FC Dallas succumbs at home as Albert Rusnak nets the solitary goal in Seattle Sounders' victory.
Albert Rusnák experienced a rollercoaster of emotions during an otherwise picturesque afternoon at Lumen Field on Saturday. The midfield maestro, frustrated by FC Dallas' solid defensive performance, finally broke the deadlock late in the game, rewarding Seattle with a hard-fought 1-0 victory and preserving its unbeaten home record (4-0-2).
Rusnák's opportunity to salvage the day came in the 85th minute when he was Awarded a penalty following a controversial handball decision. With a poised and clinical finish, the Slovakian midfielder relieved the frustration that had been building all game. In celebration, he ripped off his jersey and twirled it around, momentarily wiping away the figurative clouds that had loomed overhead.
Following the final whistle, Rusnák enjoyed the sun-drenched stadium, participating in a team photo at the southern goal and taking a leisurely stroll with his two daughters across the pitch. One fortunate fan left the game with a winning keepsake after Rusnák tossed his jersey into the stands, but it was quickly retrieved by defender Alex Roldan, as Rusnák had switched his jersey at halftime. His emotional outburst at not scoring earlier in the match earned him a yellow card for 'poor sportsmanship.'
Rusnák's goal brought his tally to seven in MLS play this season, making him the second player in the league's 30-year history to record 25 goals and 25 assists for two different clubs. The Designated Player began his career with Real Salt Lake (2017-21) before joining the Sounders. Former midfielder Steve Ralston set the mark during his tenure with the defunct Tampa Bay Mutiny and the New England Revolution (1996-2009).
The lone goal was a rare blemish for FC Dallas, who narrowly outshot Seattle 16-15 and matched them with five on-target shots. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei collected his fourth shutout of the season for Seattle.
The Sounders nearly had multiple opportunities to score in the opening half, with forward Jesús Ferreira - formerly of Dallas - squandering three excellent chances against his former team. Rusnák himself missed a golden opportunity in the 68th minute, sending a close-range shot inches wide of the post, and earlier had a shot blocked by Ryan Kent inside the box after a nice feed from Pedro de la Vega.
The only concerning injury for the Sounders came in the 16th minute when center back Yeimar exited with a right hamstring injury. Jon Bell replaced him on the backline. De la Vega started in place of Danny Musovski, with the sole lineup change from the previous week's draw in Portland due to Musovski's hip injury sustained during training.
Seattle will look to build on their home success as they host San Diego on Wednesday in the next leg of their homestand. "Being able to win the series is important, especially at home," Ferreira said of sweeping his former team during regular-season matches. "We're just going to keep going."
Despite the Mariners and Seahawks being two popular sports teams in Seattle, the city was buzzing about a different kind of football on Saturday. Albert Rusnák, a former FC Dallas player, scored a late penalty to give Seattle Sounders a 1-0 win, preserving their unbeaten home record in MLS play. Having struggled to find the net earlier in the game, Rusnák's goal took his tally to seven for the season, making him the second player to record 25 goals and 25 assists for two different clubs in the league's 30-year history. Despite his emotional outburst, Rusnák received a yellow card for poor sportsmanship. With the win, the Seattle Sounders will aim to build on their home success as they host San Diego in their next MLS match.
