Horvath Gets a Clean Sheet in Scoreless Draw at Seattle

By Daniel Feuerstein | Seattle, WA | September 5th, 2026

Red Bull New York began their four-match road trip heading out to the Pacific Northwest to face the Seattle Sounders as they were trying to end an eleven-match winless streak themselves. While both sides were trying to find a goal to take a lead, it was the goalkeeping that was the star of the show from both Ethan Horvath and Andrew Thomas stood on their heads and made several strong saves to keep their nets empty for the entire 90 minutes, but the Red Bulls’ back line were also strong as both sides split the points as this one ended in a scoreless draw.

Ethan Horvath was perfect

All match long, Ethan Horvath stood on his head and kept the ball away from the twine. In both halves, he looked strong and timed his leaps and jumps to make spectacular saves that kept the Red Bulls in the match. Made a big chest save in the 18th minute, then late in the first half he leapt for the ball and made the right-hand stop in the 42nd minute. But his big moment of the match came in the 70th minute when he stopped a snap header from several yards away inside the area, then a rebound chance from point-blank as he was at the near post and stopped the shot.

Since the home opener, the Red Bulls have allowed goals to leak in, and it has been troubling when they have a strong performance, but they can’t keep the zero on the scoreboard for the opposition. This time, the club was committed to keeping the ball out of the net and helping out Horvath as much as possible. They were excellent, and they should be proud of how they kept that clean sheet to start this road trip.

“I think it was very important. You know, there’s been a handful of games where we conceded late goals this year, so I think it was really important as a team that we got the clean sheet. Of course, we had opportunities to win the game, and that’s the next level to when we get those chances that we can finish them, so we can leave Seattle with 1-0, 2-0 win, but you know was my first time coming to Seattle on a club level, and you know like everyone says it’s a tough place to come with the field, the team is good, the atmosphere and whatnot. So I think, on the positive, we can be a group. Be positive and leave Seattle on a good start to the away trip,” said Ethan Horvath

Andrew Thomas had a solid game as well

You have to give Sounders goalkeeper Andrew Thomas some respect, as he played very well in net. The Red Bulls attack was missing that killer pass to set up shots, and Lumen Field is a difficult place to play when you face the Sounders at home. There was that early moment when Cade Cowell was attacking down the far side and tried to shoot the ball at a tough angle. Thomas did make the save, but the ball was trapped below his backside, as it looked like Thomas was sitting on the ball when he made the save in the 48th minute. He also handled a great shot from Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting that surprised everyone and, somehow, through a screen by his own defenders, made the save late in the second half.

Defense was impeccable

You really can’t say much for the Red Bulls’ defense this season, as they have either been out of position, lost concentration, or just couldn’t catch up fast enough to make the stop. This time, the backline of Matthew Dos Santos, Justin Che, Julian Bazan, and Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty was up to the task, and when current loaned-out player Devin Padelford was subbed in for Dos Santos, they made the stops when they had the chance as well. Especially down the middle of the park, when you saw blocked shots from the centerbacks. Bazan and Che were concentrating and waiting for the right time to make the stops and start to advance the ball down the pitch.

Consequences of this result

While this performance was strong, taking a point away from Seattle was a solid result, with other scores in the Eastern Conference ending as well. The Red Bulls are officially out of the Wild Card spots as both Orlando City and the Philadelphia Union are occupying them right now. While both the Union and the Red Bulls have the same record, the goal difference is in favor of the Union, as they are currently at -3, while the Red Bulls are at -14. There are matches remaining, and as always, the Eastern Conference is a crapshoot, so it’s up to the Red Bulls to start climbing back up the ladder. With Ronald Donkor earning a yellow card in the match, he will now be suspended for the midweek matchup at LAFC due to yellow card accumulation.

“I would say that it was a really strong response in terms of intensity, in terms of competitiveness, and in terms of commitment. We spent a lot of time this week talking about some of those things, the basic things, but ultimately the foundation for any good team, and so tonight, I could not be more proud of the players. The way that they stepped on the field; this is never an easy place to come. Seattle, their history that they have here, the atmosphere, obviously, the turf is a unique challenge when you do not play on it every week. This was a real team effort and a really big step for us in the growth and maturity of this team,” said Michael Bradley

Red Bull New York takes a scoreless draw at the Seattle Sounders for their second Clean Sheet of the season

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