LUMEN FIELD - The first midweek matchday in Major League Soccer wrapped up on the West Coast with a concerning home defeat that left the Seattle Sounders teetering in first place in the Western Conference after their loss over Austin FC in the Emerald City. Goals from Ethan Finlay and Gyasi Zardes sunk Seattle’s ship as the Sounders once again breathed life into a struggling side: prior, Austin had gone winless in eight.
Seattle’s injury list didn’t get any shorter over the few days of rest - they missed Cristian Roldan, Raúl Ruidíaz, Ethan Dobbelare and Kelyn Rowe to injury in addition to Obed Vargas, who was on duty with the USMNT U-20 squad. Despite that, they managed to put out a mostly first-choice side that featured recent First Team signee Cody Baker once again at left back.
Brian Schmetzer’s side struggled with Austin’s press throughout the first half; the most productive outlet was Jackson Ragen’s frequent direct ball to a sprinting Alex Roldan. While opportunities sprung from what’s developed into an excellent resource over the season, it too often was the result of an impatient Sounders back line in possession that failed to spot quick, line-breaking passes that split the Austin midfield pair.
Elisabeth Adams Photography / Area Sports Network
When that pass happened, in the 28th minute, Nicolás Lodeiro was able to find Héber with time. The Brazilian forward advanced on Austin’s defensive line, but opted not to take the early shot, instead finding Dylan Teves for a quick exchange that could only be dispatched over the bar.
Teves had Seattle’s best chance of the half, a one-on-one with Brad Stuver that landed comfortably in the Austin goalkeeper’s midriff. The University of Washington graduate discussed the mental impact of his opportunity, saying “...when I missed my chance and then they go and score on the other side…it’s motivating because (yourself) is the only thing that you can control.”
Elisabeth Adams Photography / Area Sports Network
Despite starting the second half with a strong five minutes, a goal from Gyasi Zardes ultimately sealed the match for Austin - a header between João Paulo and Yeimar Gomez Andrade was enough for the USMNT veteran to hammer home across Stefan Frei.
The topic of belief was heavy on the minds of the Sounders after the match; both Schmetzer and Montero mentioned it in their postmatch media appearances. Schmetzer said, “Goals have been drying up for us, (we’ve) got to figure out a way to believe that we can score”, while Montero described it as, “...keep believing…the quality, the energy, your professionalism, it has to be there every day. One result doesn’t change what we have done during the season”.
Elisabeth Adams Photography / Area Sports Network
Seattle’s usually rock-solid defensive line was breached for the second consecutive home match, with Austin’s two goals the third and fourth conceded, respectively, in the last two home matches after not allowing a goal at Lumen Field in their first five. The defensive lapse was concerning to the Sounders’ manager; he told media that, “I don’t think that anyone in that dressing room is happy. I watch the highlights of the goals we gave up…got to be better at home, (we) can’t give up goals like that.”
Fredy Montero’s goal, his 79th for the club, was a symbol of his remarkable influence on the side. Schmetzer reflected on his value to the side postmatch, saying, “Fredy’s been a great pro for a lot of different reasons…I think he embraces his role, I think that he’s very good in the locker room, very good with Léo, with Dylan, very good with all the young players, and he still provides you with that quality as well when you need it on the field.”
Montero described his attitude when entering the match as, “We tried to bring the energy, do something different, (bring more) quality and clarity into the attacking side of the team”. While he introduced a measure of each of those things into the team, Seattle wasn’t able to capitalize on the 2.5 xG they generated over the course of the match - a huge advantage over Austin’s paltry 0.61. Montero echoed Schmetzer’s frustration, ending with the statement, “It cannot happen again - losing points at home”.
Cody Baker’s performance, an 83 minute stint for his second league start with the club, was promising for the young fullback’s progression in the side. However, of note was his replacement: the long-heralded Nouhou, who re-entered league play with a short cameo. The Cameroonian, who has been consistently ruled out over the past month after contracting malaria, was inserted in order for Schmetzer to “see if he could play against Vancouver on Sunday, and start…he couldn’t just jump into the game in Vancouver (after) having malaria, which is a serious disease, not having trained for over a month. I need to know where he’s at.”
Elisabeth Adams Photography / Area Sports Network
The Sounders turn around quickly, completing a stretch in which they’ll play four matches in ten days just north in Vancouver, where they take on the Whitecaps on Saturday as part of MLS Rivalry Week. The Whitecaps split their series with the Portland Timbers earlier this year, defeating Seattle’s rivals at BC Place, but losing out in the race for the Cascadia Cup in Portland. The match will stream on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, with kickoff set for 7:30 PM.
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