Jordan Morris Rescues the Seattle Sounders

Who would've thought that after a chilling start to the season, the Seattle Sounders could pull off such a spectacular turnaround? In the heat of summer, the team has found its best form, and honestly, it's about time. Jordan Morris, the star of the moment, is on fire, literally leading the Sounders back into the title fight.

The 1-0 victory against Austin FC at Q2 Stadium last Saturday wasn't just another game. It was a milestone, the fourth consecutive win, extending the unbeaten streak to six games. The Sounders, now in seventh place in the Western Conference of the MLS, with a record of 9 wins, 7 losses, and 7 draws, have accumulated 34 points. And who scored the decisive goal? Of course, Jordan Morris.

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On that magical Saturday night, Morris did what he does best: score. It was in the 63rd minute that he found the back of the net, before Austin's Brendan Hines-Ike was sent off in the 77th minute with a second yellow card. Coach Brian Schmetzer couldn't hide his satisfaction post-game, highlighting the team's ability to overcome adversities. "We have a good squad. They believe they can win. The coaches have done a great job of making sure all the players understand what we want, and the players have responded," said Schmetzer. And he didn't stop there: "It's tough to win on the road. Even when Austin was a man down, they didn't give up."

After five winless matches at the start, the Sounders made a mid-season adjustment that borders on the unbelievable. They've not only gotten back into the MLS playoff race but are also firmly in the running for the US Open Cup, with a semifinal scheduled against LAFC.

Morris, at 29, is in exceptional form, scoring eight goals in the last ten matches. He also contributed a goal in the midweek USOC victory. In 23 league games, Morris has tallied 9 goals and 1 assist, just three goals shy of his personal best of 12, set in his rookie season in 2016. "For strikers, when you're playing with confidence, it obviously helps," Morris said. "You can go through times when it feels like you'll never score again, and then suddenly, you're scoring in every game. A lot of that depends on the group playing well and giving me good passes. So obviously, I'm happy with the form."

But Saturday night wasn't typical for Morris. He came on as a substitute, something that hadn't happened since a 2-0 loss to Real Salt Lake on May 15, and scored his first goal off the bench since March 1, 2020, in a 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire. "When I knew I wasn't going to start this game, my goal was, when called upon, to come in and make a difference. Watching the first half, the guys worked hard and were great, and I felt there were spaces to exploit because they were pressing," Morris commented. "My mentality was just to try and come in, work hard, and help the group."

This determination and adaptability from Morris are exactly what the Sounders needed. The team adjusted their press to take advantage of Morris' speed in the second half, maintained solid defense, and secured goalkeeper Stefan Frei's 112th clean sheet. This performance sets a strong foundation for the rest of the season, with the Sounders eyeing the upcoming Wednesday clash against St. Louis CITY SC at Lumen Field.

Morris' impact goes beyond the numbers. It's the confidence he brings to the group, something Frei highlighted: "It's really good for the group's confidence and for individuals like Jordan to come in and score a goal. The guys are playing well, and it's amazing to see. We've always said we had a deep team, but when the deep team also gains confidence, we become dangerous."