At some point Sounders, head coach Brian Schmetzer will stop his mantra of we are out to win every game. Every press conference pre, post, and sometime mid practice or game Schmetzer finds a way to slip in the said mantra. That is no surprise every great coach in every sport knows repetition is the bedrock of consistency which leads to greatness.
In soccer a tie can be a win depending on the context and circumstances one uses as the measuring stick. On Sunday the Sounders earned a 1-1 draw at Austin FC. Sunday’s draw at Austin was three days removed from another draw. A 1-1 versus Club Leon at Estadio Leon stadium in Mexico. The draw saw the Sounders move into the Semifinal Round of the CONCACAF Scotiabank Champions League tournament. Yes, call that a win.
MISSING SOME FIREPOWER
On Sunday the Sounders were missing Stefan Frei (Right quad tendinitis)
Yeimar Gómez Andrade (Right high ankle sprain), Nico Lodeiro (Health & safety protocols), Jimmy Medranda (Left hamstring strain) , Raúl Ruidíaz (Right hamstring strain), and Andrew Thomas (Right calf strain). All but Thomas are not just starters but considered some of the best at their positions in the MLS.
Schmetzer inserted Leo Chu ( midfielder), Obed Vargas, midfielder) , Stefan Cleveland ( goalkeeper ), and Will Bruin as the lone striker. The bench consisted of Joshua Atencio, Jordan Morris , Fredy Montero, and Kelyn Rowe. On paper, it looked like Schmetzer would hunker down and hope for a counterattack or mistake by Austin.
PATIENTLY WAITING
Schmetzer and his coaching staff have found a strategy that works for the talented and deep Rave Green roster. Regardless of who is in the game, stay patient when defending and playing from the back and take each opportunity to get downfield with a quickness.
BESIEGED
On Sunday the Sounders spent the first fifteen minutes hunkered down in defense. Austin had three corner kicks in the first five minutes of the game. Credit the Sounders who were calm under pressure and stuck to the game plan. The Sounder’s first respite came in the eight-minute when Will Bruin earned a free-kick which allowed the team to collect its breath and wits. Once they found their footing in the game with short and swift passes the Sounders turned the tables on the home side. With midfield position, the Sounders found room in the flanks. A Cristian Roldan sprint down the right flank with the ball dangling off his laces ended with an exquisite pass to Bruin who was made a run towards the near post and somehow willed the ball into the back of the net. No pun intended.
WILD SECOND HALF
As expected Austin raced out of the halftime break with determination, vigor, and breathing fire in pursuit of the equalizer. After scoring five goals in their first two games at home both wins Austin FC was humbled 1-0 at Portland and out for revenge. The 1-0 deficit at halftime was acceptable. Austin threw caution to the wind and threw everyone but the goalkeeper towards the Sounders in pursuit of the equalizer. The home side’s determination paid a dividend in the 70th minute on a Diego Fagundez gooalso.
The last twenty minutes were a simple heavyweight slugfest. Both sides made late substitution’s with the Schmetzer inserting Montero and Morris in search of the game-winner. Cleveland made two game-saving saves and his buddy the goal post one. With the international break at hand, the Sounders will not play another game until April 2nd. The Rave Green will take on Minnesota United FC at Allianz Field.
ONE NAGGING TREND
A nagging trend for the Sounders is the penchant for allowing late games. In both draws against Leon and Austin, the Sounders gave up leads. The goals were well earned by the opposition. The question is whether this will be a trend or an aberration.
