In a show of pure firepower, the Seattle Sounders decisively claimed their first win of the season with a 5-0 trouncing of CF Montreal on Saturday. Breaking a possible record for the team's worst start, the Sounders improved their season record to 1-3-2, as detailed by The Seattle Times.
The match's critical moment saw Raul Ruidiaz quickly to capitalize on a free kick in the 20th minute, netting the first goal and setting the tone for the rest of the game. "A moment like Raul’s first goal,” Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer reflected, “Then everybody started going, ‘Oh, yeah, I guess we can score.'" Schmetzer shared with The Seattle Times. The injury-plagued Sounders had to substitute Nouhou early in the game because of a left leg injury, continuing their streak of not repeating a lineup in seven matches.
Ruidiaz didn't stop at one, netting a penalty kick seven minutes later for his fourth tally of the season, putting Seattle up 2-0 heading into halftime, according to KING 5. The Sounders continued to dominate the match, with Jordan Morris and Alex Roldan each adding goals and in stoppage time, Dylan Teves rounded off the scoring spree.
Montreal's uphill battle became steep when Nathan Saliba received a red card in the 53rd minute, forcing the team to play a man down for the remainder of the match. Seattle's goalkeeper Stefan Frei easily secured his first clean sheet of the season, while Montreal’s keeper, Jonathan Sirois, struggled, making six saves despite the lopsided scoreline. The Sounders maintained a vice grip on the match, neutralizing Montreal's Matías Cóccaro, who had previously notched three goals and an assist for his team in the first five matches.
The crushing defeat leaves Montreal with an uninspiring 2-3-1 record as they head into their next match against FC Cincinnati, which will also be their home opener after starting the season with six consecutive road games. Meanwhile, the win injects some much-needed momentum into the Seattle Sounders as they prepare to face FC Dallas on the road, both teams looking to climb their way up the standings in the early part of the MLS season.
