SOCCER: Paul Rothrock’s late goal lifts Sounders over Dynamo

Paul Rothrock's goal in the 83rd minute off a headed assist by Jordan Morris was all the visiting Seattle Sounders would need to produce a 1-0 win over the Houston Dynamo on Saturday in a Western Conference match.

Rothrock's tally, his team-leading third of the season, was facilitated by a centered entry pass from the right wing by Kalani Kossa-Rienzi. Morris outjumped a Houston defender to get his head on the pass and pushed it onto the foot of Rothrock, who was waiting uncovered at the back post.

That goal was enough for the victory because Seattle goalkeeper Andrew Thomas made four saves, in the process securing his fifth clean sheet in six matches this year while extending his scoreless minutes streak to 403 minutes. The Sounders (4-1-1, 13 points) have not allowed a goal since the 47th minute of 2-1 loss on the road to Real Salt Lake on Feb. 28, Seattle's lone setback of the season.

The Sounders have now earned points in nine straight games against Houston, with seven of those results wins.

The match was played in a constant driving rain which was the aftermath of a thunderstorm that delayed the opening kickoff by a half-hour.

Seattle had the game's first scoring chance as Jesus Ferreira's low-percentage right-footed shot from the center of the box in the 20th minute was easily saved by Dynamo goalkeeper Jonathan Bond.

Houston (2-3-0, 6 points) responded nine minutes later when Guilherme Santos tested Thomas with right footed shot from the center of the box that was also gobbled up. From that point through the halftime whistle the Dynamo was the aggressor, pressuring the Seattle defense with three more shots but never forcing Thomas to make a play.

Guilherme had Houston's best scoring opportunity of the game in the 47th minute but his shot with a 26% expected goal percentage was knocked away by the Seattle keeper.

Thomas then cemented the win, and the shutout, when he stopped Ondrej Lingr's low-percentage shot one minute into added time.

-Field Level Media/Reuters