Jordan Morris scored twice as the Seattle Sounders opened the Major League Soccer season with a 2-2 draw against visiting Charlotte FC on a rainy Saturday night.
Charlotte tied it in second-half stoppage time on an own goal. Idan Toklomati stole a pass along the right sideline and drove down the wing before sending a low cross that deflected off Sounders defender Yeimar Gomez Andrade and between goalkeeper Stefan Frei’s legs.
Adilson Malanda also scored for Charlotte and reigning MLS goalkeeper of the year Kristijan Kahlina made six saves.
Morris broke a 1-1 tie in the 49th minute. Albert Rusnak’s through ball sent Morris on a breakaway and he hammered a shot from the top of the 18-yard box that Kahlina got a hand on but couldn’t prevent from going into the net. The goal was the 86th in all competitions for Morris, tying the recently departed Raul Ruidiaz for the franchise record.
The Sounders nearly extended their lead in the 73rd minute, but Kahlina got a hand on Obed Vargas’ 12-yard shot to deflect it out of bounds, then the goalie made a diving save on Cristian Roldan’s header off the ensuing corner kick.
The Sounders dominated possession early, breaking through in the 19th minute for the game’s opening goal.
Vargas sent a pass out wide to Georgi Minoungou on the right wing. Minoungou took one touch and delivered a low cross to the top of the 6-yard box, where Morris had split a pair of defenders. Morris redirected the ball off the turf and into the upper right corner of the net, leaving Kahlina no chance.
Charlotte tied the score in the 35th minute as Pep Biel sent an in-swinging corner kick from the right wing into the middle of the 6-yard box. Malanda, a defender, went up high and put a forceful header over a leaping Frei.
Forward Wilfried Zaha, Charlotte’s prized offseason acquisition, missed the match as he returned to the United Kingdom for the birth of his child.
–Field Level Media
