Albert Rusnak's lone goal against FC Dallas in game three propelled Seattle Sounders to a 1-0 triumph, sealing their place in the next round of MLS Cup playoffs.
Rusnak put the home side up just before halftime as fellow midfielder Joao Paulo threaded the needle to send the 29-year-old through on goal. Rusnak took the pass in his stride and slotted it home with a finish that nutmegged Dallas' Maarten Paes in the process.
The goal was Rusnak's seventh of the 2023 campaign, and his 11th overall since joining from Real Salt Lake in 2022. After the win, Sounders boss Brian Schmetzer praised the versatile midfielder for his performances thus far in the postseason, also reminding everyone of how effective he and Paulo were in their 2022 Concacaf Champions Cup triumph.
"Albert’s done a great job," Schmetzer said. "We won [Concacaf] Champions League with him playing next to [Joao Paulo] and Nico [Lodeiro] up a line. I still have that option. But he's certainly enjoying playing, he’s enjoying that spot on the field. It suits his best talents."
Schmetzer went on to praise Rusnak's ability to fill in wherever he's needed, a mark of a true team player.
"He’s a team guy," he said. "He would play wherever we asked him to with the same enthusiasm, same quality. That’s why you have a team now with some home games to go even further in the playoffs."
Rusnak himself believes that Seattle are most dangerous in transition moments when they sweep up the field after forcing turnovers from the opposition.
"Playing a bit deeper, you don’t get a lot of those chances to make those runs inside the box," said Rusnak. "It was [Joao Paulo's] pass that led me onto the run ... We're at our best when we win the ball and our first pass is direct and it’s forward."
Seattle now hold home field advantage in the Western Conference side of the playoffs following St Louis CITY's shock first-round exit to Sporting Kansas City. The Sounders return to action on November 25 to square off with the reigning league champs LAFC at Lumen Field.
Sign up now for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV to watch all the action from the 2023 Major League Soccer season. Click here to subscribe!
READ THE LATEST MLS NEWS, QUOTES & TRANSFER RUMOURS HERE
This article was originally published on 90min as Brian Schmetzer praises Albert Rusnak's versatility after Seattle Sounders' win over FC Dallas.
