By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

Sounders suffer another bad loss due to lack of execution and bad decision-making

Sounders take 1-0 lead then lose 2-1 to Sporting Kansas City

The Sounder’s dream start against hapless Sporting Kansas City became a recurring nightmare.  Moving the ball with a purpose the visitors took an early lead eleven minutes into the game. An exquisite pass by Joao Paulo found a streaking Jordan Morris whose clinical finish found the back of the KC net for the 1-0 lead. Dream on one would think.

FALL BACK

As they have done time and time again all season the Sounders retreated and ceded possession to Sporting KC  who made them pay.  The home side leveled the game when Sounders killer Johnny Russell scored his 7th goal against the Rave Green eight minutes later.  The two sides played to a stalemate for the rest of the half being content with the 1-1  score line.

SAME OLD STORY

 Head coach Brian Schmetzer’s halftime instruction brought life back to the team and saw the visitors nearly take the lead. A pass from  Albert Rusnack sprung  Morris down the left side.  Morris darted to the touchline and laid a perfect pass across the Sporting  KC goal mouth which was just too far for an on-running Raul Ruidiaz.  Another half-time wrinkle by Schmetzer was to push Reed Baker-Whiting into an advanced position down the left side. The overload worked on offense but was disastrous on defense. Baker-Whiting had issues coming back on defense and as a result, picked up a yellow card in the 61st  for a bad tackle  Sporting’s Russell.

KC TACTICAL GAME CHANGE

The back-and-forth affair continued with the home side winning the possession battle and having the more dangerous looks at goal.  Sporting KC head coach Peter Vermes’s insertion of Khiry Shelton for  Jake Davis at right back, Felipe Hernandez for Memo Rodriguez in the midfield, and Alenis Vargas for Daniel  Salloi in the 72nd minute changed the game.  The insertion of the speedy  Vargas at left wing was too difficult for  Baker-Whiting who picked up his second yellow a minute later for a reckless challenge on   Vargas.

MULTIPLE CHANGES

Down to ten men Schmetzer inserted Cody Baker for Ruidiaz which was a questionable move. Of all the players left on the pitch, Ruidiaz was the most dynamic.  The man advantage saw the Sporting KC  intensify its assault on the Sounders goal.  Schmetzer inserted Josh Atencio for Paulo in the 81st minute to stem the tide but it was useless.  Sporting KC continued its onslaught.  With his team under siege and the possibility of salvaging a point a reality,  Schmetzer inserted  Danny Susovski for Jordan Morris and  Antino Lopez for  Albert Rusnak in the 85th minute.

LACK OF EXECUTION

The intent was to bring in fresh legs to see out the game. What the moves caused was confusion on the defensive end. Sporting  KC’s Shelton found a wide-open Vargas streaking towards the Seattle goal . Vargas rifled home the game-winner in the 85th minute. The Sounders had two decent chances to tie the game but they went begging.  The best chance was Alex Roldan’s free just kick outside the Sporting KC  goal area in the 94th minute of stoppage time. The kick sailed over the net and ending hopes of a   Sounders comeback

THE  BIG TAKE

This was a game the Sounders should have and needed to win. Sporting KC  had lost its last seven games and was 0-8-2 in it’s last 10 games. For the  Sounders to take the lead and lose it in a lackluster fashion is disappointing.  When ahead the Sounders seem to fall back and cede possession which has been allowing other teams to get back in the game. There is a lack of execution due to a lack of awareness and most importantly a lack of leadership by the senior players.

POST GAME NOTES

  • Following tonight’s result, Sounders FC sits in 10th position in the Western Conference with 18 points (4-7-6), four points out of a postseason position at the halfway point of the 2024 campaign.
  • Seattle is now 12-12-4 all-time against Sporting Kansas City in MLS regular-season play.
  • Jordan Morris scored his fourth goal of the season in the first half, his 70th across all competitions for Sounders FC (third in club history).
  • Morris now has eight career goals against SKC in MLS regular-season play, including a historic four-goal performance last season. His eight strikes are the most of any player in the all-time series between the two sides, one ahead of SKC’s Johnny Russell, who scored his seventh on Saturday.
  • João Paulo recorded his first assist of the season on Morris’ goal. The Brazilian now has 24 career assists over five seasons with Seattle.
  • Reed Baker-Whiting made his first start of the season but was sent off in the second half after being issued his second yellow card

MATCH SUMMARY

Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Sporting Kansas City 2

Saturday, June 8, 2024

Venue: Children’s Mercy Park

Referee: Guido Gonzales, Jr.

Assistants: Cameron Blanchard, Andrew Bigelow

Fourth Official: Malik Badawi

VAR: Timothy Ford

Attendance: 18,177

Weather: 79 degrees and clear

SCORING SUMMARY

SEA – Jordan Morris (João Paulo) 12’

SKC – Johnny Russell 19’

SKC – Alenis Vargas (Khiry Shelton) 85’

MISCONDUCT SUMMARY

SKC – J Davis (caution) 45’+2’

SEA – Reed Baker-Whiting (caution) 61’

SEA – Yeimar (caution) 71’

SKC – Johnny Russell (caution) 71’

SEA – Reed Baker-Whiting (ejection) 73’

SKC – Khiry Shelton (caution) 90’+4’

LINEUPS & STATS

Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Frei; Alex Roldan, Yeimar, Jackson Ragen, Reed Baker-Whiting; Obed Vargas, João Paulo (Josh Atencio 81’), Cristian Roldan, Albert Rusnák (Antino Lopez* 84’), Jordan Morris (Danny Musovski 85’); Raúl Ruidíaz (Cody Baker 74’)

Substitutes not used: Andrew Thomas, Danny Leyva, Dylan Teves, Léo Chú, Paul Rothrock

*Tacoma Defiance player on Short-Term Agreement

Total shots: 10

Shots on goal: 1

Fouls: 16

Offside: 1

Corner-Kicks: 1

Saves: 2

Sporting Kansas City – Tim Melia; Andreu Fontas, Tim Leibold (Zorhan Bassong 89’), Jake Davis (Khiry Shelton 72’), Robert Castellanos; Nemanja Radoja, Memo Rodriguez (Felipe Hernandez 72’), Erik Thommy; Johnny Russell, Alan Pulido (Willy Agada 90’+6’), Daniel Salloi (Alenis Vargas 72’)

Substitutes not used: John Pulskamp, Robert Voloder, Kayden Pierre, Marinos Tzionis

Total shots: 15

Shots on goal: 4

Fouls: 13

Offside: 0

Corner-kicks: 9

Saves: 0

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