After a three-month hiatus of soccer in Seattle, Thursday’s dominant 4-0 victory serves as a reminder of how the Rave Green shine under the lights of CenturyLink Field.
Despite a scoreless first half, the Sounders jumped on El Salvador's Santa Tecla FC after the break. The first one came in the 48th minute. Riding the roar of the crowd, the Sounders added another goal in the 69th minute. Then the 81st, then the 83rd. By the end, the Sounders punched their ticket to the SCCL quarterfinals against Chivas.
In MLS, it’s standard for teams to perform better at home, as the Sounders have done since joining MLS in 2009. Under Brian Schmetzer, though, the Sounders have been even better.
Since Schmetzer took over managerial duties, the Sounders have a home record of 22-1-7.
Thirty matches. Twenty-two wins. The lone loss came in a 1-0 defeat to eventual MLS Cup champion Toronto FC last May on a penalty by Jozy Altidore. Otherwise, it’s an impeccable slate.
Since the end of September, the home performances have been borderline absurd. Over the past six contests at CenturyLink Field — three in the regular season, two in the MLS Cup Playoffs and one in CONCACAF Champions League — the Sounders have outscored opponents 19-0.
“I am going to erase the five from last year, but thanks for bringing that stat up in front of my bosses,” Schmetzer joked after the match. “It was a great way to start the homestand of 2018, and we are hoping that continues.”
Thursday's contest marked the home debut of two players: Jordan McCrary and Magnus Wolff Eikrem, who scored the final goal of the evening.
For McCrary, a 24-year-old defender who earned a First Team contract after an impressive preseason trial, the experience was surreal.
“It was amazing,” McCrary said after the match. “The roar, the fans, the chants, everything. And then when you walk out under the bright lights and see the stadium filled, it was great. I loved it.
The Sounders look to continue the successful home streak on Sunday against LAFC (2 p.m. PT; ESPN, YouTubeTV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS).
