> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Player Ratings: Sounders Return to MLS With Win vs. Austin FC - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/player-ratings-seattle-sounders-return-mls-win-austin-fc/ - Published: 2025-06-29T20:32:26.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T05:59:06.000Z - Author: Corbin Smith - Tags: Analysis, Sounders, Jesus Ferreira, Danny Musovski [Embed from Getty Images](http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2221928759?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) Even though the Seattle Sounders didn’t travel away from their home city in their three matches in the FIFA Club World Cup, it felt like a return to the comfortable confines of MLS play for Seattle in their win on Saturday night against Austin FC. Here are the player ratings from the 2-0 win at Lumen Field in the return to league play for the Rave Green: ### Stefan Frei - 7 He didn’t have to do much to get yet another shutout, but Frei continues to defy the odds in his age-39 season. His leadership is invaluable to this group in particular and his play between the goalposts has noticeably ticked up in his 12th year in Seattle. At this time last year, it was almost a foregone conclusion that there would be at least some changing of the guard in goal for Seattle, but he has put those concerns to rest as he has returned to being one of the better goalies in MLS. ### Kalani Kossa-Rienzi - 7 A solid performance from the 23-year old Kossa-Rienzi, who was one of the bright spots in the three Club World Cup matches. He seems to be growing with confidence every time he gets handed a spot in the starting 11\. His ability to understand his defensive responsibility while also providing an attacking threat from the outside back position is something lacking in the rest of this roster and he should continue to see lots of playing time if he continues to perform. ### Alex Roldan - 8 Something very surprising to see when Brian Schmetzer released the starting 11, and then was confirmed at kickoff, was the implementation of Alex Roldan as a center defender, a position we have not seen him play at this level. Whether it was by necessity due to injury, or a tactical choice from Schmetzer, it worked very well. With Seattle dominating the majority of possession, having someone of Roldan’s quality in the back line to recycle possession quickly worked wonders in getting continuous opportunities to attack the Austin back line. He showed no blemishes defensively either. ### Jackson Ragen - 7 Normally the ball playing center back that is asked to provide quality in possession, Ragen took a back seat to the aforementioned Alex Roldan and it seemed to simplify the game for him defensively. Without having to worry about showing up in pockets when Seattle was in possession, he could just focus on his defensive role and was ready to react when possession was lost. It will be interesting to see if this is a tactic that Seattle continues to employ moving forward because it seemed to work very well on Saturday. ### Reed Baker-Whiting - 4 In an otherwise very positive showing from Seattle on Saturday, Baker-Whiting and his egregious error late in the match was the one negative. After already receiving a yellow card earlier in the match for a hand ball, the Sounders left back got turned by Austin’s Vazquez at midfield. Even with plenty of defensive support, and a two-goal lead, the 20-year old went to ground with no ability to win the ball and gave the referee no choice but to give him his second yellow. Fortunately for the Sounders, it was late enough in the match that it didn’t come back to bite them, but there is just no reason to make that tackle in that situation. ### Obed Vargas - 7 If you were to show a match to anyone looking for a perfect display of what the Sounders wonderkid brings to the table on any given day, this match would be one of the best examples. No, he didn’t score or assist, and he may not jump off the page when watching the match as a whole, but when you zoom in and focus on all the little things Vargas does that make things tick around him, it becomes much more impressive, especially at the age of 19\. Whether it’s wiggling out of small areas with tidy touches, finding a pass at an angle that no one else sees, or springing his wingers in behind consistently, it’s all the little things that add up and show how special of a player he is. ### Cristian Roldan - 7 Roldan and Vargas possess not just excellent chemistry, but their styles of play complement each other very well. While Obed is always looking to provide an outlet for someone who may be in trouble, Cristian can cover for him defensively, but also finds the perfect moments to make a darting run in attack and overload an opposing defense. The midfield was on full display on Saturday evening, and if it continues to perform at this level, it will be huge for Seattle’s chances to do something special this season. ### Albert Rusnak - 7 We saw on Saturday what makes Rusnak such a good player in MLS. While he doesn’t have the speed to keep up with some of the players he was facing in the Club World Cup, his quality is able to shine against inferior competition in MLS. He is finding ways to pull the strings and it just seems like when the game slows down just a little bit for him, he is able to show his quality. ### Paul Rothrock - 8 Similarly to Rusnak, Rothrock seemed to thrive when the game slows down just a touch from the blistering pace the Sounders had to play at during the Club World Cup. His ability to take on defenders 1-on-1 is something that is incredibly rare in the squad at the moment, and he seems to have grown in his ability to make the most of his opportunities when he is able to beat a defender. His cross for Ferreira’s goal was superb and showcased what he brings to the squad perfectly. ### Jesus Ferreira - 9 THIS is what the Sounders thought they were getting when making the trade for Ferreira in the offseason. He has performed better recently, but the goal production still hasn’t come, and on Saturday, the dam finally broke. His finish for the first goal was excellent, and he did well to make the run to get to that spot, and Rothrock put it on a platter for him. But what was arguably more impressive was his assist for the Musovski goal, as with time and space abundant in midfield after Seattle won back possession, he turned and fed a perfect, line-breaking pass to Musovksi, who did the rest and slotted it home. > Paulie Primetime ➡️ Jesús Ferreira [@Jesusdferreira](https://twitter.com/Jesusdferreira?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) gives us the 1-0 lead! 🙌 [pic.twitter.com/3FXUW1JV5A](https://t.co/3FXUW1JV5A?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) [June 29, 2025](https://twitter.com/SoundersFC/status/1939166118259921110?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) ### Danny Musovksi - 8 After his hot stretch, things were really cooling down for the Sounders forward. And with the imminent return of Jordan Morris, his spot seemed the most likely to be replaced. But Musovksi’s performance on Saturday will at least give Brian Schmetzer something to think about as he was excellent. The goal was extremely well taken, and he looked active in the box throughout the whole match providing a constant threat that has been sorely missing from Seattle attack this season. > 🫎🫎🫎🫎🫎🫎🫎🫎⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️ > > Danny Musovski takes it all the way for our second goal of the night! 👏 [pic.twitter.com/bq16I7ipsA](https://t.co/bq16I7ipsA?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) [June 29, 2025](https://twitter.com/SoundersFC/status/1939171542119915595?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)