Seattle Sounders’ Jordan Morris Out Early After Injury vs Colorado
The Seattle Sounders opened their 2026 MLS campaign with a 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids at Lumen Field, but the win was overshadowed by an early injury to star forward Jordan Morris. Morris exited just seven minutes into the season opener with a thigh issue, dampening what was otherwise a strong start for Seattle.
Backed by 31,606 fans, the Sounders relied on Paul Rothrock’s immediate impact off the bench and goals from Albert Rusnák and Rothrock himself to secure three points against Colorado.
Early Blow for Seattle Sounders
The night began on a concerning note for the Seattle Sounders when Morris went down in the seventh minute. After sitting on the turf and signaling for medical attention, he limped off the field visibly frustrated. He later sat at the end of the bench with his jersey pulled briefly over his face.
The club confirmed at halftime that Morris was dealing with a thigh injury. Head coach Brian Schmetzer said after the match that the forward would undergo further evaluation to determine the severity.
Given Morris’ history of injuries — including a torn ACL in 2021 and multiple muscle strains in recent seasons — the setback immediately raised concerns about his availability moving forward.
Rothrock Seizes the Moment
When Morris exited, Paul Rothrock stepped in — and delivered.
In the 15th minute, Rothrock chased down a loose ball near the sideline and whipped a cross into the six-yard box. Rusnák rose to meet it, heading home the first goal of the Sounders’ 2026 season past Colorado goalkeeper Zack Steffen.
Rothrock wasn’t finished. In the 62nd minute, he capped a transition move initiated by Jesús Ferreira with a powerful left-footed strike to double Seattle’s lead.
After tallying four goals and seven assists in 33 matches last season, Rothrock began 2026 with one goal and one assist in his first appearance.
Chaotic First Half at Lumen Field
The opening 45 minutes were anything but smooth. Due to injuries and multiple video reviews, the first half stretched to 61 minutes of game clock time.
Referee Malik Badawi was central to the drama. He disallowed a goal from Hassani Dotson after video review determined a foul in the buildup. He also initially issued a red card to Colorado’s Noah Cobb before reducing it to a yellow after another review.
Colorado accumulated four yellow cards in a rugged half filled with stoppages. Dotson later exited with a head injury during extended stoppage time, forcing Seattle into another early substitution.
Strong Defensive Finish
Seattle goalkeeper Andrew Thomas made key stops late, including a crucial save in second-half stoppage time to preserve the clean sheet.
Despite the emotional and physical toll of the match, the Seattle Sounders earned their 10th result (win or draw) in the last 11 regular-season meetings with Colorado.
What’s Next for Seattle Sounders?
The Sounders now head into a stretch of six consecutive matches away from Seattle, including a Concacaf Champions Cup fixture in Spokane. Lumen Field will undergo renovations ahead of this summer’s FIFA World Cup events.
Seattle returns to MLS action next Saturday on the road against Real Salt Lake.
FAQs
Jordan Morris exited in the seventh minute due to a thigh injury. He will undergo further evaluation to determine the severity.
Paul Rothrock came on as a substitute and contributed immediately with one assist and one goal.
Albert Rusnák opened the scoring, and Paul Rothrock added a second-half goal in the 2-0 win.
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