To say the sky is falling and the Sounders season is in deep peril would be an overstatement and just north of irresponsible journalism. What’s so however with Sounders FC ( 5-1-4, 19 points) is that they have zero wins, three days and a loss in their last four games. Saturdays 1-1 draw at Minnesota United FC ( 4-4-3, 15points) was the Sounders latest version of splitting the spoils with their opponents.
The draw its self looks impressive enough given it was on the road, the Sounders fought back from an early deficit and ended the game on the front and almost leaving Allianz Field with a victory were it not it for a couple of saves by the goal post and crossbar. Yes it was another gutsy effort for the Sounders but at the end of the game, it was another wasted opportunity for the Sounders according to Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan.
“Well interesting game., we had our chances and in the end it’s a one point against a quality side and in an unbelievable stadium, great atmosphere but we felt that we could’ve taken away two more points but on another day you score those two headers off the post and you’re celebrating in the locker room. “
While injuries, red cards and down right back luck have contributed to the Sounders being winless in their last four games the reality is that the Sounders now find themselves a fourth place in the Western Conference standings. LAFC ( 7-3-1, 24pts) leads the pack followed by the LA Galaxy (7-1-2, 22pts) and the Houston Dynamo (6-1-1 19pts) who have the same number of points with Seattle but have a plus-eight goal differential compared to the Sounders six. The Dynamo have played two fewer games than the Sounders and are on an upward trend having one of their last five games.
And as the MLS schedule makers would have it, the Sounders next game will be next Saturday when they host the Houston Dynamo. That is a must-win game for the Sounders.
GAME NOTES
- Saturday’s match marked Seattle‘s first visit to Allianz Field, Minnesota United’s new state-of-the-art facility that opened in April. With tonight’s results, Sounders FC moves to 4-0-1 all-time against the Loons in MLS play.
- Sounders FC now has 19 points through 10 games and sits tied for third in the Western Conference with the Houston Dynamo. Brian Schmetzer’s side is now 1-1-2 on the road this season. The 19 points are tied for the third-best start through 10 games in club history, while this is the first time Seattle has lost just once in its first 10 fixtures to start a season.
- Cristian Roldan scored his second goal of 2019 in the 42nd minute of the match, leveling the score at 1-1. For Roldan, the strike was his 16th in his MLS career dating back to his rookie season in 2015.
- Saturday’s contest marked the first time that the Rave Green faced former captain Osvaldo Alonso as a member of an opposing team. Alonso is Seattle‘s all-time leader in appearances, starts and minutes played after signing with the club prior to its 2009 inaugural MLS season. All told, Alonso helped Sounders FC to four Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups, the 2014 MLS Supporters’ Shield and the 2016 MLS Cup in a decade of service for the club. His 339 appearances across all competitions are just 13 shy of Zach Scott for the most in Sounders history dating back to 1974.
- Saturday marked the return of several Sounders to Brian Schmetzer’s 18-man lineup, with Víctor Rodríguez (concussion) and Chad Marshall (right knee inflammation) both rejoining the starting XI from their recent injuries. Raúl Ruidíaz (right heel contusion) and Will Bruin (left hamstring strain) returned to action on Saturday as substitutes, while Nouhou (left ankle sprain) was also included on the bench.
- Roldan’s goal was the lone shot on goal for Seattle on Saturday, marking the sixth time in club history that Sounders FCscored on its only shot on target of the match. The Rave Green are 0-2-4 in those games.
- Defender Saad Abdul-Salaam made his first start of his Seattle career on Saturday night, getting the nod at right fullback in place of the suspended Kelvin Leerdam. Abdul-Salaam signed with Sounders FC following preseason training camp after stints with New York City FC (2018) and Sporting Kansas City (2015-2017). Leerdam was sent off stoppage time of last Sunday’s match against Los Angeles FC.
