SEATTLE – Seattle Sounders midfielder Ozzie Alonso is in the midst of one of the finest seasons of his already-illustrious MLS career and, with his play in recent weeks, has even vaulted himself into the discussion as a fringe candidate for the league’s MVP award.
But the 30-year-old was left despondent in the postgame locker room following Seattle’s 0-0 draw against the Houston Dynamo at CenturyLink Field on Wednesday after he picked up a 64th-minute red card for making contact with the face of Houston forward Will Bruin.
The draw denied Seattle a chance to clinch a spot in the 2016 MLS Cup playoffs and also marked the second straight a week a Sounders veteran has picked up an ill-advised second-half red card after captain Brad Evans was ejected from the team’s 2-1 victory over the Vancouver Whitecaps on Oct.