Thomas made nine saves and Roldan delivered the decisive blow in the 90th minute as the Seattle Sounders came from behind to beat Sporting Kansas City 2-1 at Lumen Field on Thursday night. Andre Luiz gave the visitors a 1-0 lead with a goal just before halftime, but second-half substitute Gomez equalized six minutes after the restart before Roldan sealed it late. Seattle moves to 38 points and sits seventh in the Western Conference, while Sporting KC remain deep in the bottom half at 21 points.
Key Moments
- 44′, Andre Luiz gives Sporting KC the lead just before the break, finishing a move set up by Afrifa to make it 1-0 to the visitors.
- 45′, Seattle make an immediate tactical change: Musovski is withdrawn at halftime and Gomez enters for the second half.
- 51′, Gomez levels it at 1-1, converting an assist from Morris just six minutes after coming on to equalize the match.
- 61′, Tolo picks up a yellow card for a foul, a minor blemish on an otherwise solid Seattle defensive showing.
- 76′, Sporting KC make three substitutions simultaneously, withdrawing Andre Luiz, Afrifa, and Harris in a bid to change momentum.
- 90′, Roldan fires home with no assist to complete the turnaround and give Seattle the 2-1 win, according to bozemandailychronicle.com.
Tactical Breakdown
Seattle controlled the game in terms of possession (58%) and territory, generating 21 total shots to Sporting’s 22, though the home side’s 7 shots on target versus 11 for the visitors shows the match was far from straightforward. Thomas was essential throughout, making nine saves to keep Seattle alive when Sporting looked dangerous on the counter from their 4-4-2.
Brian Schmetzer’s decision to pull Musovski at halftime proved to be the pivotal call of the evening. Gomez entered and scored within six minutes, finishing a Morris assist to flip the scoreline’s momentum entirely. Seattle’s 4-2-3-1 gradually asserted itself with Roldan driving from midfield, and the Sounders won 11 corners to Sporting’s six as they pushed relentlessly for a winner in the final stages.
For Raphael Wicky’s side, Andre Luiz and Afrifa provided the brightest moments in the first half, but the triple substitution at the 76th minute disrupted Sporting’s rhythm at a point when they were still level. The visitors had 22 total shots, including 11 on goal, yet could not protect their lead after the break, and the late winner from Roldan exposed vulnerabilities at the back as the home side pressed.
Player Ratings
Match Context
Standings
Head To Head
Verdict
The win moves Seattle to 38 points, keeping them seventh in the Western Conference and within the playoff positions. Sporting Kansas City, now at 21 points and 15th, remain well off the playoff pace. For the Sounders, back-to-back wins show momentum building at a point in the season where home results matter.