SEATTLE — There have been many more important goals than the one that Nicolas Lodeiro scored on Saturday. Rarely, though, has a goal ever relieved as much tension as when his 19-yard volley struck the back of the net.
The Seattle Sounders had not scored at home in franchise-worst 237 minutes. They had not scored anywhere in 363 minutes, just 20 seconds shy of setting another franchise low point. Even worse, the Sounders found themselves trailing after having given up a goal to Darren Mattocks four minutes earlier.
Up until then, the Sounders had been playing better than in previous weeks.