By Mazvita Maraire Posted on

Sounders FC’s losing streak is at six games after a 2-1 loss to the Timber

The Seattle Sounders have hit rock bottom after their 2-1  loss to the Portland Timbers.  With the loss to their Cascadia rivals, the Sounders have now lost a club-record six consecutive games. To say the team is underperforming is an understatement.  In the six losses, the Sounders have been outscored 14-3. The backslide has been due a multiple issues. Scoring, defending, and execution.  While injuries have played a part, the sheer will to win has been lacking. And yes, one could add tactical awareness.

ROATED LINE UP

Head coach Brian Schmetzer made three changes to the lineup from last week’s match against Philadelphia, with Kim Kee-hee, Peter Kingston, and Jesús Ferreira replacing Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Antino Lopez, and Hassani Dotson. Five minutes into the game, the  Sounders were hit with another injury. Paul Arriola went down with a calf injury and was replaced by Kossa- Rienzi. Despite the early adversity, the  Sounders started out on the front foot with intention, guile, and purpose. While the attack was mostly on the left side, it was impactful.

ROTHROCK AND NOUHOU

 The combination of  Rothrock pushing down the left flank into the primary assist zone and Nouhou making overlapping runs out of the Timbers on its heels.  An active Albert Rusnack added to the attack, and the combination play between Rusnack and  Rothrock saw the Sounders take the lead in the 26th minute.  A give-and-go between the pair ended with a Rusnack cross from the left flank into the Timbers’ goal box. The ball sailed over the head of   Osaze De Rosario, and a poor clearance by Timbers defender Kamal Miller saw the ball land at the feet of  Kossa-Rienze, who blasted it home.

SOUNDERS HUNT BUT UNABLE TO FIND DOUBLE THEIR LEAD

The Sounders continued their attack, searching for a second goal, but were unable to double their lead. The Rave Green’s best chance came in the  31st minute. Another poor clearence by the Timbers backline led to a scrum in the box, and the ball landed to an onrushing Rusnack, who blasted it into a sea of bodies. The shot was blocked and landed in front of Nouhou, who headed the ball into the left top corner before it was swatted away by Timber’s goalkeeper James Pantemis at the last second.

TIMBERS SHIFT POINT OF ATTACK

Timbers caretaker manager Jack Cassidy changed the Timbers’ point of attack; rather than using the middle of the pitch to attack the Sounders’ defense, the Timbers used the flanks to spread the Sounders’ midfield and backline. Holding midfielder Diego Chara’s vision and speed saw the Colombian distribute the ball to the wide areas. The Timbers equalized the match in the 41st minute. Kristoffer Velde galloped down the left flank and whipped a ball through the Sounders defense and found a wide-open Kevin, Kelsey. 

The goal was another example of the Sounders’ lack of team defense. Velde was given time and space to cross the ball, and lackadaisical marking left  Kelsey wide open at the back of the net. The Sounders had a chance to nick a goal just before halftime, but it went begging when Rusnak’s shot from the left side of the Timbers’ goal hit the side netting.

ANOTHER STRONG START

The second half starts with the Sounders on the front foot, asking questions but unable to get answers due to a lack of execution. The Sounders’ attack was disjointed between the midfield and the front line. With the Sounders flailing, the Timbers tipped the ptch in their favor and had the Sounders on their back heels.  Cassidy made an offensive substitution in the 65th minute, inserting forward Antony for Ariel Lassiter.   Schmetzer also made wholesale changes a few minutes later. In the 73rd minute, he inserted Danny Musovski for Osaze De Rosario and  Alex Roldan for Kim Kee-Hee.  While Schmertz’s substitutions brought in some fresh legs, his team never found the offensive resolve needed.

TIMBERS FIND THE WINNING GOAL LATE

With a raucous home crowd cheering them on, it was the Timbers who found the resolve to find the game winner. In the  82nd minute, David Da Costa was given time and space to dance in front of the Sounders’ defense before laying a slide rule pass to a wide-open Kevin Kelsey, who rifled home the game-winner.

BIG TAKE

The Sounders have a boatload of injuries. What they are lacking is a collective resolve and belief in each other. Yes, the players want to win, but there is a lack of trust among them and, maybe, in the system as a whole. The Sounders are giving up soft goals due to a lack of on-ball and off-ball marking. On offense, players are not making complete off-ball runs to create space for the ball carrier.

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