Schmetzer, Lodeiro eras begin as Sounders draw LA 1-1

The Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy met for the second time in ten days on Sunday afternoon, playing to an entertaining 1-1 draw in front of 45,458 people at CenturyLink Field. With playoff hopes fading fast, Seattle looked to turn over a new leaf against an old foe at the end of the most tumultuous week in the club’s recent history.

Interim Head Coach Brian Schmetzer took charge of the home side for the first time since Sigi Schmid’s dismissal on Tuesday. Schmid managed Seattle for seven and a half years, the whole of the club’s time in MLS. While it was Schmetzer’s first match with the interim tag, it was not his first as top boss in Seattle; Sunday marked his fifth time managing the MLS side and followed a seven year term from 2002-2008 leading the USL incarnation of the club.

New Designated Player acquisition Nicolas Lodeiro shared the spotlight with Schmetzer, making his first appearance since joining the club this week. The 27 year old Uruguayan took to the game quickly, combining well with Clint Dempsey and frequently spraying long passes to Jordan Morris.

With so many major aspects of the team being altered this week, it’s tough to say just what propelled Sounders on Sunday. It may have been their new manager, or their new play maker and prospective star. It may have been their new formation, which saw Cristian Roldan partner Osvaldo Alonso in midfield with Dempsey, Morris, Lodeiro and Nelson Valdez ahead of them in a 4-2-3-1. Whatever it was, Sounders looked a side renewed after failing to record a shot until the last five minutes of their abysmal 3-0 loss in Kansas City last weekend. Clint Dempsey showed an exuberance and vigor that has been vitally lacking this season, perhaps galvanized by the help of his new co-star. On the other end, Alonso and Roldan held LA to just one shot on target in the first half merely ten days after losing 4-2 to the Galaxy in Carson.

Lodeiro’s presence seemed to take pressure off of the players around him. Alonso looked relieved to have a passing outlet for the first time in ages. Jordan Morris was eager to get on the end of his quality passes over the top, another area where the rest of the midfield has struggled in 2016. Lodeiro may not be able to take Seattle to the postseason in 2016, but it was readily apparent that he will have an immediate impact on the team. 

Despite controlling almost 56% of the ball and putting four of their seven shots on target, Sounders couldn’t break through by the halftime whistle. They left the field to a boisterous ovation, though, as the crowd thanked them for the most attractive half of soccer they had been treated to in a while.

As the second half began, it was tough not to wonder when Galaxy would show up on the offensive end. It was clear enough that the visitors needed to grow into the game or risk conceding soon.

Less than five minutes after the break, Sounders found the opening goal. A looping ball in the box found Lodeiro near the corner of the six yard box. He controlled before being challenged off the ball, and it fell to Nelson Valdez. Valdez cut back for Roldan on the edge of the area, who struck the ball first-time. Brian Rowe got a piece of the it, but the ball found the back of the net and Seattle led 1-0 on 49 minutes.

LA continued to have little to offer going forward. Sebastian Lletget subbed on for Emmanuel Boateng in the 63rd minute as Sounder outshot Galaxy 6-2 in the twenty minutes following Roldan’s goal.

Clint Dempsey had several looks turned away and Jordan Morris saw his effort cleared off the line after he rounded Rowe on 70 minutes as Seattle simply couldn’t force home a second goal. Lodeiro found side netting from a tight angle as well, and now it was Sounders who looked ripe for punishment.

Steven Gerrard chipped in a cross towards Robbie Keane with Brad Evans on the forward’s heels. After seemingly beating Keane to the ball, Evans let it go by him with the thought that Stefan Frei had called him off of it. Evans commented postgame that he was later informed the call he heard was from an LA attacker. The ball skipped by Evans and continued on to an unmarked Lletget on the far post, who easily tapped home the equalizer. It was strange mistake from an experienced player, particularly after Sounders had defended so heartily for the first 75 minutes. The good work and statistical dominance had all been rendered irrelevant and the sides were level at one.

Galaxy were not going to argue with a point on the road, eventually subbing on Baggio Husidic for Giovani dos Santos in pursuit of the draw. Evans’ gift would be all they would need on the day, eerily reminiscent of their 1-0 win in Seattle on the back of Zach Scott’s mistake against them back on July 9.

Keane looped a chip over an onrushing Frei in stoppage time, and Chad Marshall got back in the nick of time to clear it off the line. On the other end Morris slammed a Tyrone Mears cross just over the bar from three yards out a moment later. The golden opportunity would be the game’s last as the final whistle blew shortly thereafter. Sounders had dominated the second half in the same manner as the first, but wasteful finishing a solitary mistake on the defensive side of things doomed them to another week in 9th position in the Western Conference. The positives were clear, as the side had completely different demeanor about them under Schmetzer and Loderio’s guidance. Despite the finishing and the final score, it may have been Sounders’ strongest match of the year. If the SKC match left them aimless, Sunday gave them something of substance to hold on to.

LA, for their part, remain third in the Western Conference, eight points back of leaders FC Dallas with three matches in hand on them. They next host New York Red Bulls next Sunday, while Seattle travel to Orlando.