Lodeiro's three assists in the 3-2 victory over the Dynamo give him 15 this season and 35 in his career, and the Sounders can still clinch a first-round bye.
HOUSTON — Nicolas Lodeiro had the first three-assist game of his career, giving him a franchise-record 35 in his career, leading the Sounders to a 3-2 victory over the Houston Dynamo on Sunday.
Lodeiro’s corners set up headers for Chad Marshall, his fourth of the season, in the 30th minute, and Gustav Svensson, his third, early in the second half. Marshall made his 400th Major League Soccer appearance, just the second field player to reach that milestone.
Kevin Garcia got his first career goal for Houston with a header off a corner from Oscar Boniek Garcia in the 63rd minute.
Raul Ruidiaz picked up the winner, his eighth goal in just 13th appearances, when his shot went under Tyler Deric in the 87th minute. Lodeiro fed the ball ahead to Ruidiaz for his 15th assist, which ties him for third in the league and is the most in Sounders history for a season. He surpassed the Sounders career assist mark of 34 set by Fredy Montero and Mauro Rosales.
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Houston ensured a tight finish when a shot from Romell Quioto in the 89th minute skimmed off the head of Mauro Manotas for his 17th goal.
Looking ahead, the Sounders will clinch a first-round bye if they beat San Jose in Sunday’s finale and LAFC and FC Dallas do no better than tie their final matches. Or, if the Sounders win, LAFC wins and Dallas loses. Or, the Sounders tie and LAFC and Dallas both lose.