Will Bruin sends the Seattle Sounders to the MLS Cup game again

By Lou Roesch

Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (December 1, 2017) Just as he did a week ago in helping the Seattle Sounders to a convincing road win in the first leg of the Western Conference Finals, Seattle forward Will Bruin did in his former team netting a goal and an assist as the defending MLS Cup champions defeated the Houston Dynamo 3-0 and advanced to a second straight MLS Cup title game.

Bruin, traded in the offseason to Seattle re-energized his career, and once again claimed his dominance as one of the top scorers in MajorLeague Soccer. His goal in the 73^rd minute and Seattle’s third of the game marked his third goal in as many games against his former team.

Seattle took the lead in and the series for all intents and purposes in the 22^nd minute on a perfectly weighted touch pass to Victor Rodriguez from Bruin.

Tomas Martinez was flagged for a red card in the 66^th minute just nine minutes after Clint Dempsey had pushed Seattle to a 2-0 lead.

Playing a man down, the Houston Dynamo defense could not contain the Seattle offense as Harry Shipp found Will Bruin racing into the box and tapping home a chip shot to seal Seattle’s win.

Bruin added two goals and an assist in four playoff starts in 2017 and returns to the title game for the third time in his career. The St. Louis native’s first two appearances came as a member of the Houston Dynamo.

Seattle finished off the Western Conference Finals the same way they had their previous four matches at Century Link Field. shutting out with a goal differential of plus 15.

Sounders keeper Stefan Frei extended his scoreless minutes streak to 557 most in MLS history.

Frei summed up the Sounders playoff attitude saying “Bringing home a trophy (MLS Cup title) is our focus.”

The defending champions travel to Toronto FC for a rematch of the 2016 title game at BMO Field on Saturday December 9, 2017. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m. ET.

Former Houston Dynamo star Will Bruin leads Seattle to a 2-0 playoff win

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved

By Lou Roesch

Special Correspondent

Copyright 2017 All Rights Reserved

HOUSTON, TEXAS (November 23, 2017)  Forward Will Bruin (No. 17, shown left) sealed Seattle’s opening leg win over his former team minutes before halftime on Tuesday night in Houston. Traded following the 2016 season after recording his worst scoring output in his six years as a Dynamo, the veteran rebounded with an 11 goal season in 2017. Bruin has become the perfect complement to Clint Dempsey, national team scoring legend.

Seattle, who seeking its second MLS Cup title in as many seasons, opened the scoring behind a Gustav Svennson header in the eleventh minute. The Swede’s unlikely goal was just in second in 32 appearances with Seattle.

Eighteen minutes later, Houston keeper Joe Willis’ stop of a Seattle penalty conversion only delayed the inevitable giving the record crowd of more than 22,000 Dynamo faithful faint hope that Houston would rebound with a win.

Photo by Darla S Tamulitis, La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2017, All Rights Reserved

Joevin Jones, pulled down in the box that led to Dynamo defender Jalil Anibaba’s red card departure from the game, delivered a perfect header to the far post. Bruin perfectly position sent a soaring header into the back of the net for his second 2017 playoff goal of the season.  It was also the second goal of the season for the former Dynamo star against his old team this season. His twelfth goal of the season put Houston in a two goal bind from which only five teams in MLS playoff history had ever rebounded to win the match.

“I heard a nice ‘F-U Bruin’ chant, so that was good,” Bruin said with a laugh. “It didn’t surprise me though. I was happy to score and get the win.”

To make matters worse for Houston, Bruin who has scored more goals than any other player at BBVA Compass Stadium raced towards the corner where he would usually greet his Dynamo teammates only this time, no one was there to celebrate the wide-eyed smiling Bruin.

Seattle needs but a 0-0 draw in the leg 2 game on Thursday at home. Bruin, who helped lead Houston to MLS Cup title games in 2011 and 2012 would like nothing more than to eliminate his old team and return the Sounders Major League Soccer’s championship game in 2017. “It would be great to be in Seattle and knock Houston out to go to MLS Cup,” Bruin said with a smile.

Five times in MLS playoffs history has a team come back from 0-2 down to win a game (not series). Never has it been done playing shorthanded.

Houston downs San Jose, 2-0; raises unbeaten streak to 34 games.

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2013 TexSport Publications

HOUSTON, TEXAS (March 30, 2013) Scoring two goals in the first half, the Houston Dynamoextended the unbeaten streak to 34 games in downing the San Jose Earthquakes 2-0 in front of 17,415 fans at BBVA Compass Stadium in Houston.

The Dynamo came out with a balanced attack and countered any offensive threat of the Hurricane with solid defense.

Forward Will Bruin got the Dynamo on the scoreboard in the 17^th minute when midfielder Bonick Garcia got the ball on the left side and threaded it to Bruin.

Bruin made an excellent shot pass goalkeeper Jon Busch for the score.

It was his first goal of the season and the 17^th of his career.

Then forward Giles Barnes connected on a Brad Davis pass to also get his second goal of his career.

His goal came in the 42^nd minute and closed out the scoring for the game.

Houston led in most statistical categories; attempts on goal (13-10), shots on target (7-1), shots inside (10-7), and possession (50.7%-49.3%).

Three yellow cards were issued; two to the Earthquakes (Ty Harden and Victor Bernardez) and one to Houston (Adam Moffit).

Houston is now 6-5 in all-time meeting with San Jose.

In their last meeting, the Dynamo downed San Jose 1-0 on March 17, 2012.

Houston will next face Portland on the road on April 6 before returning to BBVA Compass Stadium to play Chicago on April 20.