Raul Ruidiaz scores again as Seattle Sounders top FC Dallas

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:05 am

Raul Ruidiaz scored his Major League Soccer-leading 14th goal of the season just 20 seconds after coming on as a substitute as the Seattle Sounders defeated FC Dallas 1-0 *on Wednesday night in Frisco, Texas.

The Sounders (11-3-6, 39 points) snapped a 10-match losing streak (0-7-3) at Dallas dating to 2014.

Seattle goalkeeper Spencer Richey made two saves to post his second shutout in as many starts this season.

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Dallas (5-9-6, 21 points) lost consecutive home matches for the first time since 2013 after dropping a 2-0 decision to Sporting Kansas City last weekend.

With three road matches in a seven-day stretch, starting with a 6-2 victory at rival Portland on Sunday and culminating with an MLS Cup rematch at Columbus on Saturday, Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer, celebrating his 59th birthday, elected to rest more than half of his regular starters.

That included Ruidiaz, captain Nicolas Lodeiro and All-Stars Joao Paulo, Yeimar Gomez Andrade and Alex Roldan.

Ruidiaz and Lodeiro came off the bench in the 62nd minute and made an immediate impact. Lodeiro drove the ball toward the top left of the 18-yard box before finding Ruidiaz with a pass. Ruidiaz's initial left-footed atrempt was blocked by Dallas' Nkosi Tafari, but the ball fell right back to Ruidiaz, whose 12-yard shot caromed off the crossbar and right post before settling in the back of the net.

Will Bruin appeared to give the Sounders the lead in the 52nd minute, but the goal was waved off because of an offside call that was corroborated by video review.

Richey made the lone save of the opening half, on a shot from just outside the penalty area from Dallas' Jesus Ferreira. The rebound spun toward the center of the goalmouth, but defender Shane O'Neill was there to clear the ball.

Seattle's best chance of the half came in the final minute, as Nicolas Benezet's cross from the left wing was headed just high and wide of the top left corner of the goal by Kelyn Rowe from the top of the 6-yard box.