Seattle Sounders maintain undefeated home record at Orlando City's expense

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:22 am

Raul Ruidiaz, regaining his form after missing five matches because of injury, scored the opening goal as the Seattle Sounders remained undefeated at home with a 2-1 victory against Orlando City on Wednesday night at CenturyLink Field.

Handwalla Bwana, who came on as a substitute for an injured Jordan Morris early in the second half, also scored for the Sounders (7-1-4, 25 points), who extended their unbeaten streak to five matches and moved into second place in the Western Conference.

Orlando City (3-6-3, 12 points) lost its third game in a row but snapped its scoreless streak after 327 minutes on Chris Mueller's late goal. The Lions played their second straight match without Nani, who leads the team in both goals (five) and assists (four), because of a calf injury.

Ruidiaz scored three goals in the first three matches of the season before suffering a heel contusion that forced him to miss five games. The goal was Ruidiaz's first since March 16 at Chicago and tied him with Morris for the team lead with four.

Handwalla Bwana
Handwalla Bwana
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

Ruidiaz's goal came in the 19th minute. Midfielder Harry Shipp and defender Brad Smith worked a nifty give-and-go at the top of the Orlando City 18-yard box, springing Smith free down the left wing. Smith nearly reached the end line before sending a low cross that was just out of the reach of diving goalkeeper Greg Ranjitsingh. The ball went through to Ruidiaz, who tapped it into an empty net from 4 yards out.

Bwana tallied on a half-volley from 10 yards after taking a cross from Nicolas Lodeiro in the 68th minute. It was Bwana's first goal of the season.

Mueller scored in the 75th minute, just two minutes after coming on as a substitute. Mueller took a pass from Dillon Powers in the final third and dribbled near the top of the penalty area, where he stepped past a defender and unleashed a 20-yard, left-footed shot that made its way into the lower right corner of the net.