SEATTLE — On Saturday night, Jordan Morris of Seattle Sounders made headlines by scoring two goals, setting a franchise record, as the team faced FC Charlotte in their season opener at Lumen Field, which was drenched in rain. The match concluded in a dramatic 2-2 draw thanks to an unfortunate own goal in stoppage time.
In the third minute of injury time, after a couple of misplays by the Sounders, Idan Toklomati delivered a low cross from the right side. Seattle’s Yéimar Gomez Andrade attempted to deflect the ball at the near post, but it unexpectedly slipped between goalkeeper Stefan Frei’s legs, resulting in an own goal that evened the score.
Kristijan Kahlina, the goalkeeper for Charlotte, showcased his skills with six crucial saves throughout the match. Seattle dominated possession with 58%, outpacing Charlotte in shots taken by a count of 18 to 7, and outshooting them on target 8 to 1.
Adilson Malanda, a 23-year-old defender in his fourth year with Charlotte, contributed significantly by scoring his second career goal in the 35th minute, which leveled the score at 1-1. He leaped high to connect with a corner played by Pep Biel, marking his first goal since he opened the team’s scoring in the previous season’s opener last year when they won 1-0 against New York City FC.
Morris opened the scoring for Seattle in the 19th minute, timing his run perfectly to volley home a low cross from Georgi Minoungou. His shot bounced off the ground, finding its way into the top corner of the net to give the Sounders a 1-0 advantage.
The sequence continued in the second half when Morris doubled his tally in the 49th minute, scoring after a counter-attack initiated by Albert Rusnák. The midfielder played a through ball that allowed Morris to slip past the defense, and with Kahlina rushing out to challenge, Morris struck the ball from the top of the penalty area, restoring Seattle’s lead at 2-1.
With his two goals, Morris now holds 68 career regular season goals for the Sounders, sitting just three behind Raúl Ruidíaz’s club record of 71, achieved between 2018 and 2024. Both players are tied for the club’s overall goal record with 86 across all competitions. Furthermore, Morris’ 10 games with multiple goals in regular-season matches tie him with Clint Dempsey for the second-most such games in Sounders history, trailing only Ruidíaz, who has achieved this feat 12 times.
