By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

Despite lack of creativity, and composure Sounders advance to Leagues Cup Semi Final Round

SOUNDERS FINISH GAME WITH TEN MEN AND WIN PENALTY SHOOTOUT TO ADVANCE

Professional sports are all about playing to your strengths and exploiting your opponent’s weaknesses.  Hence, there are no surprises in the Wednesday night clash between the Sounders and Liga MX Side Puebla. With a new coach and no pressure, Puebla arrived in Seattle three days early and schemed a bend-but-don’t-break attack. The Sounders were chomping at the bit after their first defeat in 10 games.

STRUGGLING TO BEAT A BACKLINE OF FIVE

 In their loss 1-0 loss to the Lunes, the Sounders struggled to find any creativity against Minnesota’s fortified five-man backline.  Give Puebla interim coach Martín Bravo credit for doing his home. Against the Sounders, his side played a a fortified backline just like the Loons.  Despite the  MLS  loss, the Sounders were undefeated in all three previous League Cup matches with an 11-1 goal difference. A confident Brian Schemtzer rolled out his best available line.

Photos by Francine Scott

 Andrew Thomas in goal, Nouhou on the left, Jackson Rage and Yeimar as the center backs, right back Alex Roldan.  Cristian Roldan and Obed Vargas in the middle. Pedro De La Vega on the left, Paul Rothrock on the right, with Jesus Ferreria in the middle, with  Danny Musovski up top.

SLOW PACE

With the intention of slowing the game down and then setting up a fortified defense, Puebla was physical in tackling and slow when given a restart. Credit  Bravo initially had his team with a high line of confrontation at midfield early in the game, then bunkering inside its own defensive half as the half proceeded.   The tactical switch stymied Sounders’ attack. They had the lion’s share of the possession but lacked the awareness to have multiple runners in the box.

While Vargas and Cristian Roldan were able to get the ball to Rothrock on the right and Vargas on the left, there was a gap between the wingbacks and Ferreira. When Ferreira moved to one side of the field to receive the ball, Danny Musovski was left on an island up top. More concerning was the lack of movement up the field by   Jackson Ragen , Yeimar, Nouhou, and Alex Roldan in a supporting position as an outlet pass in Puebla’s attacking half.

“I mean, I didn’t ask him, but I’m assuming they did. You know, but credit to Martin. 
He did a great job and look, that’s a proud team. You know, people can say what they want, but that team right there competed for every ball, every inch of grass, every inch of turf, whatever you want to call it, they fought. And so I give them kudos for that,said  Schmetzer when asked about  Puebla’s hunkered down defense.  In the first half, the Sounders had 83% of the possession, no shots and four corners. Puebla had the lone first half shot.

FAST  START TO THE SECOND HALF

As expected, the Sounders started the second half with hopes of playing an up-tempo, fast-paced game.  Four minutes into the second half, the Sounders had a corner kick, which De la Vega recycled from the left side to the right, resulting in the Sounders’ first shot on goal.

 Nouhou pushed up on the left and earned the Sounders a corner kick in the 55th minute, and just like the previous attempt, the set piece went begging after Ragen’s header went straight into the arms of goalkeeper Julio Gonzalez.

FRUSTRATION BUILDS

Three minutes after the corner attempt, Rothrock absorbed a heavy challenge from Puebla right back  Fernando Monarrez. No foul was called, much to the chagrin of the Sounders bench.  A throw-in was awarded to Puebla, and Rothrock was called for a foul on Puebla’s Emillion Gomez.  Gomez nearly scored on the restart after receiving a pass in the box by Alejandro Organista, but it was an intervention by Nouhou that forced him to shoot the ball wide of the goal.

TEMPERATURE CLIMBING

The Sounders continued to win the possession battle, while Puebla resorted to hard fouls. Sounders were given a free kick after a hard foul on De la Vega but no card was shown. Fereira’s free kick bounced outside and ended with an Alex Roldan shot that was high and wide.  

De la Vega gave way to Georgi Minougou, who brought pace and creativity up on the right wing in the 65th minute. One minute later, Musovski was called for a foul that could have gone either way.  Puebla was given the free kick, and the Sounders’ temperature continued to boil.

PACE DOWN  THE WING

Monougou’s pace stressed the Puebla backline and created back-to-back corners that went begging. The Sounders’ best chance of the game came in the 70th minute.  Musovski headed Rothrock’s pass to  Ferreria, who taped the ball in the air, pirouetted, and shot the ball wide.  With the Sounders continuing their dominance of possession, Puebla continued to nip at the heels of the Sounders players.

 The complexion of the game changed in the 76th minute. Musovski was called for a foul,  rose up, and bumped the referee, Juan Calderon, resulting in a second red card. Osaze DeRosario replaced Rothrock, and the Sounders were able to hold on despite being down a man.

ANDREW THOMAS SAVES TWO

In the penalty shoot-out, the Sounders’ Cristian Roldan took the first penalty, which pinged off the post.  Thomas the Puebla penalty.  Alex Roldan, Ragen, and Ferreria converted their spot kicks, as did Puebla’s Estaban Lozano, Owen Gonzalez, and Fernado Monarrez.

With the score tied at three all, Vargas stepped up and rolled the ball past a diving Gonzalez, who dove the wrong way.  Thomas continued his penalty-saving lore by saving Nicolas Diaz’s weak penalty kick.

LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER GAME

The Sounders lost composure and patience under a lesser team that was up for the fight. Credit the team for finding a way to win. Championship teams find a way to win games when they are not at their best.   Clearly, the Sounders were not at their best on Wednesday night.

“ We’re moving on. Because the galaxy right now aren’t going to play in a back line of five unless Greg really switches. They’re winning 2-0. So we’ll continue to try and progress our team. And we’ll see what Sporting KC brings, “ said Schmetzer, referring to the Sounders’ MLS opponent on  Sunday .”  I don’t think they play in a back line of five, so we’re gonna get geared up for Sporting KC and go from there.”

While Sporting Kansas City and LA Galaxy will not change their formations, it is fair to say their respective scouting departments have noted the Sounders’ struggles when a team bunkers down on defense.

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