Sounders midfielder Joao Paulo (6) celebrates with forward Raul Ruidiaz (9) and midfielder Josh Atencio after Paulo scored a goal against Minnesota United during the second half of a match on April 16, 2021, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Sounders midfielder Joao Paulo (6) celebrates with forward Raul Ruidiaz (9) and midfielder Josh Atencio after Paulo scored a goal against Minnesota United during the second half of a match on April 16, 2021, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Sounders thump Minnesota in season opener

Seattle welcomed back fans and the start of the MLS season with a 4-0 win on Friday night.

SEATTLE — João Paulo scored a goal of the season candidate early in the second half, Raul Ruidiaz added two goals three minutes apart, and the Seattle Sounders welcomed fans back to its home stadium with a 4-0 win over Minnesota United on Friday night.

The start to the 2021 season for the reigning Western Conference champions was a rousing celebration welcoming fans back to Lumen Field for the first time in 13 months with a foursome of masterful goals in a game that was otherwise choppy and at times sloppy.

João Paulo ignited the cheers with a deft moment of skill, scoring on a 25-yard volley in the 49th minute to give Seattle the lead. Ruidiaz scored his first in the 70th minute off a terrific pass by Will Bruin and moments later collected a second goal after Cristian Roldan found Ruidiaz with a step behind the Loons defense.

Fredy Montero, playing his first game for Seattle since 2012, added the final goal in the 86th minute. Montero, who scored the first goal in franchise history for Seattle, netted his 48th career regular-season goal for the Sounders and first since Oct. 7, 2012.

The crowd of 7,042 wasn’t the nearly 40,000 that has become the norm in Seattle, but was a sellout under the current COVID-19 restrictions. They boomed and clapped as the teams took the field. They sang and chanted, booed loudly at any call made by referee Joe Dickerson and exploded with excitement at João Paulo finding the back of the net for the first goal of the season.

Even with the limited attendance, it was a marked change in atmosphere from last December when Seattle rallied for three goals in the final 15 minutes plus stoppage time for a 3-2 win in the Western Conference final. After that goal, the only noise inside the stadium was the screams of Sounders players following Gustav Svensson’s stoppage time winner.

Seattle hadn’t played in front of its home fans since March 7, 2020, when an announced crowd of 33,080 showed up for the second match of the regular season against Columbus. That match was played at the start of the pandemic when the Seattle region appeared to be the epicenter of the outbreak in the U.S.

More than a year later, some of those seats were again occupied.

Minnesota United should be a contender in the Western Conference, but was badly overrun by Seattle. Robin Lod missed on a pair of good scoring chances, and Roldan cleared a header off the goal line early in the second half to help keep the Loons off the board.

Talk to us

More in Sports

Jackson High School is awarded the 2023 WIAA class 4A softball championship trophy in Richland, Wash., on Sat., May 27. (TJ Mullinax/for The Herald)
Jackson wins state title over GP after game called by weather

The Timberwolves win 5-1 to hoist their third state softball trophy since 2018 after a game that ended in unusual fashion.

Lake Stevens’ Grant Buckmiller takes a peek at the clock as he runs to the title in the 4A boys 200 meter dash during the WIAA State Track and Field Championships on Saturday, May 27, 2023, at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
State track: Lake Stevens sprinter Buckmiller blazes to multiple titles

Also, Kamiak’s Kalia Estes and Jaedyn Chase claim championships and more on local title winners and state placers.

A Snohomish player slides safe into third during the 3A softball championship game between Snohomish and Peninsula at the Lacey-Thurston County Regional Athletic Complex in Olympia, Washington on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Snohomish lost, 4-1. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Snohomish falls in 3A softball title game, takes 2nd place

The Panthers make a run to the state championship tilt, but lose to top-seeded Peninsula 4-1.

X
State tournaments roundup for Saturday, May 27

State tournaments roundup for Saturday, May 27: SOFTBALL 4A State Tournament At… Continue reading

Golf no art.
Scores from Round 1 of the 92nd Snohomish County Amateur

Koen Solis and Daniel Kim each shoot 67 and are tied for a three-shot lead after the opening round at Legion Memorial.

Kamiak’s Jaquan Means reacts to winning heat 3 of the boys 110 meter hurdle finals at Mount Tahoma High School in Tacoma, Washington on Friday, May 26, 2023.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)
State track roundup: Kamiak’s Means wins 4A 110m hurdles title

Wesco runners finish with the top three times in the event, plus a roundup of the rest of the local action from Day 2.

Edmonds-Woodway boys soccer overpowered by No. 1 Lincoln

The Warriors fall in the 3A state semifinals 6-1 and will face No. 7 Lakeside in the third-place game at 10 a.m. Saturday.

State softball.
4A state softball roundup: Jackson, GP reach semifinals

Both teams survive quarterfinal nail-biters to keep state-title hopes alive; Kamiak remains alive in consolation bracket.

X
State tournaments roundup for Friday, May 26

Prep roundup for Friday, May 26: (Note for coaches/scorekeepers: To report results… Continue reading

Most Read