Seattle Sounders FC entered Saturday night’s match at Lumen Field on a three-match losing run. They went down a goal three minutes into the first half, and down a man only two minutes into the second half.
And yet they emerged 2-1 victors over the Colorado Rapids in the epitome of a mid-season gut check they needed to pass. Because as long as manager Brian Schmetzer is setting the tone for the club, Seattle won't be content to lay down after collecting one trophy, as they did in May by becoming MLS's first-ever Concacaf Champions League winners.
“Any of the naysayers or anybody that thinks that, you know, we’re happy with CCL and we’re just ready to pack it in for the rest of the year, I think you should take a look at the performance of that group of players," said Schmetzer, "The determination they showed to go a man down and manufacture a couple of scoring chances.”
Seattle have never missed the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs since entering the league in 2009 (13 straight qualifications). And they still have plenty of work to do to keep that streak alive, sitting one point beneath the Western Conference playoff line (with a game in hand) after the rival Portland Timbers moved into seventh place with their own gritty, come-from-behind home win against the San Jose Earthquakes in Week 22.
But Saturday’s contest – and particularly Seattle’s two goals – offered proof the club’s healthy stars can still come through when it matters even while others are sidelined.
It was Nicolas Lodeiro and Jordan Morris involved in both Sounders goals, with help from Jimmy Medranda on the first and Albert Rusnak on the second.
The latter won’t see the scoresheet, since his pass that freed Morris eventually led to a penalty on Rapids goalkeeper William Yarbrough. Yet for Schmetzer, it showed what the free-agent addition from this past offseason offers that is crucial as they play on without holding midfielder Joao Paulo (ACL) for the remainder of the season and striker Raul Ruidiaz (hamstring) for a bit longer.
“I know Albert was taking some heat from people about not scoring or whatever, but that pass that he plays into Jordan, I mean, not a lot of guys see that,” Schmetzer said. “So kudos to him, and kudos to Jordan for following up on the play.”
Even with Kelyn Rowe sent off in the 47th minute for his second booking – a decision Schmetzer could not dispute – the Sounders were on the front foot for the majority of the match after going behind early through Rapids' forward Jonathan Lewis.
That continued even after Lodeiro converted the penalty – his 17th in 17 MLS regular-season attempts – drawn by Morris to give Seattle a 71st-minute lead. Until the end, the team with 10 players felt more like scoring than the team with 11.
“You look at that group of players and their determination to grind out a victory, and you’ve got to give it to them,” Schmetzer said. “Because they put everything into that game. And it was a well-deserved three points.”
