Seattle had to work for this one in a match that was delayed 30 minutes before kickoff and played in rainy conditions, but the Sounders stayed composed and eventually came away with all three points. It was not a flashy performance from Brian Schmetzer’s side, but it was an effective one, especially against a Houston team that kept applying pressure throughout the night.
Houston created some of the better early chances, including a ninth-minute look for Mateusz Bogusz that was blocked inside the box. Guilherme also tested Seattle several times, forcing Andrew Thomas into saves in the 29th and 47th minutes, before Bogusz drew another diving stop from the Sounders goalkeeper in the 65th.
Even with Houston generating more shot volume, Seattle stayed in the match and made its moment count late. In the 83rd minute, Rothrock found the winner off a play assisted by Jordan Morris and Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, giving the Sounders the only goal they would need. It was Rothrock’s fifth goal in all competitions this season, continuing a strong start to the year for the Seattle attacker.
Thomas helped make sure the goal stood up, recording his fifth shutout in league play as Seattle held on through the final minutes. The numbers showed just how narrow the match was: Houston finished with 13 shots, nine corners, and 1.4 expected goals, while Seattle produced fewer chances but made the decisive one matter.
For Seattle, it was the kind of road result that can carry real weight over the course of a season. The Sounders moved to 4-1-1 in league play and extended their unbeaten streak across all competitions to six matches, while Houston was left frustrated after a strong overall effort produced nothing on the scoreboard.
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