Sounders v FC Dallas player ratings
by Anna Ferkingstad, Seattle beat reporter
Seattle hosted FC Dallas Saturday evening in the second matchup of the season between the two sides. After 19 shots in total (10 to Dallas and 9 to Seattle) and 11 corners (8 to Dallas and 3 to Seattle), the Sounder’s 3-0 win at Centurylink was nothing like the previous meeting between the two Western Conference clubs in March. The goalless tie between the two clubs on March 28th was the first ever recorded match in MLS history to see zero shots from either team.
The 90 minutes played out at Centurylink saw standout performances from Michael Azira and substitutes Brad Evans, Obafemi Martins and Leo Gonzalez. Only one of Seattle’s three goals game from a member of the starting eleven, with the level of Seattle’s second half play much improved from the first.
STARTING ELEVEN
Stefan Frei: 8
Frei came up with a huge save in the 31st minute after Dallas’ Kyle Bekker broke through gaps in Seattle’s disjointed midfield and took a shot from close range. The diving stop was the most notable of the game, but Frei continually provides a leading and consistent presence in the defense for the Sounders.
The Sounders were lucky to not enter halftime with a goal deficit, after Stefan Frei’s diving save in the 31st minute denied a Kyle Bekker attempt from no more than eight yards. Fabian Castillo also saw a close range effort rebound off the outside of the near post.
Tyrone Mears: 7
Throughout the 90 minutes, Mears did well to contain Dallas’ left midfielder Alejandro Zendejas. Remick received more pressure on the left side, with FC Dallas looking primarily to attack down the right flank, but Mears capitalized on the lulls by pushing forward. He filled in gaps on the wing and connected in the final third on several occasions with Rose and Dempsey.
Chad Marshall: 7.5
Dallas had corner after corner in the opening 20 minutes and for every dead ball, Marshall had a head at the end of it. A tall and commanding presence, Marshall limited the balls that Dallas could play forward in the air and didn’t hesitate to step on Blas Pérez or Mauro Díaz.
Zach Scott: 7
Scott is distinguished from the rest of the Sounder’s backline in his aptitude to see two passes ahead. He is smart and sharp in possession willing to take offensive risks from the backline, including a long ball to the feet of Remick in the 12th minute. His passes can be dangerous for a defender but when they worked during the first half against Dallas, they were refreshing for a Sounders team that had difficulties transitioning quickly out of the defensive third.
Dylan Remick: 8
Dallas hounded Remick in the first half, overloading balls to the skilled feet of Fabian Castillo on the right channel. Remick stood up to the challenge, thought, and was only beaten on the dribble when he was the slower or less skilled player. Throughout the game, he was sharp and showed few lapses in judgement.
Andy Rose: 7.5
During the first half, Rose appeared to be one of the Sounders players with the cleanest touches and most drive to get forward. His capability to open wide for Frei on every goal kick and his movement on dead balls for Seattle was refreshing for a rave green side that lacked pizzaz in the initial 45 minutes. Prior to leaving the match for Gonzalez in the 89th minute, he assisted Martins goal in the 73rd minute.
Gonzalo Pineda: 6
Pineda struggled in the first 20 minutes with lethargic first touches and delayed reactions in possession. Dallas was the most potent when they were able to capitalize on the gap between the defense and the midfield. Normally a defensively minded center midfielder, Pineda was unable to contain Dallas’ combinations and the runs of Fabian Castillo and Alejandro Zendejas on Saturday. He left the match at halftime for Brad Evans.
Michael Azira: 7
Although Azira was slow to enter the match by the second half his presence was felt. He has a similar mentality to Osvaldo Alonso (a starting center midfielder for Seattle who missed the match against Dallas due to an injury) but more creativity. The few misplayed passes of the opening 20 minutes were forgotten by the time Evans entered the game and Azira and Evans began to play like a cohesive unit. His notable plays include a strong through ball to the feet of Neagle in the 64th minute.
Thomas: 6.5
His first MLS career start, Thomas gets a bit of slack. A new surface. A new team. On Saturday, we saw glimpses of Thomas’ footwork and profound potential in the midfield for Seattle. Having only signed a contract with the club on June 1st, there are still several weeks to go before he can integrate his abilities into the Sounder’s midfield.
Lamar Neagle: 6.5
I get it – he scored a goal. A bit harsh? Maybe. But Neagle was non-existent in the first half. The entire attacking line struggled to get involved as Dallas controlled the ball but Neagle had sloppy giveaways on nearly every single (of the very few) touches he had. His goal in the 55th minute, however, opened the scoring for Seattle offered a rejuvenation in his offensive energy until the end of the game.
Neagle grabbed his 3rd goal of the season in the 55th minute after a sliding assist from Evans. The recent USMNT cap winner left his feet to challenge the ball just outside of the Dallas penalty area, deflecting it to Lamar Neagle who took a touch and let fly. The shot flew past Dan Kennedy and into the bottom right hand corner of the net to give Seattle the 1-0 lead and solidify the shift in energy seen in the Sounders attack.
Clint Dempsey: 7
Thomas, Neagle and Dempsey appeared to all suffer from the same first half smog. Dempsey, as well as Neagle and Thomas, had very few touches in the opening 45 minutes of Saturday’s match. Dempsey, however, did demonstrate an ability to drop in the midfield and provide and outlet going forward. He connected with Rose on the wing several times, as well as Evans and Azira in the center.
SUBSTITUTES
Brad Evans: 8
Even though he is not on the scoresheet, Evans deserves man of the match. His substitution at halftime for Gonzalo Pineda changed the entire pace of the game. As if his various positions on the USMNT and the Seattle Sounders didn’t speak for themselves – Evans is versatile. And he brings that unique quality to his play in the midfield. Evans continually found the feet of the forwards, including a long dangerous ball played to Martins’ in the right corner in the 79th minute.
A halftime substitution of Brad Evans for Gonzalo Pineda immediately changed the momentum of the game, giving Seattle control of the pace and the ability to quickly transition forward.
Obafemi Martins: 8
Martins entered the match for Thomas in the 61st minute. Sliding up front and alongside Dempsey, Martins’ off-the-ball movement and quick combinations made an immediately impact in the Sounder’s possession. His vision and ability to slow down play relieved a great deal of pressure from the defensive line and rewarded him with a goal in the 73rd minute.
Obafemi Martins entered the match in the 61st minute for Thomas, dawning a face mask following his nasal surgery two weeks prior. The substitution offered creativity and fresh legs to Seattle’s front line that continued to hound Dallas after Neagle’s goal. Martins’ off the ball movement was finally rewarded on 73 minutes. Andy Rose volleyed a cleared corner from twenty yards out, looping it to Martins. The Nigerian showed tremendous strength to turn, hold off his defender, and put the game out of reach with a firm strike low to the near post.
Leo Gonzalez: 8
It was none other than Gonzalez, an outside defender for Seattle, who brought the team to the final 3-0 scoreline. His first goal since 2010, Leo’s wide open shot (assisted by Neagle) in the 92’ minute solidified the three points at home. Gonzalez entered the match only moments earlier, a substitution for Rose in the 89th minute.
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