Sounders open MLS season with resounding 4-0 win over Rapids

The United States international Jordan Morris’s two headers lifted the Seattle Sounders to a resounding 4-0 win over the Colorado Rapids in the season opener for both teams on Sunday night.

And we're off! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/dvTaQUMhIE

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) February 27, 2023

Cristian Roldan also scored on a header and Brazilian new signing Heber hit the target on his debut to delight 30,032 fans at Lumen Field.

4️⃣ Goals
3️⃣ Points
2️⃣ JMo Headers
1️⃣ Epic Night at Lumen Field

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) February 27, 2023

“You guys saw tonight what the team is capable of,” Seattle coach Brian Schmetzer said. “I thought it was great. I thought it was awesome.

More on this topic:

Rapids suspend Max Alves with alleged unlawful sports gambling

“I thought the guys were sharp and that they were mentally into the game. Starting at 3:30 p.m. when they walked in the locker room, everybody was real focused. And so they answered my questions.”

Seattle’s 2023 MLS debut came less than a month after the Sounders had a disappointingly brief appearance at the Club World Cup.

The first team from MLS to participate in the event, the Sounders lost to Egyptian powerhouse Al Ahly 1-0 in the quarterfinal round and ended up playing only one match in Morocco.

Roldan scored in the 25th minute by finishing off a chance that started with a cross by Morris, who has enjoyed his first multi-goal game since Aug. 30, 2020, against Los Angeles FC.

In the final moments of the first half, Morris got his first of the season with a diving header after an initial pass by Nicolas Lodeiro was bundled in front of goal.

“I think we had to get fit quicker than some of the other teams with obviously the Club World Cup, so I think that helped us,” Morris said.

“But we’ve been working on things that we showed on the field today for a long time, and to see it in action and to see it work like that was just a testament to all the hard work that everyone’s put in during the during the preseason.”