A 5-foot-7, 145-pound Goliath walked into Sounders camp on Friday, the slender frame of Peruvian striker Raul Ruidiaz representing the best hope in months that the two time defending MLS Cup finalists will stop being pushed around.
The Sounders have been used as a Major League Soccer doormat since the season’s opening whistle. Even the weakest, most downtrodden opponents have stolen points at CenturyLink Field, knowing the Sounders would be hard-pressed to score if handed an empty net from ten paces.
That stops now, thanks to new scoring muscle that can lounge behind the wheel of a compact car with room to spare.