Morris' goal on Dynamo miscue gives Sounders win

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:21 am

Jordan Morris scored early in the second half and the Seattle Sounders held on for a 1-0 victory against the host Houston Dynamo on Saturday night in MLS play.

Goalkeeper Stefan Frei made three saves for his seventh shutout, matching his total from last season.

The Sounders (11-6-5, 38 points) won for the third time in their past four games and rebounded from their first home loss of the season, a 2-1 defeat to rival Portland last Sunday.

The Dynamo (9-10-3, 30 points), who snapped a three-match losing streak last weekend with a 3-1 victory at Toronto FC, were blanked for the sixth time this season.

Morris, who moved into the Sounders' lone forward spot with leading scorer Raul Ruidiaz not making the trip after suffering a concussion in a collision against the Timbers, scored his fifth goal of the season, tying defender Kelvin Leerdam for second on the team.

Jordan Morris
Jordan Morris
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

The 59th-minute goal came on a defensive miscue. Midfielder Harry Shipp, who came on as a substitute in the first half after Brad Smith left with left adductor pain, made a cross from the right wing that skipped off the turf and was headed straight up into the air by Houston defender Aljaz Struna.

Dynamo teammate A.J. DeLaGarza tried to get into position to head the ball away, but jumped early and went over Morris' back near the penalty-kick spot. The ball landed and Morris was able to flick it over Struna and regain control about 8 yards out. As Houston goalkeeper Tyler Deric charged at him, Morris was able to get his right foot on the ball and it trickled behind a third Dynamo defender, Maynor Figueroa, and toward the right goalpost. The ball caromed off the post and into the net.

The Dynamo outshot Seattle 15-7, including seven by forward Mauro Manotas, though they held only a 3-1 advantage in shots on net.