Seattle Sounders Seek Bounce-Back Win Over Struggling St. Louis City SC

Cristian Roldan urges Sounders to move past Champions Cup exit and focus on MLS clash

Apr. 18, 2026 at 10:34am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the action and energy of a soccer match, with sharp planes of color representing the competing teams.A cubist interpretation of the high-stakes clash between the Seattle Sounders and St. Louis City SC, as both teams seek to gain ground in the MLS Western Conference.St. Louis Today

The Seattle Sounders are looking to rebound from their recent Concacaf Champions Cup disappointment as they host the struggling St. Louis City SC in an MLS matchup. Midfielder Cristian Roldan has called on his team to avoid dwelling on the Champions Cup exit and instead turn their attention to continuing their fine run of form in league play. Meanwhile, St. Louis City SC are still searching for consistency in their debut MLS season, sitting 14th in the Western Conference with just one win so far.

Why it matters

This game is an important one for both teams as they look to position themselves in the MLS Western Conference standings. The Sounders will be eager to bounce back from their Champions Cup exit, while St. Louis City SC need a positive result to kickstart their campaign after a slow start to the season.

The details

The Sounders were knocked out of the Concacaf Champions Cup by Tigres UANL despite winning the second leg 3-1, with the Mexican side advancing on away goals. However, Seattle have been unbeaten in their last four MLS matches, a run that started with a 1-0 win over St. Louis City. In contrast, the expansion side are 14th in the Western Conference with just one win from seven games so far, though they did recently beat FC Tulsa 4-0 in the U.S. Open Cup.

  • The Sounders were eliminated from the Concacaf Champions Cup on April 12.
  • Seattle's unbeaten MLS run started with a 1-0 win over St. Louis City on April 1.
  • St. Louis City SC beat FC Tulsa 4-0 in the U.S. Open Cup round of 32 on April 15.

The players

Cristian Roldan

A midfielder for the Seattle Sounders who has called on his team to move past their Champions Cup disappointment and focus on their MLS campaign.

Mykhi Joyner

A midfielder for St. Louis City SC who praised his team's aggressive approach in their recent U.S. Open Cup win.

Paul Rothrock

A Seattle Sounders player who has scored three goals this regular season, with two of them being game-winners.

Roman Burki

The St. Louis City SC goalkeeper who has recorded 336 saves since joining MLS in 2023, the third-most in the league over that span.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's good that we have a short turnaround and not dwell on this too long.”

— Cristian Roldan, Midfielder, Seattle Sounders

“I think that comes with just the core of our team. We always want to be aggressive, and we want to be on the front foot of the defense.”

— Mykhi Joyner, Midfielder, St. Louis City SC

What’s next

The Seattle Sounders will be looking to continue their strong MLS form and bounce back from their Champions Cup exit, while St. Louis City SC will be aiming to build on their recent U.S. Open Cup victory to kickstart their debut MLS season.

The takeaway

This matchup between the in-form Sounders and the struggling expansion side St. Louis City SC provides an opportunity for Seattle to regain momentum after their Champions Cup disappointment, while also highlighting the challenges faced by new MLS franchises in establishing themselves in a highly competitive league.