Sounders record second straight shutout and Jesus Ferreira goal nets first goal as a Sounder in team's 1-0 win over San Diego FC.

The Sounders continued their ascent in the Western Conference standings with another back-to-back 1-0 win at home. The Sounders have yet to play a complete game . In the two games, the Sounders have seen a center back leave the first half with a leg injury. In the 1-0 over FC Dallas, Yeimar suffered a hamstring and was replaced by Jonathan Bell. A late Albert Runáck goal secured the win.

A WIN IS A WIN IS A WIN

In Wednesday’s midweek class, with second-place San Diego FC, Stuart Hawkins replaced Kim Kee-Hee, who suffered an ankle injury in the 34^th minute. Jesus Ferreira’s 58th-minute goal secured a second consecutive win for the Rave Green. In both games the Sounders have been stretched when defending and continued to show an overall lack of creativity inside the opponent’s goal box.

“Nobody is going to care two months from now [that it wasn’t our best performance]. The thing that we’ll do with this game is we’ll obviously assess the first half. And was it more than just the technical breakdown ?I mean Obed [Vargas] must have lost four balls in a row , “ said head coach Brian Schmetzer after the game. “ Was it more than just the technical piece? Did we get something wrong tactically? Did we not cover something when they pressed? We have got to look at that.”

FREI THE SAVOR AND A RESILIENT BACKLINE

Good defense wins championships. In the Sounders case, it has been exceptional goalkeeping from Stefan Frei. Frei was credited with seven overall saves. Three of the saves saved the game for the Sounders. Two minutes before the halftime break, Frei swatted San Diego midfielder Alex Mighten right footed shot destined for the bottom left corner. Frei’s next big save came after Frerriera’s goal. In the 65^th minute, Milan Lloski’s shot semd harmless until it was deflected and forced Frei to contort his body for the kick save.

“Stefan Frei is the best shot-stopping goalkeeper in this league bar none. I don’t care. It’s a fact. And then you get some of the intangibles. [Stuart] Hawkins, I mean come on, he’s defending against Chucky Lozano, he’s doing what he needs to do, ” s The kid might have made one mistake, or the ball dropped or he’s a little slow but the kid’s great. Jonathan Bell comes in last game, does his job. He’s quiet, nice kid, well-rounded kid, does his job, and we’re so thin, but those guys come in and do a great job, ” added Schmetzer

SOUNDERS MISS ON EARLY CHANCE

The Sounders had a chance to take the lead two minutes into the game .Alex Roldan caught San Diego keeper Carlos Dos Santos’ out of the goal box after the Rave Green took advantage of a bad clearance by Santos. Roldan’s shot forced a diving save from Dos Santo’s who was scrambling to get back into his goal box. . The Sounders’ attack was aggressive in its build, but lost its momentum once inside the final third .

FERRERIA GETS HIS GOAL

Ryan Kent drew double teams when he had the ball and was unable to use his speed to consistently get in the primary assist zone . Paul Rothrock stayed wide and hunted, but was ineffective until the 58th minute. Rothrock caught up to a slide rule pass to space by Alex Roldan and deftly slid the ball with his right foot to Ferreria, who was making a near-post run.

Ferreria slowed the ball with his left leg, pirouetted, and blasted the ball past Dos Santos with his right foot.

“I think it’s obviously an award from my teammates, trust from them, trust from the coaching staff, they believe and them having my back at the end of the day, “ said Ferreria after the game. “ Every game I try to score, try to assist and try to give my all and my best. Obviously it’s something I’ve been working on and so finally it happened and I’m so grateful that my teammates always had my back through it all.”

BIG TAKE

The Sounders won another game in which they did not play their best. As Schmetzer said after the game the important thing was to get the three points. What is now needed is some consistency and discipline. Consistency in the buildup and discipline on defense and in the final third. At times, players are making half runs for each other. Albert Rusnák, Kent and Pedro De la Vega have to win their battles on defense and on offense on a consistent basis. On defense, the backline is allowing opponents too much space and time in the defensive third.