Sounders showing signs of life while Whitecaps try to snap out of swoon
This isn’t the Seattle Sounders team we’re used to seeing.
Offensively challenged, a hobbled and anemic Clint Dempsey, a squad struggling to keep the Major League Soccer playoff line in sight in the gladiatorial ranks of the Western Conference. The Sounders (4-9-5) have just four wins this season, and they’ve all come over the past four months.
Four wins in four months is a tragic number — it’s also the same scarlet number put forth by the Vancouver Whitecaps (7-8-5) during that span. A number, it should be noted, that when extrapolated forward, leaves both clubs outside of the expected points total of qualifying for the post-season.
The Sounders come into today’s match playing their best soccer of the season, having gone undefeated on a three-game road swing, including last week’s 1-1 tie at Atlanta, where they held on for the draw despite being down to 10 men.
The Whitecaps are trending in the opposite direction, having lost three of their last four, and that’s not including Wednesday ’s 1-0 loss to the Montreal Impact in the first leg of the Canadian Championship semifinal.
Two of those setbacks came at the handsofteamsthatwereatthebottom of the standings.
The Caps have dropped to eighth place in the West, two points behind the L.A. Galaxy in sixth, and nine points up on Seattle.
Today’s match at CenturyLink Field has massive importance for both sides, because at this time of year, it’s where the rubber meets the road.
KEY MATCHUP
Doneil Henry vs. Raul Ruidiaz
When Kendall Waston left for the World Cup in Russia, Doneil Henry played like a world beater in his place. He leads the league with 25 headed clearances — and is second overall with 44 — in the six games he’s started.
He’ll have his hands full with Peruvian international Raul Ruidiaz, who joined Seattle this month as the team’s newest Designated Player.
FIVE THINGS TO WATCH 1. The 4-4-too much space
When the Whitecaps switched to a 4-4-2 against Minnesota United at the beginning of May, it marked a change in the team’s offensive performances. Chances began to come, and, eventually, goals.
It also brought a host of WhacA-Mole defensive problems. No matter how many times specific issues were fixed, others popped up, whether it was defensive lapses, poor positioning or bad giveaways. But there has been one constant — deep goals. Since switching to the 4-4-2, the Whitecaps have surrendered 19 goals in open play, and 10 of those have come from around the edge of the box or beyond, including four from 20 yards or deeper. Close down the opposition, or continue to get ventilated. It’s that simple.
2. Where’s Waston?
Kendall Waston’s rehab from a groin injury suffered in his first game back from the World Cup continues to progress. He’s back in full training, but the club said his status for today depends on his performance in training. But there won’t be a lot of time to make that assessment. The team left for Seattle Friday afternoon. The 1 p.m. kickoff today means no early morning training, either.
3. Pop-gun offences
Both teams have had issues putting the ball in the back of the net this season. The Sounders are averaging 0.9 goals per game, last in MLS, and have been shut out a league-high nine times.
The Caps have been making hay with their impressive scoring chances stats, but finishing has been their downfall. It’s easy to defend against a team that takes a league-high 71 per cent of its shots from the middle of the field. Teams just play bat-cave defence and make the Caps look like the Joker — the Jared Leto version, not Heath Ledger.
4. The $14-million man
The pressure is on DP striker Raul Ruidiaz to rescue the Sounders’ sinking ship.
The Peruvian joined Seattle from Liga MX side Club Atletico Monarcas Morelia, bringing with him a desperately needed goalscorer’s talents and mentality. Of the Sounders’ 16 goals this season, Will Bruin, expected to be a secondary scorer, paces the team with five. Nicolas Lodeiro is the only other player with at least two. Clint Dempsey, slowed by injuries and suspensions, has just one goal this season, after scoring 12 last year.
Ruidiaz didn’t get a chance to feature in last week’s game in Atlanta after the Sounders went down to 10 men, but will see action this week.
5. Breaking out of The Clink
The Sounders’ home field was once the most feared venue for visiting teams in MLS. Last year, they had just one loss all year — to TFC, the eventual MLS champions — but have four losses at CenturyLink Field already this season.
Seattle is one of just four MLS teams with a losing home record, and is hosting one of the best road teams in the league. Only four teams have more road wins than the Caps, two of them being the conference leaders.