Albert Rusnak scored three goals as the Seattle Sounders defeated the host Columbus Crew 4-0 on Saturday night.
Jordan Morris added a goal and an assist and goalkeeper Andrew Thomas, playing for the injured Stefan Frei (concussion), made one save in posting the shutout for the Sounders (12-9-7, 43 points).
The Crew (14-5-7, 49 points), who were unbeaten in seven straight matches in all competitions — including a 3-1 victory against Los Angeles FC in the Leagues Cup final — could have clinched an Eastern Conference playoff berth with a victory.
Columbus third-string goalkeeper Abraham Romero, making his MLS debut, was shown a red card in first-half stoppage time, not only leaving the Crew short-handed the rest of the game, but without another goalie as Patrick Schulte (U.S.) and Nicholas Hagen (Guatemala) were both away on international duty.
That meant defender Sean Zawadzki had to don the red goalkeeper’s jersey.
The match changed on Romero’s foul, which came after Seattle’s Cristian Roldan lifted a pass from just past midfield over the Columbus defense for Morris.
Romero charged off his line and past the top of the penalty area, crashing into Morris and Zawadzki just as the defender got his foot on the ball to steer it clear of the onrushing Morris.
All three players crumpled to the ground, with Romero and Morris needing medical attention. At first, it appeared Romero might have to leave due to an injury as Crew trainers checked him for a concussion. But once he got back to his feet, referee Rosendo Mendoza showed him a red card for denying a goal-scoring opportunity.
Crew coach Wilfried Nancy summoned Zawadzki to the sidelines to change jerseys.
When the match resumed, Rusnak blasted a low, 25-yard free kick around the Columbus wall and into the left side netting, leaving a diving Zawadzki no chance to make a save.
Morris made it 2-0 in the 60th minute on an odd-man rush. Morris got the ball in the middle of the field in the attacking end and sent the ball wide to Paul Rothrock on the left wing. Rothrock dribbled toward the end line and sent a low cross to Morris just inside the top of the 6-yard box and he put a one-timer past a hard-charging Zawadzki.
Rusnak sealed the win with goals in the 67th and 70th minutes.
He scored his second goal of the match off a pass from Josh Atencio and put a 20-yard shot into the lower left corner of the net. For his third goal, he took a left-wing cross from Morris and put a one-timer from 12 yards out past a diving Zawadzki.
–Field Level Media