February 17, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS) – Seattle Sounders FC News Release
Seattle Sounders FC on game night
(Seattle Sounders FC)
RENTON, WASH. – Sounders FC played its final matches of the 2024 preseason Saturday afternoon at the Sounders FC Center at Longacres. The Rave Green competed in a pair of 90-minute friendlies against USL Championship side Sacramento Republic FC, losing the first match 1-0 before winning 4-0 in the second match. Pedro de la Vega, Raúl Ruidíaz, Jon Bell and Chris Aquino all scored for Seattle in latter contest.
Sacramento opened the scoring at the end of the first half of match one, when Russell Cicerone converted a free kick in the 44th minute, deflecting off the post and into the back of the net. Seattle was able to generate some chances in the second half but couldn’t break through to find the equalizer.
The second match featured a rotated lineup, with Seattle getting on the board first via a penalty in the 31st minute. After the Rave Green drew a foul inside the area, de la Vega stepped up to the spot and converted the ensuing penalty strike to take the lead. Seattle doubled its lead in the 45th minute when Paul Rothrock fed a through ball to Ruidíaz, who performed a step-over move to create space before firing a shot into the bottom corner of the goal.
The second half of the second match was played against members of Tacoma Defiance, with Seattle adding a third goal in the 63rd minute, this time by defender Jon Bell. Danny Leyva sent in a corner, which was controlled by Ruidíaz and lobbed up to Bell, who finished the chance with a headed effort into the top of the goal. Aquino added one more for Seattle in the 88th minute, receiving a cross in front of net and stabbing home the easy finish.
The results conclude Seattle’s 2024 preseason, and the club now sets its sights on the regular season, which kicks off next week against LAFC at BMO Stadium on Saturday, February 24 (1:30 p.m. PT / Apple TV, FOX, iHeartMedia Seattle, El Rey 1360 AM).
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