffered yet another hamstring injury. Big questions will be asked on whether he was rushed back perhaps too early, but the Sounders need Morris back and healthy if they are to have a successful season.
Alex Roldan - 6
Subbed in at the 55 minute mark, Roldan surprisingly offered less than the man he was replacing in Kalani Kossa Rienzi. Schmetzer has an interesting call moving forward on who to start in that position. Either way, there is no doubt the Sounders need the best version of Alex Roldan if they are to make this 3-4-3 work.
Albert Rusnak - 6
Fortunately for Seattle, Rusnak made his return from injury without any issues. There was a rust factor for the player compared to the normal quality we are used to seeing with him lacking his usual touch. But all things considered, it was a successful return and hopefully Seattle can ramp up his minutes in the next few matches.
