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Listen: Sounders are off to a record-breaking start despite missing key players

Seattle Sounders' Kelyn Rowe greets Raul Ruidiaz, right, after Ruidiaz scored a goal against the Houston Dynamo during the second half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday.
Ted S. Warren
/
The Associated Press
Seattle Sounders' Kelyn Rowe greets Raul Ruidiaz, right, after Ruidiaz scored a goal against the Houston Dynamo during the second half of an MLS soccer match Wednesday.

The Sounders are 8-0-5, and after their 2-0 win over the Houston Dynamo Wednesday night, they set the record for longest unbeaten streak to begin a season in MLS history. Given their long injury list, KNKX sports commentator Art Thiel says the feat is incredible.

The team has been without without Jordan Morris, Stefan Frei, Nico Lodeiro, Will Bruin and others, and they have also had to navigate players being called up for international play. Thiel says that they were so shorthanded on Wednesday that they had to call up a 16-year-old player from the developmental league.

Thiel says that with success like this, the defending champs remain favored to repeat again in November.

Thiel also adds that this was the first full capacity game since 2019, and the Sounders outdrew the Mariners, who were playing across the street, in attendance Wednesday night. Thiel says that this might be the only city in America where the MLS team outdraws the Major League Baseball team in attendance.

Never miss an episode again. Subscribe to Sports With Art Thiel with iTunes orGoogle Play now. You can find Art Thiel's work at Sportspress Northwest.

Kevin Kniestedt is a journalist, host and producer who began his career at KNKX in 2003. Over his 17 years with the station, he worked as a full time jazz host, a news host and produced the weekly show Sound Effect. Kevin has conducted or produced hundreds of interviews, has won local and national awards for newscasts and commentary.
Art Thiel is a co-founder and writer for the rising sports website Sportspress Northwest. In 2003 Thiel wrote the definitive book about the Seattle Mariners, “Out of Left Field,” which became a regional bestseller. In 2009, along with Steve Rudman and KJR 950 afternoon host Mike Gastineau, Thiel authored “The Great Book of Seattle Sports Lists,” a cross between historylink.org and Mad Magazine that has become mandatory reading for any sports fan who has an indoor bathroom.