Player Ratings: How Did Sounders Perform in 1-0 Win vs. FC Dallas?
Helping secure a much needed win for the Seattle Sounders on the road, the theme of the night for the Rave Green was “professional” as multiple players who needed bounce back efforts delivered after getting blown out last week in San Diego, leading to a 1-0 victory over Dallas FC on Saturday.
Winning their first match since March 8, how did players perform for the Sounders at Toyota Stadium:
Stefan Frei - 7
Frei delivered yet another clean sheet as he chases down Nick Rimando for most in MLS history. The only knock on this performance is that he only had to make one save in the winning effort, but he was called upon to claim a few crosses, and had to be a strong captains presence to keep teammates in check as the game got more heated late.
Yeimar - 8
Saturday night was definitely a bounce back effort for Yeimar after a tough outing in San Diego. He looked much more comfortable in the back 3 with Jackson and Nouhou, and was one of the big factors in frustrating Dallas and their potent attack all night long. His physicality was a major factor in thwarting Dallas and making sure they weren’t able to take advantage of a few decent set pieces. Hopefully this is a performance Yeimar can build off of moving forward.
Jackson Ragen - 6
Ragen did well on Saturday night to deal with the pace of Dallas’ front line. However, that may have been what did in his hamstring as just before halftime, as he had to be taken off and was replaced at the beginning of the second half for Kim Kee-Hee. His status will be one to monitor before next week’s road match in Nashville.
Nouhou - 6
Nouhou was probably Seattle’s best defender on the night, making multiple goal-saving challenges as usual and that definitely was the headline of his performance. But his new role as a center back and not a left back means he has to stay home defensively, and still you would see the patented Nouhou bombing run up the field while Seattle was up 1-0 trying to defend a lead. Not only does this leave the Sounders open at the back, but in order to cover for his absence, it forces the rest of the team to be in positions they are neither comfortable being in, nor effective in. He also got in a heated exchange with a few Dallas players and easily could have been sent off or given a penalty. If he were to add just a little bit of discipline to his game, he would be one of the best defenders in MLS.
Kalani Kossa-Rienzi - 6
The word that comes to mind when it comes to Kalani’s performance tonight is professional. He did what he needed to do defensively and was positionally sound while dealing with a free flowing Dallas attack. He also provided support going forward and while he may not have stuck out in a positive way, he didn’t in a negative way either and helped contribute to a much needed result for Seattle.
Obed Vargas - 7
Obed once again showing his ability to keep possession under pressure is impressive. One of the only complaints about his game at this point in his career his continued lack of contributions on offensive side of the game. He does well in midfield, but struggles to be a creative force when the Sounders need a goal. He seems to have taken those criticisms to heart as he popped up in multiple areas around the box and instead of just moving the play along, would take on more of a direct role offensively. He continues to take enormous strides and is arguably Seattle’s best and most consistent player at this point in time.
Cristian Roldan - 6
Roldan did his job in midfield on Saturday night. We are used to seeing more influential performances from the Sounders #7, but as soon as Seattle went up by a goal, he was a big part of locking the game up throughout the second half. Hopefully he can find his goal scoring and creative touch in the games to come, but this is a starting point for Cristian to begin a stretch of good matches.
Paul Rothrock - 6
In the previous three matches at least, Rothrock has seen his influence drop in comparison to what Sounders fans got used to seeing throughout last season. He took a step back up on Saturday night as he started to look more dangerous on the ball and more confident going forward and getting shots on goal. Hopefully he can build off this performance and start to get on the score sheet as Seattle gets more and more possession in games moving forward.
Jesus Ferreira - 6
Ferreira did his job today, although he still seems to be lacking a connection with his fellow attackers. He is making good runs that seem just out of touch with the rest of the forward group. The change in position to one of the two underneath the striker seems to be working better for him so he can perhaps create a little bit more, and have less pressure on him to be the guy to score goals.
Danny Musovski - 8
Musovski came into the match really needing an easy goal to get his confidence back and he was eventually gifted one of the easiest goals of his career in the 17th minute as Pedro de la Vega’s long distance effort went off the post and he was there to pick up the pieces, slotting it home into the open net for a 1-0 lead. The goal did seem to give him a shot in the arm as he was more effective in other areas of the game as well: hold-up play, linking up with teammates, getting shots off, etc. He also was unlucky to have a second goal called offsides in the second half as it seems like he just might have stayed on, but no review came to overturn the call.
Pedro de la Vega - 7
The Sounders needed de la Vega back healthy after a multi-game absence and he delivered in his first start since injury. His ability to create opportunities out of nothing is something this team desperately missed while he was sidelined. Pedro picked up the ball about 30 yards out, and put an almost perfectly placed left footed shot off the post and Musovski was there to clean it up. It wasn’t just the goal that stood out, as throughout the entire first half he popped up in areas and carried the ball, took on defenders 1-on-1, and took shots as well. This performance showcased the type of influence Seattle needs from him. He would have had a higher score but was replaced at half time due to a minutes restriction coming back from an extended time off.
Danny Leyva - 6
Leyva continued his string of good performances as he continues his development into an everyday player for Seattle. Saturday night in Dallas was a bit of a tick down, but nothing to get concerned about for the 21-year old. He continues to look the part and might prove to eventually be a major part of this team moving forward depending on the availability of other midfield players down the road.
Kim Kee-hee - 6
This was the first action with the Rave Green for Kim since returning over the winter from the K-league. He was called upon somewhat surprisingly over Jon Bell to replace the injured Jackson Ragen, and did well to hold the lead for Seattle throughout the entire second half. He, along with his defensive partners, are the main reason Stefan Frei was asked to do so little to get his shutout, and this match seems to be a recipe for success, at least on the road, moving forward.
Reed Baker-Whiting - 6
Saturday was Baker-Whiting’s second chance to feature this season after a 10 minute cameo last week in the loss to San Diego. He did the job well, helping stable a Sounders side looking to defend a slim lead, showing his pace and physicality on the outside to help out defensively.
Cody Baker - 6
Baker featured as a substitute for Seattle for the first time this season. After being unused through the first eight matches of the season, he was loaned out to Tacoma Defiance to get some game time, proving himself there and coming back up to the first team with the growing injury crisis Brian Schmetzer has had on his hands. In another professional performance from the 21-year old, he came in for Kalani Kossa-Rienzi and held down the fort with Seattle defending the one-goal lead.
Georgi Minoungu - N/A
Georgi only played two minutes plus extra time, so he wasn’t on the field long enough to gain a rating. But did his job in seeing off the game as the Sounders were trying to hold a lead in closing moments.
