Raul Ruidiaz scored two goals for the Seattle Sounders, but host Charlotte FC matched each of their opponent’s scores in a 3-3 draw Saturday night.
Charlotte’s Patrick Agyemang posted the tying goal in the 89th minute on a header for the rookie’s first Major League Soccer goal. He knocked in Nathan Byrne’s pass.
Cristian Roldan also scored for the Sounders. Ruidiaz’s second goal came in the 70th minute as Seattle seemed to solve some of its recent goal-scoring woes.
Defender Jaylin Lindsey posted his first career goal for Charlotte, providing a thrill for the 23-year-old in his hometown, and teammate Ashley Westwood also scored.
Charlotte (6-8-4, 22 points) generated lots of excitement for the home fans, but has only one victory in its last five games.
Seattle (8-6-4, 28 points) had too many defensive breakdowns to hold three one-goal leads. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei of the Sounders didn’t record a save.
Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina was credited with three saves.
Roldan hadn’t scored since the opening game of the season Feb. 26, but he got Seattle on the board in the 11th minute. He went on a long run and got past the last line of defenders to track down Jackson Ragen’s through ball. Then Roldan beat Kahlina, who had come away from the net, with the shot.
Lindsey scored in the 17th minute as Charlotte tied the score. He was in his eighth game of the season and 26th of his career.
It was a dandy play from Karol Swiderski that set up Lindsey. Swiderski tracked down the ball behind the end line and had stepped out of bounds, but the ball was in play when he delivered the highlight-worthy pass, providing an easy finish for Lindsey
Seattle went back on top in the 35th minute on Ruidiaz’s third tally of the season — all coming in the last six games. Ruidiaz took a pass from Leo Chu and dribbled back from the box for a better angle and powered a shot to the right corner.
Westwood’s goal in the 53rd minute pulled Charlotte even.
Seattle went ahead when Ruidiaz converted off Joao Paulo’s cross. Ruidiaz stormed in close to the net from near the left post to notch his second goal of the game.
–Field Level Media
