By Geoff Baker
The Seattle Times
About the only thing that was going to beat the Seattle Sounders this time around was themselves, and their two highest paid players didn’t let that happen.
Nicolas Lodeiro and Raul Ruidiaz put on an attacking clinic Sunday against the Colorado Rapids in Seattle’s 4-0 victory over one of the worst teams in Major League Soccer. After spending all week hearing about the need to avoid overconfidence, the Sounders pressed from the get-go, led by midfielder Lodeiro scoring one goal and setting up two others by Ruidiaz.
It was the type of mismatch everybody expected on paper heading in, and the Sounders made sure it translated to the pitch in front of 40,042 fans at CenturyLink Field. Victor Rodriguez added a late goal on a nice set-up by Kelvin Leerdam as the Sounders snapped a two-game losing streak and solidified their hold on a playoff spot.
They’d entered the day holding down the sixth and final playoff position in the Western Conference and knowing they have one of the league’s most favorable schedules down the stretch.
They went at the Rapids from the start, with Ruidiaz drawing the ire of Colorado goalkeeper Tim Howard in the 18th minute for a brief collision as they both raced for a through ball.
Veteran keeper Howard got up and berated Ruidiaz, waving a finger in his face in warning fashion as the referee got between them. Moments later, though, Ruidiaz got some revenge by burying a Lodeiro pass in the back of the net to open the scoring.
The Sounders carried the lead into halftime, and then more Lodeiro work helped up the Sounders’ lead early in the second.
Lodeiro carried the ball into the Colorado box and was upended by Kellyn Acosta for a clear penalty.
Soon after, Lodeiro beat Howard with a low blast to his left that the keeper got a hand on but couldn’t stop completely.
The 2-0 lead stood until the 73rd minute when Loderio beat defender Johan Blomberg to a loose ball in the box. Blomberg managed to knock Lodeiro off his feet, but the midfielder — on his back — still managed to slide a pass to Ruidiaz, who beat Howard from close-range to make it 3-0.
Rodriguez finished off the scoring in the 80th minute on a nice give-and-go with Leerdam.
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