Who would have thought that after a terrible start to the season, the Seattle Sounders could achieve such a spectacular turnaround? In the summer heat, the team has found its best form, and frankly, it’s about time. Jordan Morris, the star of the moment, is on fire, literally leading the Sounders to the title fight.
The 1-0 win against Austin FC at Q2 Stadium last Saturday wasn’t just another game. It was a historic moment, the fourth win in a row, extending the unbeaten streak to six games. The Sounders, now in seventh place in the MLS Western Conference, with a record of 9 wins, 7 losses and 7 draws, have accumulated 34 points. And who scored the decisive goal? Of course, Jordan Morris.
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On that magical Saturday night, Morris did what he does best: score. It was in the 63rd minute that he found the back of the net, before Austin’s Brendan Hines-Ike was sent off in the 77th minute with a second yellow card. Coach Brian Schmetzer couldn’t hide his satisfaction after the game, emphasizing the team’s ability to overcome adversity. “We have a good team. They believe they can win. The coaches have done a great job of making sure all the players understand what we want and the players have responded,” Schmetzer said. And he didn’t stop there: “It’s hard to win on the road. Even when Austin was down, they didn’t give up.”
After a five-game winless start, the Sounders pulled off a midseason overhaul that borders on the unbelievable. Not only are they back in MLS playoff contention, but they’re also in contention for the US Open Cup, with a semifinal scheduled against LAFC.
Morris, aged 29, is in incredible form, scoring eight goals in his last ten games. He also contributed a goal in the USOC’s midweek win. In 23 league games, Morris has 9 goals and 1 assist, just three goals short of his career best of 12, set in his rookie season in 2016. “For strikers, when you play with confidence, obviously helps.” Morris said. “You can go through periods where it feels like you’re never going to score again, and then suddenly, you’re scoring every game. A lot depends on the group playing well and giving me good passes. So, obviously, I’m pleased with the shape.”
But Saturday night was not typical for Morris. He came on as a substitute, something that had not happened since a 2–0 loss to Real Salt Lake on 15 May, and scored his first goal off the bench since 1 March 2020, in a 2–1 win over Chicago. fire “When I knew I wasn’t going to start this game, my goal was, when I was called on, to come in and make a difference. Looking at the first half, the guys worked hard and were great, and I felt there were spaces to exploit because they were pushing,” Morris commented. “My mentality was just to try to come in, work hard and help the group.
This determination and adaptability from Morris is exactly what the Sounders needed. The team adjusted its pressing to take advantage of Morris’ speed in the second half, held solid defense and secured goalkeeper Stefan Frei’s 112th clean sheet. This performance lays a solid foundation for the rest of the season, with the Sounders looking ahead to Wednesday’s game against St. Louis CITY SC at Lumen Field.
Morris’ impact goes beyond numbers. It’s the confidence he brings to the group, something Frei stressed: “It’s really good for the confidence of the group and for individuals like Jordan to come in and score a goal. The boys are playing well and it’s amazing to see. We’ve always said that We had a deep team, but when the deep team also gains confidence, we become dangerous.”
