Seattle Sounders clinch playoff berth with win over Orlando City

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Orlando 1-2 Seattle: Sounders clinch playoff berth - Via MLS

Victor Rodriguez led the way for Seattle with a goal and assist, propelling Seattle Sounders into the MLS playoffs.

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:27 am

Victor Rodriguez had a goal and an assist as the Seattle Sounders clinched a playoff berth with a 2-1 victory Wednesday night against host Orlando City.

Handwalla Bwana also scored for Seattle, which has made the playoffs in each of its 10 seasons in the league. The Sounders have won 12 of their past 14 matches.

Orlando City saw its winless streak extended to 13 matches and has won just once in the past 23 games. The host Lions did snap their scoreless streak at 507 minutes when Dominic Dwyer tallied his team-leading 13th goal of the season in the 57th minute to pull Orlando City within 2-1.

Handwalla Bwana
Handwalla Bwana
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

The Sounders were playing without two of their top scorers, midfielder Nicolas Lodeiro and forward Raul Ruidiaz, who were called away to international duty.

Rodriguez stepped up in their absence, scoring for the fourth time in the past three matches. He opened the scoring in the third minute, volleying the ball over Orlando City goalkeeper Adam Grinwis from 10 yards out off a pinpoint pass from Kelvin Leerdam.

Seattle made it 2-0 in the 13th minute. Rodriguez sent the ball down the left wing to Bwana, who cut inside and beat a defender before unleashing a 15-yard shot that deflected off another defender and snuck into the short side of the net past a helpless Grinwis.

Orlando City scored its first goal since Sept. 1 when Scott Sutter's cross from the right wing found Dwyer unmarked at the far post. Dwyer put a left-footed shot into the top left corner from inside the 6-yard box. Chris Mueller was also credited with an assist.

The only shot on goal the Lions had the rest of the way came on a header by Dwyer in the 81st minute off a cross from Sacha Kljestan. Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei made the save to help preserve the victory.