Nicolas Lodeiro breaks Seattle assists record in 3-2 win at Houston

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:27 am

Nicolas Lodeiro assisted on all three goals to set a franchise career record as the Seattle Sounders defeated the Houston Dynamo 3-2 on Sunday.

Raul Ruidiaz scored the clincher in the 87th minute and Chad Marshall and Gustav Svensson scored off corner kicks for Seattle. The Sounders have already clinched a playoff berth, but are still hoping to earn either a first-round bye or a home playoff game. Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei made six saves.

The two-time defending conference champion Sounders are in fourth place in the West, three points behind first place Sporting KC and one point behind Los Angeles FC and FC Dallas, who are tied for second.

The Sounders will play host to the last-place San Jose Earthquakes next Sunday in the regular-season finale.

Seattle opened the scoring in the 26th minute as Lodeiro's corner from the left wing found Marshall at the top center of the 6-yard box. His header beat diving goalkeeper Tyler Deric and made its way into the right corner of the net.

The Sounders made it 2-0 in the 49th minute on what was nearly a replica of the first goal. From the left corner, Lodeiro's cross found Svensson at the top of the 6-yard box even with the near post and his header found the top left corner, with Deric only able to get his fingertips on the shot.

The Dynamo (9-16-8, 35 points) pulled within 2-1 in the 63rd minute as defender Kevin Garcia scored his first MLS goal off a corner kick from Oscar Boniek Garcia.

Ruidiaz, who along with Lodeiro and Svensson returned after missing time because of international duty, took a feed from Lodeiro and put a 15-yard shot under Deric to restore the two-goal margin.

It was Lodeiro's 35th career regular-season assist for the Sounders, breaking a tie with Fredy Montero and Mauro Rosales for the franchise mark.

The Dynamo scored the final goal in the 89th minute, as Romell Quioto's cross from the top left of the 18-yard box was headed into the right side netting by Mauro Manotas for his team-leading 16th goal. Houston was unable to get the equalizer in four minutes of stoppage time.