Home-field advantage? Not anymore for Sounders
It used to be that Major League Soccer teams would be glad to get out of CenturyLink Field alive.
Nowadays, with the Sounders having already lost four times there this year compared to once last season, front-running Atlanta United FC and their MercedesBenz Stadium make a compelling case for the new home fortress title. Hence, the reason Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer admittedly rolled the dice Sunday in settling for a lone road point at Atlanta rather than going for three late.
His Sounders now likely need to average more than two points per game over the final 16 matches to make the playoffs.
But Schmetzer figured his revamping squad, despite its CenturyLink struggles, was more likely to reel off some three-point efforts in upcoming home contests than a road win against an Atlanta team that spent the second half bombarding his short-handed side. So, once right back Jordan McCrary was ejected in the 63rd minute for a second yellow card, Schmetzer nixed his plan to insert Peruvian striker Raul Ruidiaz for some late offence in favour of hanging on.
“I read some of the stuff and I know that everybody wanted to see Ruidiaz out on the field,’’ Schmetzer said Tuesday, as the Sounders trained ahead of Saturday ’s home match against Vancouver. “And we would have loved … had he come on and scored a winning goal against Atlanta. But obviously, the game didn’t dictate that.’’
Instead, Schmetzer’s playing for the draw dictated that the Sounders now must win nearly all of their remaining home games to have a realistic playoff chance. In Schmetzer’s mind, the team’s 2-53 play on the road has been largely good enough; including taking five of a possible nine points the past three games. It’s the 2-4-2 mark at CenturyLink that he feels has nearly done the Sounders in.
One senses irritation around the Sounders when it comes to the constant comparisons between their highly successful 2009 franchise launch and that of the Arthur Blank-owned Atlanta side last season. It’s been pointed out that Atlanta last year bested the Sounders’ single-game and season records for attendance.
On Sunday, United eclipsed their own single-game attendance record by drawing 72,243. Not all the Atlanta fans, many taking to social media, were thrilled with the Sounders and what they viewed as stall tactics to escape with their lone point intact.
Seven minutes of stoppage time was added to the game’s conclusion. Asked about it Tuesday, Schmetzer suggested Atlanta fans have some things to learn.
“What I would say is that they are a good franchise,’’ he said.
“They have done a lot of good things. Throwing shade on opponents, that’s where you can, sometimes,
cross a line.’’
Schmetzer now must focus on salvaging his team’s current season. The first attempt comes against a Whitecaps squad nine points ahead of the Sounders in the Western Conference standings.
Lose that contest and the Sounders are pretty much toast. Not only because of the resulting 12-point gap with the Whitecaps, but also since the Los Angeles Galaxy are already 11 points up on the Sounders while the Houston Dynamo are in front by nine in the race for the final playoff spot.
The Sounders will have midfielder Gustav Svensson back. Svensson admitted to feeling mentally drained after his quarterfinal loss playing for Sweden at the World Cup, but said Tuesday he’s ready to move on. Osvaldo Alonso has not looked the same since his return from injury and Svensson would be a defensive midfield upgrade.
Ruidiaz will likely be the starting forward Saturday. Whether the Sounders leave him as the lone striker in a 4-2-3-1 formation — or go with Clint Dempsey or Will Bruin as a second forward up top — will largely be dictated by performance.