> ## 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 Squander 3-Goal Lead, Penalties Lead to Unfortunate Home Draw - URL: https://www.emeraldcityspectrum.com/seattle-sounders-squander-lead-penalties-home-draw-colorado-rapids/ - Published: 2025-07-17T06:47:41.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-08T06:19:15.000Z - Author: Qasim Ali - Tags: News, Sounders, Albert Rusnak, Obed Vargas, Cristian Roldan \[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="1423"\] ![ Seattle Sounders players huddle together after a goal during a match with the Colorado Rapids on July 15, 2025 at Lumen Field. (Courtesy of Mike Fiechtner / Sounders FC) ](https://storage.ghost.io/c/1d/f2/1df2f77b-83dd-4bc0-a6d2-6d1bb5df89a3/content/images/2026/10/54659160137_10a151a81a_k-format-original-1.jpg) Seattle Sounders players huddle together after a goal during a match with the Colorado Rapids on July 15, 2025 at Lumen Field. (Courtesy of Mike Fiechtner / Sounders FC) \[/caption\] Well, that couldn’t have gone much worse. The Seattle Sounders, fresh off a 3-2 win over Sporting Kansas City on Saturday in which they allowed two penalties and almost blew a 3-0 lead, decided to actually let 3-0 lead slip away this time in a 3-3 draw with the Colorado Rapids on Wednesday night. Seattle (9-7-6, 34 points, fifth in Western Conference) scored all of its goals in the first half while the Rapids scored off two early second-half penalties and a 75th-minute equalizer from Darren Yapi to split the points. Recently selected All-Star midfielder Obed Vargas opened scoring on a shot from in close that bounced off a Colorado defender and top goal-scorer Albert Rusnák certainly earned his keep, putting together a brace with an assist to put his fingertips all over a strong Seattle first-half attack. The Sounders defense dealt with a first half in which the Rapids controlled just over 50 percent of the possession quite well, as keeper Andrew Thomas notched a few last-second saves to keep an early clean sheet. That wouldn’t last as the game wore on, however. ### Soft Penalties Continue After a Rusnák shot to make it 3-0, Cristian Roldan attempted to position himself under a skied ball from Kim Kee-Hee within the penalty area. Instead of stopping the ball, Roldan knocked over Rafael Navarro, who he didn’t seem to notice contesting the ball from his right periphery, to give the Rapids a 50th-minute penalty. Djordje Mihailovic powered it in to get Colorado on the board. On another promising chance for Colorado just two minutes later, Thomas barely mistimed a dive for the ball on the left side of the box and conceded another penalty on a low tackle. Cole Bassett knocked this one through as well, as the Sounders are now tied for the league lead in penalties conceded at seven, six of which have come in the last six games. Their opponents have scored on all seven tries. “We give the other team momentum by our mistakes,” Roldan said. “Penalties change games … it’s something that we need to correct, we need to engage higher up the field.” Considering the nature of Seattle’s last outing against KC, Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer wasn’t too thrilled at the way his team handled the exact same situation, though he defended his youthful goalie. “Two games in a row. Cristian \[Roldan\] doesn’t see the guy coming. Kim Kee-Hee needs to get a better clearance, so that’s one,” Schmetzer said. “Andrew \[Thomas\] is a young goalkeeper; he needs to stay on his line. The guy’s not gonna score on him from there. … He’s gonna learn from that moment, he’s gonna be fine.” ### Keeping the Pace Speaking after the draw concluded, Roldan and Runsák both agreed the Sounders have struggled to stay aggressive through games. Showing signs of fading in the last two contests is no coincidence for Seattle, which, as Roldan put it, “would like a week of rest like the rest of the league,” following its 0-0-3 bid at the FIFA Club World Cup. “It’s not like we’re playing horribly. You look at our first halves and we look sharp. We look fresh at times,” Roldan said. “It’s like the game’s almost too easy when we start. Man, we probably started the last two games the best that we’ve started games all year,” Runsák added. “It almost feels like a loss today.” With star defender Yeimar Gomez returning from a hamstring injury to play the first half, the Sounders are getting healthier. But the wear on this team from the sheer number of games it’s played is showing, especially in the second half of games against opponents that are better rested. ### No Love Lost with Refs Apparently not worried about drawing a fine, Schmetzer had plenty to say about the officiating in the post game press conference, clicking his pen quickly as questions poured in about a late exchange with the referees regarding a late yellow card on defender Jackson Ragen. Ragen was upset about a stoppage made by referee Lorenzo Hernandez as Mihailovic writhed around on the field on the field in the 83rd minute following a tackle from Kee-Hee. Hernandez awarded Colorado advantage on that play and Kee-Hee was shown a yellow as well. Mihailovic would get up soon after the whistle was blown. “\[Hernandez\] shouldn’t have stopped the game, everybody knew the guy wasn’t injured. He should’ve waited to give Kim Kee-Hee the yellow card after the ball was out of play,” Schmetzer said, with a faster and louder cadence than usual. Nine yellow cards were shown, four of which were to the Rave Green side, on a busy night in which the “Ref, you suck” chants were in no short supply at Lumen Field. ### Next up The Sounders won’t have to wait long for a chance to put this one behind them and try to get back in the win column. Seattle will take on the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday at 5:30 PM at Lumen Field.