KANSAS CITY, Kan. — The Seattle Sounders fell 3-2 at Sporting Kansas City on Sunday, but a bright spot is that defender Xavier Arreaga made his MLS debut.
Arreaga entered in unfortunate circumstances, though, coming on for Kim Kee-hee in the 38th minute, who exited with lateral knee pain. Arreaga filled in admirably, showing off his excellent defensive acumen, on-ball IQ and distribution qualities. He finished with a team-high eight recoveries, two tackles, a clearance and a block.
“Arreaga was good,” said Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. "You saw what he brings. He’ll need to learn the physicality of our league. On the ball, he was very steady and a calming influence back there…I liked what I saw.”
An Ecuador international, Arreaga signed from Ecuadorian top-flight side Barcelona SC on May 7, just before the close of the Primary Transfer Window. The plan originally was to have him ease his way into the side, but that process expedited with the retirement of Chad Marshall on Wednesday and injury to Kim on Sunday.
Still, Arreaga was happy to make his inaugural appearance and is looking forward to his future at the club.
“I’m happy to have debuted for the team and at the same time sad because of the result,” Arreaga said through a translator. “We have to turn the page. We have another important game coming up and we have to prepare ourselves."
“We have a competitive league,” he continued. “[It’s] a league that demands a lot of you, and it gives me a good feeling to be here. I think it’s going to help me grow as a soccer player.”
Seattle is halfway through a four-match road trip, its longest stretch away from CenturyLink Field this season. The Sounders head to FC Dallas next Saturday (5 p.m. PT; JOEtv, YouTube TV 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM) before visiting the Montreal Impact the following Wednesday (4:30 p.m. PT; JOEtv, YouTube TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM).
With Kim still being evaluated, how well Arreaga plays and integrates into the squad will go a long way in the Sounders earning points.
“I thought he was excellent,” midfielder Cristian Roldan said of Arreaga. “He was lights out defensively, but especially on the ball he gave us that extra edge to maintain possession…Xavier is an excellent player, and we’re looking forward to having him.”
