Soccer <\/p>\n
Hey Mauricio Pochettino, does Cristian Roldan<\/a> have your attention?<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The 2025 MLS Best XI midfielder bagged a first-half brace within 15 minutes on Saturday to lead Seattle Sounders FC<\/a> to a resounding 4-1 victory<\/a> over St. Louis CITY SC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n In the process, Roldan continued to make his case for a spot on the USMNT<\/a> roster at the 2026 FIFA World Cup<\/a> this summer.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n alllllllllllll the angles of CR’s opening goal \ud83d\udd01 pic.twitter.com\/6k5AeQZzsY<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Earning Man of the Match<\/a> honors, Roldan connected with a pair of Albert Rusn\u00e1k<\/a> corner kicks by twice sneaking in at the back post to get the Sounders off and running at Lumen Field.<\/p>\n “I was surprised that the ball was coming my way,” Roldan admitted of his nearly identical second goal. “We had a couple of plays where that setup is the same for different plays.<\/p>\n “When you decide to run it twice, I don’t think teams really think about other teams running it twice, so that’s probably why I was so free.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Cristian hive rise up \ud83d\ude42\u200d\u2195\ufe0f pic.twitter.com\/jm4QBDEfhR<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n After returning to the international ranks last year with USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino asserting\u00a0“he is what we need”<\/a>, Roldan has picked up where he left off with 3g\/3a across all competitions this season.<\/p>\n The 30-year-old veteran hopes such performances are enough to earn him a second World Cup call-up next month, with the tournament to be hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada.<\/p>\n Doing so could potentially allow the Sounders midfielder to play on his home pitch when the USMNT host Group D opponents Australia in Seattle on June 19.<\/p>\n “Obviously, it’s always in the back of my mind. It’s a dream for everybody as a kid to be able to go to a World Cup, and for me, really, I don’t see myself as a lock by any means,” Roldan shared. “I have to keep performing here with the Sounders to give myself the best chance. \u2029<\/p>\n “And look, I don’t get on the score sheet very often, but when I do, I’ve got to appreciate it. I can’t take it for granted, but I just hope that I’m being seen for all the little things that I do for the group.”<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n The perfect ending to a Sounders Matchday \ud83d\ude4c pic.twitter.com\/e0ECoD8Ndq<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) April 19, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n Saturday’s triumph extended the Sounders’ unbeaten home record to 18 games (13W-0L-5D) across all competitions, stretching back to June of last year.<\/p>\n In turn, Seattle have climbed back into the top four in the Western Conference (5W-1L-1D; 16 points) ahead of welcoming\u00a0FC Dallas<\/a>\u00a0next Saturday (10:30 pm ET | Apple TV<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n
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World Cup ambitions<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
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Sounders in stride<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n