The Seattle Sounders Defeat Austin FC 2-0 in Return to MLS Play
- Marco Lizarraga
- 4 days ago
- 3 min read
For the Seattle Sounders, Saturday night was all about continuing the momentum they gained at the FIFA Club World Cup last month. Despite the side losing all three of their group stage matches at the competition, the team looked competitive against three high-level opponents. Playing Botafogo, Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain in the span of eight days was a monumental task, yet they showed composure and represented Major League Soccer well. It could be said that those were the best zero points the team could have collected at the competition. Now, it was time for the Rave Green to return their attention to MLS regular season play.
Coming into Saturday's fixture, Seattle stood at sixth place in the Western Conference with a record of 7W-5D-6L (26 pts). Certainly, there was room for improvement for a team that aspires to be atop of the Western Conference in every season. As the Sounders head into the thick of the summer schedule, one in which the team will also compete in Leagues Cup, it was imperative for Seattle to begin collecting positive results sooner rather than later.
For the majority of the first half, in an all-too-familiar pattern, at least in MLS play, the Sounders controlled the flow of the game. They dictated the tempo and had the better of the opportunities, even if they were only half-chances. The team just could not seem to find a way to find the back of the net. The movements off the ball were good but the final touch was lacking.
That all changed in the first minute of first half stoppage time when Jesus Ferreira emphatically shot the ball into the back of the net. Leading up to the goal, Paul Rothrock made a wonderful run with ball down the left flank and then found Ferreira at the back post. Ferreira had a tough start to the season but he now has two goals in the last three home MLS matches. Though the sample size is admittedly small, every good run of form has a start and here is to hoping that this is it for the U.S. international.
Seattle came out firing in the second half as Danny Musovski slotted home a beautiful team goal in the 54th minute. The goal started with Sefan Frei playing the ball to Alex Roldan out wide, who then played the ball to Obed Vargas, who then played it to Kalani Kossa-Rienzi. With one touch, he played the ball back centrally to Ferreira, who found the streaking run of Musovski down the middle of the pitch. Musovski took the ball for about 40 yards and then placed the ball at the far post. This was one of the best goals the Rave Green have scored all season. It was a team goal in every sense of the word.
"[Ferreira] played a good ball. I know that there's a lot of open space. I noticed that the defender was showing me inside, so I thought if I could take a touch to the right, it might give him a little something to deal with. i just tried to aim for the far post...It was a good feeling seeing [the ball] in the corner [of the net]," said Musovski.
The Sounders' return to MLS play goes beyond the three points. The side looked dangerous enough to earn a win but, at the heart of this win, the defensive effort was the culprit in the positive result. Injuries to Yeimar Gomez Andrade, Kim Kee-Hee, Jonathan Bell and Stuart Hawkins left the team with a depleted backline. Such situation led Sounders manager Brian Schmetzer to place Alex Roldan, who typically plays in the right wingback position, at centerback. Even with a stitched-together backline, Seattle was able to keep a clean sheet at home.
"We have always been a good defensive team. It's just part of what I believe in. Every player on the field has to do their part defensively," said Schmetzer after the game.
As has been the case for the past couple of seasons, the Sounders defensive solidity has been at the forefront of this team, while the offensive side has lagged a bit behind. With the return of Jordan Morris from injury, there is reason to believe that the Sounders could start to offer more bite in front of goal. Should players like Ferreira and Musovski contribute consistently in the offensive end, then Seattle could go from a MLS Cup contender to an MLS Cup favorite.
The Sounders return to MLS play on Sunday, July 6th as they take on the Columbus Crew at 2:00pm PT at the friendly confines of Lumen Field.
