Late Rothrock goal lifts Sounders over Dynamo

Seattle extends unbeaten streak against Houston to nine games

Apr. 5, 2026 at 3:34am

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Paul Rothrock scored the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute to lift the visiting Seattle Sounders to a 1-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Saturday. Goalkeeper Andrew Thomas made four saves to record his fifth clean sheet of the season as the Sounders extended their unbeaten streak against the Dynamo to nine games.

Why it matters

The win keeps the Sounders (4-1-1, 13 points) near the top of the Western Conference standings, while the Dynamo (2-3-0, 6 points) remain in the middle of the pack. Seattle's defensive solidity has been a key factor in their strong start to the season.

The details

Rothrock's goal came off a headed assist by Jordan Morris, who redirected a cross from Kalani Kossa-Rienzi. Goalkeeper Andrew Thomas made several key saves to preserve the clean sheet, including stopping a shot by Guilherme Santos in the 47th minute. The match was played in constant rain after a thunderstorm delayed the opening kickoff.

  • The game-winning goal was scored in the 83rd minute.
  • Seattle goalkeeper Andrew Thomas extended his scoreless minutes streak to 403 minutes.
  • The Sounders have now earned points in nine straight games against Houston, with seven of those results wins.

The players

Paul Rothrock

The Seattle Sounders forward scored the game-winning goal in the 83rd minute.

Jordan Morris

The Seattle Sounders midfielder provided the headed assist on Rothrock's game-winning goal.

Andrew Thomas

The Seattle Sounders goalkeeper made four saves to record his fifth clean sheet of the season.

Guilherme Santos

The Houston Dynamo midfielder had the Dynamo's best scoring chance of the game in the 47th minute.

Jonathan Bond

The Houston Dynamo goalkeeper made several saves to keep the game close.

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What’s next

The Sounders will look to continue their strong start to the season when they host the Portland Timbers on April 12. The Dynamo will try to bounce back at home against the LA Galaxy on April 15.

The takeaway

Seattle's defensive solidity and timely scoring have been the keys to their success so far this season. The Sounders' ability to grind out close wins against tough conference opponents like the Dynamo will be crucial as they aim to challenge for the Western Conference title.