For the Seattle Sounders, their 3-1 loss to the Colorado Rapids in Week 22 proved costly for more than the points left behind.
First, the result continues the team’s general poor run of form to finish the 2020 MLS regular season: The Sounders have won only once in their last five (1W-2L-2D), a series of results that has seen them drop out of the top spot in the Western Conference on Sunday. Seattle have now fallen to 3rd place behind Sporting Kansas City (2nd place) and the Portland Timbers (1st place). The loss also mathematically eliminated the Sounders from contention for the Supporters' Shield.
But head coach Brian Schmetzer is not sounding the alarm just yet: “Sometimes, that’s just sports,” he said postgame.
The Sounders manager admitted the loss in Colorado boiled down to defensive errors against “a spirited Colorado team that knew that they needed to collect points.” But he took it on himself to address the two set-piece goals they conceded.
“You look at the first goal in transition, wasn’t great,” Schmetzer said after the match. “The second goal was certainly very preventable. I will take full responsibility for that, to make sure the guys understand their roles on set-piece defending, similar to the third goal. So I’ll fix those things. I will correct those things.”
Highlights: Colorado 3, Seattle 1
In their last five matches, the Sounders have uncharacteristically conceded seven goals and they gave up three goals in a game on two occasions during that span. Schmetzer, though, does not think there is a bigger concern with the Sounders’ defensive effort, and in his estimation the back four used against the Rapids (Kelvin Leerdam, Yeimar Gomez, Shane O’Neill, and Nouhou Tolo) has played well.
No issues on defense and no issues in the locker room. Schmetzer pointed out how the squad's mood has not been an issue during the string of bad results, even though he made the decision not to make players available to media after the Colorado game.
“The mood of the team is fine,” Schmetzer said. “It was my decision. I just needed to give them some space. They’re talking, so I elected to do that. That’s my choice. ... They’re always willing to talk to the press and the media afterwards. There’s no issues there. I just need those guys to take a break and think about things.”
Schmetzer was very complimentary of the Rapids’ performance, especially after they took full control during the second half on one less day of rest than the Sounders. He wants to see Seattle bounce back in a similar way with two games in the span of a week.
“You gotta get ‘em right physically first,” Schmetzer said of his players. “You gotta get ‘em right mentally, so it’s doable. It’s possible. You can use our opponent tonight as an example.”
