The Seattle Sounders were up a comfortable two goals on the road against San Diego FC on Saturday, only to give up a 2,2 draw. What looked like a vital three points for the Emerald City turned into a shared point after the home team clawed their way back, with their final goal coming in the dying moments of the match. San Diego usually makes a habit of letting leads slip, but this time, our boys in green and blue somehow managed to take a page right out of their book.
When Good Things Happened… Then Didn’t
The first half was, to be honest, pretty forgettable. Neither side really looked dangerous, though a shot from Anders Dreyer for San Diego did smack the post around the 29th minute, with Nouhou clearing it away. But the second half, that’s when things really heated up! The Sounders started strong, just like they did in the first, but this time, the payoff was immediate. A solid defensive play in the 49th minute saw a Sounders player deny service to Amahl Pellegrino, taking the ball out of the air and shepherding it out for a goal kick. Just a minute later, Cristian Roldan showed exactly why he’s so crucial to this squad, winning a header that put a teammate in prime position. That teammate picked up the loose ball, drove toward the goal, and unleashed a shot from just outside the box that the San Diego keeper, Pablo Sisniega, had no chance on. Boom! Just like that, the Sounders were up 1,0.
It felt like the game was truly locked up only a few minutes later, in the 55th minute, when the Sounders made it 2,0! Cristian Roldan was at it again, playing a brilliant ball over the top for a teammate running down the right. That Sounders player battled hard with San Diego’s CB Manu Duah, winning the duel, turning the corner, and sending in a low cross. Another teammate was right there, goal-side of a defender, to smash it home. Two-nil, away from home, against a team that struggles to hold leads! We thought we had this in the bag.
A Late Gut Punch and What It Means
But then, things went south. Fast. In the 57th minute, Amahl Pellegrino had a seemingly harmless shot that Andrew Thomas easily handled. But hold on, the referee, Allen Chapman, went to review it. Turns out, a Sounders player slid in after the shot, catching Pellegrino, and the penalty was awarded. Thomas, our man, made an incredible save on the penalty kick from Anders Dreyer! The save was there! But in a chaotic scramble, Bakambu was among a crowd of players who pounced on the rebound and tapped it in, cutting our lead to 2,1 in the 60th minute. Even with a San Diego player clearly encroaching on the penalty, it was deemed to not impact the play. Seriously?
From there, the Sounders tried to control the game, holding possession and generating chances, but we just couldn’t find that third goal to put it away. As stoppage time rolled around, our players were trying to play smart, keeping possession in the corners, clearing San Diego attacks far and wide. It was a commendable effort to close out the game… until. Until Bakambu, again, scored in the 90th minute plus SIX to draw level. A late, late, *late* equalizer that wiped away what should have been an important three points on the road.
This draw has to sting for the Emerald City. Giving up a two-goal lead, especially with that final gut punch so deep into stoppage time, is tough. Our boys showed flashes of brilliance to get those two goals, but letting San Diego steal a point like that is a hard lesson. We need to be tighter, play smarter in those critical moments, and ensure we close out games when we have such a commanding lead. Keep fighting, Sounders, we know you’ll bounce back!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Sounder at Heart.
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