Sounders top FC Dallas, run unbeaten streak at home to 20 matches
With multiple lineup changes on both sides, a wild night was expected between the Sounders and FC Dallas on Saturday.
From the keepers to the forwards, there were plenty of plays that conjured a reaction from the 31,785 in attendance on a pristine spring night. The final, after a tense series during a Dallas corner kick, was a mix of relief and celebration for a 2-1 Sounders win at Lumen Field.
The Sounders are now on a 20-match unbeaten streak at home (15-0-5) while Dallas hasn't won in the stadium since 2011.
That's pretty impressive," Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer said of the run that stretched back to a loss to Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA men's Club World Cup last year.
The streak made Schmetzer reminisce about the struggles the Sounders had against Cascadia rival Portland at Lumen.
"It was embarrassing, it was bad," Schmetzer said of October's win against Portland being the first in eight years. "Our home form has been tremendous. There's a long streak with Dallas and that's different story. … We're doing pretty good."
Dallas swarmed the Sounders (6-1-1) from the opening kick. Three dangerous situations in the box missed and one that should've been a solid attempt was bobbled out of play.
A strong sense that a Dallas goal was imminent only grew. Then Sounders center back Jackson Ragen sent a long ball to the right wing for an awaiting Jordan Morris.
The forward quickly directed the ball into space in the midfield for Jesús Ferreira to mash into the back of the net in the 15th minute. It was his first goal of the season.
Ferreira stopped himself from celebrating. He and his father starred for the club, the Sounders trading for Ferreira last year.
Instead, the forward pointed to the heavens in thanks for the score.
"It felt a little weird," Ferreira said of scoring against his former team. "But mainly excited to be able to score the first goal. Everybody knows how important it is to get that weight off your shoulders and be free a little bit. A lot of the guys have told me to be a bit more selfish in the box. I want to be more selfish, and (Saturday) it paid off."
Morris crafted his own goal in the 30th minute. Sounders midfielder Snyder Brunell provided the through ball to send Morris on the run. Dallas keeper Michael Collodi left his line to make a play on the ball, and Morris punished him with a right-footed score.
Dallas (3-3-4) avoided an early blowout with a goal in the 40th minute.
Sounders midfielder Hassani Dotson was glued to Nolan Norris' jersey in the set up for a corner kick, but the defender sprung loose to hook a header over everyone and into the back of the net.
It was Norris' first MLS goal.
"Set-piece defending is something we've been focusing on and we've given up a couple of goals," Morris said of ceding two against Mexico's Tigres UANL in CONCACAF Champions Cup play. "That let them back into the game. We've got to dial that in a bit and get better at that."
Sounders keeper Andrew Thomas helped his team keep a 2-1 lead going into break by deflecting an attempt from midfielder Patrickson Delgado in stoppage time.
Ferreira had a chance to pin a second goal against his former team in the 54th minute. Sounders winger Paul Rothrock was tripped in the box to earn a penalty. Ferreira sent a feathery shot toward goal that was easy for Collodi to save.
"He wishes he would've scored that penalty, I know that for a fact," Schmetzer said. "It's against his former team, so you saw a little bit more juice in his play."
Both sides had drastic changes to their starting lineups due to injuries. FCD coach Eric Quill also didn't travel some of his first-choice players due to a midweek loss against Minnesota.
Sounders defender Nouhou was tasked with the role of captain due to midfielder Cristian Roldan being under concussion protocol and unable to play. It was his second time wearing the armband with the Sounders. Nouhou was also recently named captain of his Cameroon national team.
Sounders midfielder Albert Rusnák (hamstring) and winger Paul Arriola (adductor) were unavailable due to minor injuries.
Dallas was without striker Petar Musa, who entered the weekend as the MLS Golden Boot leader (nine goals). The visitors were also without backup Logan Farrington. Dallas forward Nick Simmonds replaced them up top, his first MLS start.
"Finding a killer instinct to be a team that puts the game away early is something we have to keep work on," Morris said. "Getting that third goal would've alleviated a lot of stress at the end of the game. Obviously it's three points in the end, which is great.
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This story was originally published April 25, 2026 at 11:40 PM.