It’s not a revenge match by any stretch of the imagination, Wednesday night’s rematch with Real Salt Lake is an opportunity for the Seattle Sounders to measure their recent progress against the Western Conference leaders. When the two teams met two weeks ago at America First Field the Sounders were thoroughly outmatched 2-0.
EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES
While there are no excuses in professional sports there are times when extenuating circumstances may have an impact on a game In the May 15th match the Sounders were three days removed from a massive 2-1 win over the Cascadia Rivals Portland Timbers.The Real Salt game was the second of three matches in seven days for the Rave Green. The Vancouver Whitecaps another Cascadia rival awaited the Sounders three days after their match with Real Salt Lake. With legitime fixture congestion, Brian Schmetzer rotated his lineup against Real Salt Lake resting six starters. Lines are drawn as to whether Schmetzer over-rotated or was prudent.
A LITTLE MOMENTUM
For most of his club’s contest against the Whitecaps, it looked as if it was the latter After leading the majority of the contest the Sounders gave up a late penalty in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time which allowed the visiting Whitecaps to grab a point at the death. An inspiring round-of-16 U.S Open Cup win over Phoenix Rising buoyed the Sounders into a professional 2-1 win over St. Louis City SC. Sporting three wins in three games the Sounders are now looking at the last team to beat them.
TOUGH OPPONENT
RSL continued stacking points after its win over the Sounders, a 5-3 win over Colorado was followed by a 3-3 draw with FC Dallas. RSL is unbeaten in it’s last 11 MLS games which is third longest in club history. A twist of fate now finds RSL playing three matches in seven days. Wednesday’s rematch with the Sounders is the second game in four days and will be followed up with a contest against Austin FC in three days. Wednesday’s contest will not be about who plays and would does not.
INTRICACY TO WHAT END?
For the Sounders it will be about execution. Inserting Cristian Roldan in a central holding midfield role has ignited the imagination of midfielders Albert Rusnak, Obed Vargas, and left-back Alex Roldan. Rusnak and Vargas’s versatility in the middle of the field has put opposing defenders on their heels. The movements of Rusnak and Vargas in tight spaces have created room up front for Ruidiaz to come back, collect the ball, and free up Jordan Morris to use his speed in the left or right flanks.
EXECUTION IS THE KEY
The quick passing and runs off the ball in transition were stellar for most of the game against St. Louis SC. Of the two goals scored against St. Louis was counted as an own goal and the other was a lightning-fast break by Morris after a sublime pass from Rusnak. Both goals were a result of the Sounders putting pressure on St. Louis in transition. The question is can the Sounders continue their continuity against RSL?
Morris and Ruidiaz will need to be lethal and clinical in their finishing when given the opportunity. The Sounders will need to score goals to keep pace with an RSL attack that is ranked second in the league in goals scored per match. The RSL attack is averaging two goa per match and is led by Chicho Arango’s 13 goals and eight assists in 15 MLS games.
SOUNDERS INJURY REPORT
- OUT: Jonathan Bell (hamstring)
- OUT: Leo Chu (adductor)
- OUT: Nathan (quad)
- OUT: Braudilio Rodrigues (hamstring)
- QUESTIONABLE: Pedro de la Vega (hamstring)
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PHOTO CREDIT CHARIS WILSON
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