In a tightly contested match for Week 19 of the MLS, Seattle Sounders faced off against Columbus Crew, and the game concluded in a 1-1 draw.
Columbus Crew broke the deadlock in the 26th minute thanks to a brilliant goal from Diego Rossi. With a well-placed cross from Aliyu Ibrahim, Rossi unleashed a powerful shot from within the penalty area to send the Columbus fans into a frenzy.
However, Seattle Sounders responded shortly before halftime, equalizing in the 42nd minute. Paul Rothrock stepped up to find the back of the net, showcasing his skills as he aimed for the goal with three shots throughout the match.
Rothrock’s performance earned him the title of standout player in the match, bringing energy and determination to the Seattle side. Diego Rossi also had a notable game, contributing significantly for Columbus Crew with four attempts on goal.
Head coach Brian Schmetzer fielded his Seattle team in a 4-5-1 formation, featuring goalkeeper Stefan Frei; defenders Kalani Kossa Rienzi, Jackson Ragen, Alexander Roldan, and Nouhou Tolo; midfielders Obed Vargas, Cristian Roldan, Jesús Ferreira, Albert Rusnák, and Paul Rothrock; and forward Danny Musovski.
On the other side, Columbus Crew’s Wilfried Nancy opted for a 3-6-1 setup, with Evan Bush in goal, supported by defenders Steven Moreira, Sean Zawadzki, and Yevhen Cheberko; a strong midfield featuring Mohamed Farsi, Dylan Chambost, Darlington Nagbe, Aliyu Ibrahim, Diego Rossi, and Daniel Gazdag; and Jacen Russell Rowe leading the line.
The match, officiated by referee Ismir Pekmic, saw Seattle Sounders face a significant setback with a second-half red card awarded to Kalani Kossa Rienzi in the 46th minute for a second yellow card.
Looking ahead, Seattle will travel to Sporting Kansas City for their next match, while Columbus Crew will be aiming for victory as they face FC Cincinnati on the road.
Seattle Sounders Substitutions
70’ 2H – Danny Musovski off for Jordan Morris
93’ 2H – Jesús Ferreira off for Jonathan Bell
Yellow Cards – Seattle Sounders
0’ 2H – Jackson Ragen (Holding the opponent to prevent advancement)
25’ 2H – Cristian Roldan (Unsporting behavior)
41’ 2H – Kalani Kossa Rienzi (Unsporting behavior)
Red Card – Seattle Sounders
46’ 2H – Kalani Kossa Rienzi (Red for second yellow)
Columbus Crew Substitutions
79’ 2H – Dylan Chambost off for Amar Sejdic, Jacen Russell Rowe off for Aziel Jackson, Albert Rusnák off for Pedro De La Vega, Paul Rothrock off for Ryan Kent
89’ 2H – Aliyu Ibrahim off for Tristan Brown
96’ 2H – Mohamed Farsi off for Cesar Ruvalcaba
Yellow Cards – Columbus Crew
32’ 2H – Mohamed Farsi (Delay of game)
39’ 2H – Steven Moreira (Holding the opponent to prevent advancement)
50’ 2H – Diego Rossi (Insulting or disapproving the referee)