HOUSTON — The Seattle Sounders triumphed over the Houston Dynamo in a tightly contested match, sealing a spot in the next round of the MLS Cup playoffs with a nail-biting 7-6 victory in a penalty shootout. The match concluded in a 1-1 draw after regulation time, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. Obed Vargas netted the crucial goal in the shootout, while Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei made a game-saving stop on Tate Schmitt’s attempt during the seventh round.
The scoring was minimal throughout the match until Cristian Roldan broke the deadlock in the 87th minute. Capitalizing on a one-player advantage, Roldan marked his first goal in his 30th playoff match, giving the fourth-seeded Sounders a lead. However, the momentum shifted when an unfortunate deflection off Roldan in the third minute of stoppage time resulted in an own goal, leveling the score at 1-1.
The Dynamo faced significant challenges, playing with ten men in back-to-back matches. Héctor Herrera received a red card in the 66th minute for unsportsmanlike behavior, specifically after spitting in the direction of the referee as he was departing. This followed Coco Carrasquilla receiving two yellow cards earlier in the series, leading to his dismissal in the opening match.
Notably, defender Nouhou Tolo contributed to the Sounders’ goal by providing an assist just two minutes after coming onto the field, marking his second career assist in the postseason. Danny Levya also supported the effort by earning his first assist in only his second playoff appearance.
Frei, who had been aiming for his 15th playoff shutout, did not make any saves during the regulation. This match marked his 34th playoff appearance, all with the Sounders. Meanwhile, Steve Clark, the Dynamo goalkeeper, stood strong with six saves, contributing significantly to Houston’s efforts during his 20th postseason start.
In their previous contest during the series, the Sounders defeated the Dynamo 5-4 in a shootout in Seattle, after a scoreless game in regulation. Over the two matches, Seattle showcased exceptional penalty skills, scoring a flawless 12 out of 12 in penalty kicks.
Throughout the regular season, these teams battled to a 2-2 draw in Houston, with Seattle edging out a narrow 1-0 victory at home. Historically, the Dynamo have performed well in the playoffs at home, posting a record of 12-3-4. Houston also achieved club milestones this season, finishing with 54 points and claiming eight road victories, marking their 10th playoff qualification overall.
Seattle, on the other hand, has maintained a strong playoff presence, making the postseason in 15 of their 16 seasons and capturing four conference titles alongside two MLS Cups in 2016 and 2019.