Hear some Sounders FC post-practice interviews from Brad Evans, Stefan Frei and Sigi Schmid
Sigi Schmid: “It’s going to be a great day and we’re going to get after them”
By Toby Dunkelberg
If the season were to end today the Seattle Sounders would miss the playoffs for the first time in their MLS history. For a franchise with such high standards and expectations their 11-13-2 (1.35 PPG) are quite the let down. Just ten games ago the Sounders were the cream of the MLS crop. Leading in the standings and with the highest goal differential, it looked as though they were destined to repeat last year’s trophy haul.
But the loss of key players, as well as consistently poor performances by depth players, led Seattle to their current predicament. Their only wins in the last 11 games were at home against a similarly short staffed DC United squad, playing a man down for over an hour, and a depleted Orlando City side, who also went down to ten men before half time. The Sounders haven’t beaten a full strength side since their 3-0 win over FC Dallas on June 13th, more than two months ago.
And with Sunday’s matchup coming against a close-to-full strength Portland Timbers it looks as though the wait will continue.
The narrative had been that when Seattle’s key players got back the side would be back to its winning ways. But despite the return of Marshall, Evans, Martins, and the arrival of newcomers Roman Torres and Nelson Valdez, Seattle was ineffective against Real Salt Lake last week. Their attack was so anemic that it was home-grown player Aaron Kovar, who had the best looks on goal. Make no doubt about it, this is not the same Sounder side we knew in May.
The Sounders did catch a small break this week with the suspension of Diego Chara and the possible absence of Will Johnson due to a sore right leg. If Johnson is left out of the starting eleven, Jack Jewsbury and George Fochive would be expected to anchor the midfield, though a switch in formation from Porter’s expected 4-2-3-1 is not out of question. The rest of the lineup should be filled with the usual suspects, the only change being the addition of Timber’s new striker, Lucas Melano.
If the Timbers come out like they did early in the year, playing reserved and defensive, expect the Sounders to go at them with everything they have. Make no mistake, the Sounders’ playoff hopes hinge on taking all three points, and they know it. With the Timbers’ key absences, the Sounders will have an excellent chance to control the midfield, and dictate the tempo of play. Most importantly, Seattle needs to limit turn overs in their own half, as Portland has shown time and time again that they are one of the most dangerous counter attacking teams in the league.
Ultimately, the Sounders’ hopes rest on the return of Clint Dempsey and Osvaldo Alonso, both of whom participated in practice on Friday, though head coach Sigi Schmid was hesitant to make any promises about their playing time. If all goes Seattle’s way it could turn out to be like the earlier meeting between the two rivals, where Seattle walked away the 1-0 victors. Without those players back expect it to turn out more like the June matchup, a 4-1 thrashing by the Timbers. Seattle’s lineup will determine the result, be it a long overdue turn of the page, or a full blown death spiral grasping for that last playoff spot.
PREDICTION (With Dempsey and Alonso)
Seattle Sounders FC 2 – Portland Timbers 1
Martins 21′ (Friberg)
Valeri 44′ (Melano)
Dempsey 73′ (Martins)
PREDICTION (Without Dempsey and Alonso)
Seattle Sounders FC 0 – Portland Timbers 2
Melano 31′ (Nagbe)
Valeri 57′ (Wallace)
Sounders FC
Portland Timbers
