Late Goal from Rothrock Secures Three Points in Houston for Sounders FC

May 13, 2023 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Seattle Sounders FC News Release

Seattle Sounders FC in action
(Seattle Sounders FC)

HOUSTON, TEXAS – Sounders FC (7-3-2, 23 points) concluded its two-match road trip this week with a hard-fought 1-0 win over nine-man Houston Dynamo FC (4-4-2, 14 points) on Saturday evening at Shell Energy Stadium. Stefan Frei recorded his seventh shutout of the season – good for first in MLS – while second-half substitute Paul Rothrock netted his third goal in as many First Team matches for the Rave Green to seal the victory. Seattle now returns home to face Austin FC on Wednesday, May 17 on the Emerald Queen Casino Pitch at Lumen Field (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia, El Rey 1360 AM).

Entering the match in the 83rd minute of play, Rothrock came into the match as a substitute while playing on a short-term agreement for tonight’s game. Including Seattle’s last two Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup matches, the Tacoma Defiance midfielder has impacted three-consecutive contests that he’s played in, scoring in all three. Just four minutes after entering the game, the Seattle native pounced on a loose ball inside the area following a cross from teammate Alex Roldan, securing all three points for his team. Prior to Rothrock’s strike, the match was closely contested, despite Houston having two players sent off in the 21st and 78th minutes, respectively.

Following the club’s upcoming midweek home contest vs. Austin FC on May 17, Sounders FC hits the road again to face Vancouver Whitecaps FC on Saturday, May 20 at BC Place in a Cascadia Cup clash (7:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, iHeartMedia, El Rey 1360 AM).

MATCH NOTES

Tonight’s win keeps Sounders FC in first place in the Western Conference with 23 points, two points clear of second-place LAFC. Seattle’s seven wins this season are the most in the West.

Saturday’s match came to a halt in the ninth minute of play due to lightning in the area. Play resumed nearly an hour later due to the inclement weather.

Seattle leads the regular-season series 14-5-6 between the two sides, including a 4-5-4 road mark. Since the start of the 2015 season, Sounders FC holds a 5-2-3 road record at Houston (including postseason play).

Tonight marked Houston’s first home loss of 2023 and the first time that the Dynamo conceded a goal at home this season.

With the winning goal this evening, Paul Rothrock has scored in all three of his First Team appearances this season. The Tacoma Defiance midfielder tallied a strike in…