A look at all 17 of Sounders striker Raul Ruidiaz's 2021 goals

Published Nov. 7, 2021

Raul Ruidiaz has been on a torrid pace this season, notching 17 goals in 24 games to lead the Sounders FC to another MLS playoff appearance. The Peruvian striker is tied for third place among all goal scorers in the league and has tied the Sounders' club record for goals scored in a season. Here's a look at how he's done it.

Away games
Home games
2
2
Home games
Away games
2
2
Goal No. 1
Date: 4/16/2021
Game: SEA vs. MIN, 4-0 win
Minute scored: 70
Type: Right foot
Expected goal percentage: 37%
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Goal No. 2
Date: 4/16/2021
Game: SEA vs. MIN, 4-0 win
Minute scored: 73
Type: Left foot
Expected goal percentage: 73%
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Goal No. 3
Date: 5/2/2021
Game: SEA vs. LA, 3-0 win
Minute scored: 20
Type: Right foot
Expected goal percentage: 33%
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Goal No. 4
Date: 5/2/2021
Game: SEA vs. LA, 3-0 win
Minute scored: 90+3
Type: Left foot
Expected goal percentage: 50%
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Goal No. 5
Date: 5/9/2021
Game: POR vs. SEA, 1-2 win
Minute scored: 63
Type: Penalty kick
Expected goal percentage: 79%
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Goal No. 6
Date: 5/23/2021
Game: SEA vs. ATL, 1-1 tie
Minute scored: 6
Type: Header
Expected goal percentage: 6%
Ruidiaz says: "I know that I’m not the tallest forward. Everybody needs to know what their strength and weakness are. My strength is always looking for the second play or second bounce if the ball is coming through the air. I know my strength is not heading the ball. My strength is finding the ball on the floor, that’s why I don’t have many headers."
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Goal No. 7
Date: 6/19/2021
Game: LA vs. SEA, 1-2 win
Minute scored: 49
Type: Right foot
Expected goal percentage: 37%
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Goal No. 8
Date: 6/23/2021
Game: SEA vs. RSL, 2-1 win
Minute scored: 88
Type: Right foot
Expected goal percentage: 79%
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Goal No. 9
Date: 6/26/2021
Game: SEA vs. VAN, 2-2 tie
Minute scored: 40
Type: Left foot
Expected goal percentage: 62%
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Goal No. 10
Date: 7/7/2021
Game: SEA vs. HOU, 2-0 win
Minute scored: 90+4
Type: Right foot
Expected goal percentage: 41%
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Goal No. 11
Date: 7/22/2021
Game: ATX vs. SEA, 0-1 win
Minute scored: 67
Type: Right foot
Expected goal percentage: 2%
Ruidiaz says: "It was not just an accident. I’ve been trying that in training, to shoot from distance. In the game, where I was and where the ball bounced, almost every goalkeeper in the world would be off his line because the ball was far away. So, that is something that I instinctively knew. I calculated it in my mind, so when I got a chance on a ball like that, I took the shot."
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Goal No. 12
Date: 8/15/2021
Game: POR vs. SEA, 2-6 win
Minute scored: 72
Type: Right foot
Expected goal percentage: 68%
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Goal No. 13
Date: 8/15/2021
Game: POR vs. SEA, 2-6 win
Minute scored: 55
Type: Right foot
Expected goal percentage: 10%
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Goal No. 14
Date: 8/18/2021
Game: DAL vs. SEA, 0-1 win
Minute scored: 63
Type: Right foot
Expected goal percentage: 5%
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Goal No. 15
Date: 9/29/2021
Game: SJ vs. SEA, 1-3 win
Minute scored: 25
Type: Left foot
Expected goal percentage: 8%
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Goal No. 16
Date: 9/29/2021
Game: SJ vs. SEA, 1-3 win
Minute scored: 42
Type: Penalty kick
Expected goal percentage: 79%
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Goal No. 17
Date: 11/1/2021
Game: SEA vs. LA, 1-1 tie
Minute scored: 50
Type: Penalty kick
Expected goal percentage: 79%
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Credits

Reporting: Sean Quinton

Design and development: Lauren Flannery

Goal information by: The Seattle Sounder FC

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