RENTON — The moment was too perfect. Raúl Ruidíaz paced the edge of Lumen Field’s southern penalty box cradling a soccer ball on his hip with approximately 30,000 fans chanting his name Monday. VAR was reviewing referee Ted Unkel’s call to award the Sounders a penalty in the 99 th minute for a handball against Houston defender Micael.
After being relegated to the bench in June, could this be Ruidíaz’s encore? A playoff match-winner for Seattle’s all-time leading scorer? No. Unkel reversed the call and Game 1 of the best-of-three opening round against the Dynamo was decided in a penalty shootout after a goalless draw. Ruidíaz, who entered the match as a second-half injury substitute, humbled Houston keeper Steve Clark with an opening score and defender Alex Roldan had the game-winner for the fourth-seeded Sounders.
Ruidíaz will have his chance again in Game 2. The series moved to Shell Energy Stadium in Houston where the Sounders (1-0) can sweep the fifth-seeded Dynamo (0-1) with a win Sunday. The Peruvian star is expected to replace Jordan Morris in the starting lineup due to Morris suffering hamstring tightness in Game 1 last week.
Morris was subbed off in the 52 nd minute and hasn’t trained, but an MRI showed “no significant injury,” according to Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer. “Being able to bring Raúl off the bench is a luxury,” Sounders midfielder Obed Vargas said. Sunday will be Ruidíaz’s first start since a 2-1 road loss against Spor.
