Studs and duds from Sounders 2-1 loss to RSL

Saturday was another loss for the Seattle Sounders at RSL.  It’s been fifteen years since the Sounders won a regular-season match at RSL.  May 28th, 2011, was the last time the Sounders won an MLS game at RSL. As for Saturday’s loss, the Sounders had the effort and determination but lacked the execution to snap the gaudy winless streak.

STUDS

 FORWARD DANNY MUSOVISKI

He was active in his 32 minutes played. He had a goal called back for offside, and his movement in and around the box shows he is healthy. While his expected goal was  0.8, he had nine touches.  After a slow preseason, Musoviski looks ready and primed to fight for the starting striker position.

MIDFIELDER  CRISTIAN ROLDAN

Roldan’s header goal from an Albert Rusnack corner kick in the 67th minute cut the Sounders’ deficit to 2-1 and gave them life to believe in an improbable comeback. He kept running the whole game in transition, on defense, and on offense. Roldan executed his role as the air traffic controller by bossing the midfield and playing a full 90 minutes. In his complete game performance, Roldan completed 55 of 66 pass attempts, had 77 touches, and connected on three of six long balls. He created two chances.

RIGHT BACK ALEX ROLDAN

Played  90 minutes, switched to center back late in the game when Schmetzer went to an attacking formation, and had a goal-saving tackle late in the game.  He had 80 touches, was accurate on 47 of 48 passes (81%), and had four defensive recoveries. Roldan played a smart and effective game on the day the defense was subpar.

MIDFIELDER ALBERT RUSNAK

Similar to Cristian Roldan, Rusnak was relentless in the amount of ground he covered. He had several decent corner kicks in addition to his 67th-minute perfect corner that was headed into the back of the net by Cristian Roldan. In his 89 minutes played, Rusnak had an expected goal rating of 0.57, created three chances, connected on  38 of 42 passes, and had 59 touches. Defensively, Rusnak had one interception and one defensive recovery.

DUDS

 CENTERBACK YEIMAR

 The Colombian had his worst game in memory. He was substituted in the 58th minute and was one of the three defenders who were responsible for RSL’s first goal. There was a lack of a clear decision-making and then execution. He had one of the Sounders’ best chances to score in the contest.  Yeimar won just two of his five ground duels but won four of five aerial duels and had two defensive contributions.

FORWARD OSAZE DEROSARIO

Was ineffective, similar to the last game. Did not receive the pass he needed inside the box. Due to his lack of runs in the box and the midfielders Rusnak and Ferreria giving him the ball, in his 58 minutes played, De Rosario had just 16 touches with an expected goal of 0.13.  Defensively, he did his job of slowing down the RSL attack and won all four of his aerial duels and one of his three ground duels.  The back-to-back subpar performances have more to do with tactical decisions than DeRosario’s effort.

COACHING

 Credit  Brian  Schmetzer for his triple sub in the 58th minute.  Synder Brunell replaced Jesus Ferreira, Kalan Rienzi replaced Yeimar, and Danny Musovski stepped in for Osaze De Rosario. All three subs make contributions in the latter stages of the game.  Schmezer was slow to react in the first half when his counterpart, Pablo Mastroeni, pushed his midfield and forwards up the field to a high press.

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