SOCCER: Sounders return home with a bang, rout St. Louis

Cristian Roldan tallied twice and Albert Rusnak added a goal and two assists as the Seattle Sounders trounced visiting St. Louis City 4-1 on Saturday night.

Osaze De Rosario also scored and goalkeeper Andrew Thomas made two saves for Seattle (5-1-1, 16 points), which was playing its first league match at home since the Feb. 22 season opener. The Sounders were forced to play five straight on the road while a natural grass surface was installed at Lumen Field in preparation for hosting FIFA World Cup matches this summer.

Roldan, the Sounders' captain, scored in the 22nd and 37th minutes, both off corner kicks from Rusnak from the left wing.

On the first, Rusnak found Roldan just beyond the far post for a forceful header back across the goalmouth and into the side netting.

The second goal was similar, though this time Roldan put a volley from near the top corner of the 6-yard box that took one bounce off the turf and the hands of diving goalie Roman Burki at the near post. The shot overpowered Burki, with the ball ricocheting into the roof of the net.

Rusnak made it 3-0 on a penalty kick in the 49th minute, blasting a shot into the lower left corner of the net as Burki went the other way. The penalty was awarded by referee Chris Penso when halftime substitute Paul Rothrock was tripped on the left side of the box by St. Louis' Conrad Wallem.

De Rosario, who came on as a substitute in the 80th minute, capped Seattle's scoring six minutes later. He took a pass from Jesus Ferreira just inside the top of the penalty box and, with four defenders encircling him, maneuvered his way to get off a shot from 15 yards that found the lower left corner of the net.

St. Louis substitute Eduard Lowen spoiled Thomas' bid for a sixth shutout in seven matches when he scored in the second minute of second-half stoppage time. A St. Louis shot was blocked, with the ball falling to Lowen for a 15-yard blast into the upper right corner of the net, leaving Thomas no chance.

Burki made five saves for St. Louis (1-4-3, 6 points), which had a three-match unbeaten streak (1-0-2) snapped.

Seattle completed a sweep of the season series between the clubs. The Sounders won 1-0 on March 7 at St. Louis.

The Sounders also improved to 7-1-0 against St. Louis since the latter joined the league in 2023.

-Field Level Media/Reuters