Jordan Morris has enjoyed a stellar start to the 2023 MLS season, but Saturday’s Man of the Match performance showed that the 28-year-old is on another level for the Seattle Sounders, regardless of where he plays on the field.
Morris got the start at the No. 9 position and walked away with his first four-goal performance as the Sounders rolled past Sporting KC 4-1 at Children’s Mercy Park. Morris became the first player in Sounders history to score four goals in a single game and currently leads the league with seven goals this season in four appearances.
Aided by Leo Chu and Nico Lodeiro’s distribution on his four goals, Morris continued his MVP-caliber start to the year as the Sounders rebounded from a disappointing Week 4 result.
“Definitely an outstanding game,” Morris said postmatch. “I think in my professional career, I’ve had a couple braces and one hat trick. But never ever in my career had four goals. Maybe as a youth player, but it’s been a long, long time and it means a lot.
“I always say I’m a goal-scorer. I thrive on being able to score goals,” Morris added.
Morris’ move to the No. 9 came out of necessity with Raul Ruidiaz on international duty and offseason acquisition Heber sidelined due to a hamstring injury. The Sounders also needed to fight back early after Sporting KC took an early 1-0 advantage through William Agada’s fifth-minute finish.
Still, the mountain wasn’t too difficult for the Sounders to climb and Morris delivered goals in all different ways on the field. Three of his goals came off of right foot and from clinical finishes in the box while his fourth and final goal came at the back post on a strong header. It was a great all-around performance from Morris, who showed great awareness in-and-around the box for all four of his goals.
“It’s somewhere I’ve played before,” Morris said of his move to the No. 9 “..[The responsibilities] are a little bit different than pressing as a winger obviously, so just managing that and understanding my [defensive] responsibilities with that. And then, again, doing, what I try to do best, which is stretch teams and make space underneath for Nico [Lodeiro] and Albert [Rusnak].
“Obviously, Léo playing out wide had a really, really good game and for me when he got the ball out wide, or anyone out wide got the ball, it was to be the guy in the box and try to get on the end of things,” Morris added.
Morris’ seven goals in 2023 has already tied his production from the entire 2022 campaign and certainly has him on pace to set a new career-high in goals. Not only was Morris able to step up in a big way at forward, he has continued to round out his game as an attacking player, finding any way to help the team succeed.
Now as a five-match April schedule is set to begin with a trip to rivals L.A. Galaxy, the Sounders will hope Morris can continue to be impactful regardless of where Schmetzer decides to start him.
“Jordan has certainly been on a tear to start the year, so credit to him,” Schmetzer said. “I think all four of his goals were good finishes, and his final goal where he headed it low into the net was another example of his continued work to improve at that part of his game.”