The Sounders opened the first round with a shootout win over Dynamo after a scoreless duel in regulation.

SEATTLE (AP) — Alex Roldan scored the deciding goal in a 5-4 shootout after Seattle goaltender Stefan Frey and Houston’s Steve Clark battled to a scoreless draw in regulation and the Sounders rallied to beat Dynamo in the best-of-three match Opening round of the MLS Cup on Monday evening.

Frey was not tested throughout the rainy night and finished the game without a save. But he got it right in the fourth round of the penalty shootout, forcing Erik Sviatchenko to miss wide from the left flank. Roldan fired a right-footed shot into the top right corner for fourth place in the Western Conference.

Fry has led the league in clean sheets this season with 13, after leading the league with 14 last year. He allowed just 32 goals in 33 postseason games with 14 shutouts, all with the Sounders.

Steve Clark stopped three shots in his 18th career postseason start – the last six against the fifth-seeded Dynamo.

The Sounders, who entered the league in 2009, have never lost a game at home to Dynamo.

Houston were forced to punt from the 66th minute after midfielder Coco Carrasquilla was sent off for picking up two yellow cards in five minutes.

The Sounders’ top scorer Jordan Morris left the field with an injury in the 52nd minute. He was replaced by Raul Ruidiaz, who scored the first goal of the shootout for Seattle. The others were from Albert Rusnak, Jackson Reigen and Christian Roldan.

Dynamo’s successful players were Ezequiel Ponce, Griffin Dorsey, Sebastian Kowalczyk and Daniel Steres.

Seattle has made the playoffs in 15 of 16 seasons, winning four conference championships and two MLS Cups in 2016 and 2019. The club is off to the worst start in its history this season, going 12-2-3 in its second season. half.

Houston, which has set club records with 54 points and eight wins on the road this season, will host the Sounders on Sunday.

Dynamo is playing its 10th postseason game and first in a row since 2013. The two clubs tied 2-2 in Houston during the regular season. Seattle beat Dynamo at home with a score of 1:0.

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