> ## 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. # Sounders Draw with Struggling Kansas City Despite Wealth of Chances - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-sounders-draw-sporting-kansas-city-wealth-of-chances/ - Published: 2026-05-03T19:54:50.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:14:54.000Z - Author: Qasim Ali - Tags: News, Analysis, Sounders, Paul Rothrock, Brian Schmetzer, Jesus Ferreira The Seattle Sounders went into their Saturday matchup at Sporting Kansas City in great form. Seattle was 6-1-1, in the thick of the Supporters Shield race, going to play the bottom-ranked team in the Western Conference, fresh off six straight losses at 1-7-1. After Paul Rothrock scored his team-leading sixth goal in all competitions just two minutes in, it looked like the Sounders were about to repeat the 5-0 drubbing the Chicago Fire had subjected Kansas City to the week before. But 16 minutes later, USMNT hopeful and Sounders legend Cristian Roldan made a lackadaisical pass deep in Seattle territory to let KC striker Dejan Joveljic strike a first-time shot past Andrew Thomas for what was the final goal of the game. Yes. Seattle had scored just two minutes into the game on a fortuitous bounce forced by Jesús Ferreira to find a waiting Paul Rothrock in close, only to be held scoreless for the remainder despite 26 shots and three expected goals generated. Gaining a point on the road to move to 6-1-2 (fourth in Western Conference) isn't the worst thing in the world, but a frustrated cast of Sounders knew they missed a chance postgame. "I think we feel as a group like we've lost two (points)," Rothrock said. "Our standard and what we hold ourselves to, we feel like we lost two points… we had the chances to win the game today and we didn't." ### The Mistake After Rothrock's goal, which was set up by a long ball from Alex Roldan that was deflected into Rothrock's path on the far post, Seattle played for the ever-important second goal. Ferreira worked his way for a solid shot in the 13th that just floated to hit the crossbar as former Sounders keeper Stefan Cleveland grabbed the rebound for KC. In the 18th, the Sounders worked the ball around in their third to find a gap in Sporting's line. Nouhou delivered a pass to Cristian Roldan about 30 yards from Seattle's goal as the KC press came down on the veteran quickly. With Jovelijic sprinting on Roldan's left side, he delivered a slow-rolling pass back to Thomas in goal. That would have sufficed if it hadn't been perfectly placed for Joveljic to hit it in stride for an unthinkable goal. > Who else but Dejan Joveljic for [@SportingKC](https://twitter.com/SportingKC?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)! > > We're level in Kansas City! [pic.twitter.com/qbd1yINS4d](https://t.co/qbd1yINS4d?ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com)— Major League Soccer (@MLS) [May 2, 2026](https://twitter.com/MLS/status/2050652209721831858?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=emeraldcityspectrum.com) "He didn't see him," Sounders skipper Brian Schmetzer said of Roldan's gift to Joveljic. "Vision is the key. You cannot make a good decision unless you see the entire field… Cristian knows better; I'm holding him accountable. He's holding himself accountable in front of his teammates." The moment was stunning for a player trying to put in good shifts in hopes of being selected to represent the U.S. at next month’s World Cup. Watching a man who just notched his 400th appearance with the team have a moment like that was enough to deflate the Sounders, at least somewhat, according to Rothrock. "I think that's a learning lesson for us moving forward," Rothrock said. "We've got to respond better in that moment. Obviously, it's a bit of a fluke play… how we responded to conceding was not up to our standard." ### The Chances To say Seattle didn't try to win this game or resigned itself completely in the face of the mistake of the season would be inaccurate. The Sounders defense leveraged another shutout if you don't include a practically indefensible moment, as that unit has still allowed a league-best five goals in nine games. But on the other side was a KC squad that has allowed the third-most goals in MLS, with 26 in 10 games. Long story short, being tied 1-1 early on was never a death knell for Seattle. The Sounders played like a team that knew that, as Roldan sprinted far post on a 29th-minute corner from Ferreira that bounced over the net as he managed to go unmarked. Seattle made winning headers in KC's box a norm as the game progressed. Jordan Morris won one in his right wing spot to force a Cleveland save at one point while Osaze De Rosario subbed on late to hit a header right at the keeper in the 82nd. By the game's end, Cleveland made seven saves, keeping Morris out of the net in the 47th by coming out to meet him on the right side. In the 52nd, Washington native and KC defender Ethan Barlow had to clear a Kalani Kossa-Rienzi header off the line, while Cleveland had to go to ground seconds later to keep a Rothrock shot off the rebound out. Rothrock buried his face in his hands as the chances piled up quickly. Another Ferreira corner found Cristian Roldan far post in the 53rd, but his header just barely sailed. In the 70th, Kossa-Riezi stepped in front of a clearance and launched a missile from 15 yards out to force Cleveland to the ground again. Cleveland flexed his muscles in the 81st, as Ferreira delivered a curling shot to the left side of the net. The former Sounder went full dive to keep it out, shouting at his teammates to "keep going" as they could sniff their first result in weeks. Thomas had to make a save with his right hand in the 85th to preserve the 1-1 draw as the Sounders were left wondering how they split the points on a sunny day in Missouri. ### A "Dropped Two Points" "I didn't kill them in the locker room after the game; I just stated the facts. The facts are that we dropped two points because of what we did. Not the referee, not the opposition," Schmetzer said. Last week, the Sounders hit their xG mark in a [2-1 win over FC Dallas](https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/home/seattle-sounders-outlast-fc-dallas-jordan-morris-scoring-prowess), but had a blocked penalty and a few chances that went beyond statistics that they should have converted. This week, the Sounders put nine of their 27 shots on target for 3.0 xG, possessed the ball for 63% of the game, managed nine corners and 13 crosses (per MLS stats), all while touching the ball 46 times in KC's box (per Fotmob). There were certainly moments of brilliance that warranted goals, like Ferreira's curling strike, or truly any of the Cristian Roldan set-piece headers that would have redeemed his early mistake that Seattle spent the day recovering from. At one point, it felt as though Seattle was generating three real chances to score for every true KC look at goal, and it made for a frustrating brand of soccer to watch. Ferreira generated chance after chance, making another start at the center attacking midfielder spot, and was easily the most dynamic player on the field. But one better header from Cristian Roldan or one wider strike in close from Morris would've made the difference. It isn't the worst-case scenario, as the Sounders could have given up and, even worse, conceded another goal to lose in the run of play, but it's disappointing all the same. As the Sounders continue to build their identity as a dangerous squad on either end, the venom in the final third has been lacking in these past two games for four points. ### Up Next The Sounders will return to Lumen Field for a three-game homestand before the FIFA World Cup break in June. That run will start against 11th-place San Diego on Saturday before Seattle plays the 9-1-1 San Jose Earthquakes, who lead the Western Conference, the following Wednesday. San Jose's sole loss of the season came to Seattle in March, as the Quakes will be looking to make [that 1-0 loss](https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/home/seattle-sounders-heavily-rotated-shut-down-san-jose) look like a fluke as both teams vie for Supporters’ Shield standing. After a home date with the LA Galaxy, Seattle will head to California on May 24 to take on international star Heung-Min Son and third-place LAFC to close this stretch of the season.