Feature Photo by Mike Fietchner / Sounders FC Communications
LUMEN FIELD - A sports-mad weekend in Seattle wrapped up with a Sounders Ioss against Sporting Kansas City after the OL Reign and Seattle Mariners defeated their adversaries on Saturday and the Seattle Kraken’s emphatic victory over the Dallas Stars on Sunday in a Stanley Cup Playoff duel that closed out a successful weekend in the Emerald City. The Sounders struggled to deal with a relentless Kansas City press, and despite finding a revival in the second half, they were unable to salvage what turned into their first home loss of 2023.

Mike Fietchner / Sounders FC Communications
Brian Schmetzer dealt with an extensive list of unavailable players in the lead-up to Sunday’s match; João Paulo was suspended for yellow card accumulation, and Cristian Roldan, Nouhou, and Raúl Ruidíaz were all battling injuries of their own. With that in mind, the squad selected by the Seattle manager featured changes, including the first MLS start of the season for Reed Baker-Whiting and a debut for Cody Baker, who replaced Baker-Whiting midway through the second half.
What’s been a usually predictable Sounders lineup shifted, with Héber beginning at attacking midfielder - a move that pushed captain Nicolás Lodeiro to the right side and Jordan Morris into the forward line, a place where he’s been prolific in 2023. However, the lack of facilitation in midfield was obvious in the first half, as the Sounders’ Brazilian offseason pickup would often push in to assist Morris and fail to drop, leaving a gap ahead of the duo of Albert Rusnák and Obed Vargas.

Jane Gershovich / Sounders FC Communications
Schmetzer regarded his decision to change the setup as, “(something I’ve) got to take responsibility for”; he mentioned the idea that between the change in the attacking rotation and the rearranged back line he felt that, “Had I have had to do it over again, I only would’ve changed only one of those two components”
Seattle’s inability to play through midfield was exacerbated by the Kansas City press: an oft-frantic, immediate mechanism triggered by any Sounders back pass. A front three dedicated to rushing Stefan Frei, Jackson Ragen, and Yeimar Gomez Andrade saw the ball played long in what became an overreliance on Jordan Morris and Léo Chú’s speed.
The issue was addressed at halftime with a return to the “normal” look for Seattle’s four attackers: Morris on the right, Chú on the left, Lodeiro in attacking midfield, and Héber back up top. There was an immediate fluidity to Seattle’s movements that hinted at things to come, especially after the introduction of Fredy Montero for Chú.
Montero would go on to win the penalty kick that presented the Sounders with life in the match - Lodeiro would convert it in front of a joyous Emerald City Supporters group who showered Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia with jeers all afternoon.

Mike Fietchner / Sounders FC Communications
Cody Baker made his Major League Soccer debut, replacing Reed Baker-Whiting in the 57th minute in the change that saw Alex Roldan move to right back. After he impressed in Seattle’s U.S. Open Cup third-round victory, he was signed to a short-term contract with the First Team that allows him to make up to two appearances before he must ink a full-time deal.
The Sounders Academy product was promising in his time on the pitch, looking solid in possession while almost finding Montero over the top for the equalizer. He dealt with Johnny Russell aptly, part of the reason the Sounders didn’t concede in the second half. In partnership with Morris, he was a major part of the Sounders’ offensive efforts - balls over the top and into the box spring from both feet for the young prospect.
The two goals were the first that Seattle has conceded at home this season, but it won’t deter them from moving forwards against LA Galaxy next week.
Seattle return to the pitch next Wednesday to face off against a struggling LA Galaxy who, while the front office debates Greg Vanney’s future, will attempt to knock off the Western Conference leaders in a U.S. Open Cup fourth-round match that comes after Seattle emerged from a thrilling, 5-4 victory over USL Championship side San Diego Loyal. The match will be available on Paramount Plus and the CBS Sports app - kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 PM.
In the league, they’ll travel to Houston to face a resurgent Dynamo side on Saturday that, under the leadership of Ben Olsen, has found themselves rising from a 13th-place finish in 2022 to 6th in the West ahead of Matchweek 12. Powered in midfield by a 33-year-old Hector Herrera, they’ll prove a significant test for the Sounders, who will return João Paulo to the side that struggled with Kansas City. Kickoff, on MLS Season Pass, is at 5:30 PDT.
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