Jackson Ragen’s 87th-minute header gave the Seattle Sounders a 2-1 away win over New York City FC on MLS Decision Day on Saturday.
Just five minutes after Nicolas Fernandez equalized for NYCFC, Ragen restored Seattle’s lead by heading in Danny Leyva’s free kick. It was just the second goal of the season for Ragen, and the defender’s fifth tally over his four MLS seasons.
The Sounders (15-9-10, 55 points) were locked into fifth place in the Western Conference regardless of Saturday’s results. Seattle enters the postseason on a three-match winning streak and a four-match unbeaten streak (3-0-1). They’ll play Minnesota United in a best-of-three series in the quarterfinals.
Despite the victory, Seattle’s larger concern heading into the MLS Cup playoffs is Pedro de la Vega’s health. In the 24th minute, de la Vega had to be carted off the field with a right leg injury after getting tangled up in an awkward collision with New York City FC defender Tayvon Gray.
De la Vega has four goals and five assists in 26 regular-season matches for the Sounders this season.
Jordan Morris scored Seattle’s other goal on Saturday. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei stopped four of five shots on target, including an excellent diving stop on Justin Haak during first-half stoppage time.
New York City (17-12-5, 56 points) finishes in fifth place in the Eastern Conference and will face Charlotte FC in the first round of the playoffs. NYCFC enters the postseason in shaky form with a 1-3-0 record in their last four matches.
Goalkeeper Matt Freese stopped two of Seattle’s four shots on target.
The Sounders didn’t have a shot on target until the 58th minute, but the quiet attack suddenly sprung to life three minutes later. Off an Albert Rusnak free kick, Morris got behind the line and buried a header for his fifth goal of the season.
In the 82nd minute, a Seattle turnover set up a quick passing play for NYCFC in the Sounders’ end. Fernandez converted his third goal of the season with a shot that deflected off defender Nouhou Tolo and arched into the net.
–Field Level Media
