Kalani Kossa-Rienzi leveled the match in the 83rd minute and the visiting Seattle Sounders snapped an eight-match MLS losing streak with a 1-1 draw against FC Cincinnati on Saturday night.
Kossa-Rienzi’s third goal of the season, produced after an excellent combination with Albert Rusnak, was only Seattle’s fifth in its last nine league games.
That drought had led to a tailspin that dropped the perennial Western Conference contenders to 12th place entering the weekend and three points beneath the playoff line.
Evander scored his team-leading 13th goal midway through the first half for Cincinnati (8-6-7, 31 points), which dropped points at home for only the fourth time in 11 matches this season.
Of those home blemishes, this one could be the most frustrating given the vicious injury wave the Sounders (7-9-4, 25 points) have endured. Attackers Jordan Morris and Jesus Ferreira, midfielder Cristian Roldan and defender Yeimar were among the players unavailable for Saturday’s tilt.
Yet Cincinnati could not capitalize on its 17-11 advantage in shots and 9-3 edge in efforts on target, stymied by seven saves from Seattle’s Andrew Thomas. As a result, Cincinnati was punished late by a moment of incisive play for the visitors on a night the home side dropped beneath Charlotte into sixth place in the East.
Kossa-Rienzi started the build-up when he sprayed the ball from the top of the penalty box to Rusnak on the right flank. Rusnak returned a low cross to the penalty spot, and Kossa-Rienzi met it with a thumping first-time half volley that left no chance for goalkeeper Roman Celentano (two saves).
Evander started the day in fifth place in MLS in scoring, a goal behind three players tied on 13.
He put Cincinnati in front in the 24th minute at the end of a frenetic goalmouth sequence that began with Gerardo Valenzuela running onto an excellent throughball up the left-hand side.
Valenzuela found Bryan Ramirez to his right in the penalty area for an initial attempt saved by Andrew Thomas, who then got off the turf in time to deny Kenji Mboma Dem’s rebound.
Ramirez saw yet another rebound attempt blocked off the line by Seattle’s Paul Rothrock, but that rebound fell to Evander, who smashed an emphatic half volley through traffic into the net.
–Field Level Media
