Throughout the Seattle Sounders 4-0-1 start to the 2019 season, which is the best opening spell of games in franchise history, the team’s dynamic attack has grabbed most of the headlines.
In Saturday’s 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake, the defense stood tall as the team recorded its third clean sheet of the campaign.
“Clean sheets are always nice, it guarantees you points,” said Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “I think over the course of time this club has always been a pretty good defensive club. It starts with the good work of [Club Director of Goalkeeping] Tommy [Dutra] and the goalkeeping crew. We’ve been fortunate to have Román Torres, Chad Marshall, Kim Kee-hee, Kelvin [Leerdam], Brad [Smith], Nouhou. We’ve had some very good players.”
The Sounders came flying out of the gates after the team’s scoreless draw in Vancouver last weekend, with Nicolás Lodeiro, Víctor Rodríguez and Smith supplying their typical dizzying combination play down the left. In the 18th minute, Lodeiro finished off Cristian Roldan’s looping cross with a fadeaway volley that nestled inside the near post.
After controlling most of the opening period, the defense and midfield adopted a “bend but don’t break” approach in the second half. That resolute defending paid off as the Sounders picked up three massive points at home.
While the defense and midfield did well to contain RSL’s dangerous attacking players, Schmetzer pointed out the entire team’s role in keeping the clean sheet.
“The commitment to defend started with the guys up front,” he said. “I thought Will [Bruin] did his job out there today in his time on the field, not just in the attacking end, but starting the pressure defensively.”
The clean sheet was an important accomplishment for a team that prides itself on making CenturyLink Field a fortress. However, goalkeeper Stefan Frei, who chipped in with four saves on the night and brought his season total to 22 through five matches, was quick to point out that the squad has plenty of room for improvement moving forward.
“It was good that we got the three points and maintained a shutout at home, but the rest I’m not too happy [about], honestly,” said Frei. “We need to put this team away. To let them linger on and give them hope and chances is something we have to fix. Again, great to get three points and keep it going, but lots to do better in this game.”
