The Sounders draw at Chivas on Friday wasn't the result we all hoped for, but it definitely wasn't a bad outcome either. Earning a 1-1 draw on the road, especially when they had to come back from a deficit, against an improving Chivas team that has always played Seattle tough at the end of a grueling stretch of games — in the long run, I think that's a fine result. And from there the weekend just got better.
Earlier in the day the US national team frankly destroyed visiting Scotland 5-1 in their first friendly of the international break. Even the one opposing goal came via a US own goal off Geoff Cameron. Scotland is an enormously productive well of coaching talent, but their football is in crisis, with an underperforming national team, and Rangers having gone into administration.
Even earlier that morning the Sounders Pre-Academy team kicked off as part of the Portland Timbers Friendship Cup. Updates were only on Twitter (and those who happened to go), and they beat British Columbia Provincial 3-0. Sunday morning the next match for the Pre-Academy kicked off — against the Timbers. The kids represented Seattle well and held the game to 0-0 in the enemy's den.
Then we turned to the women as the national team women took on China in Philadelphia and the Sounders Women (devoid of their national teamers) simultaneously played away in Vancouver in their season opener. The USWNT fell behind early, but came back to win 4-1 thanks in large part to Alex Morgan, who finished with two goals and an assist.
And the Sounders Women turned out to be just fine without their superstar contingent of national team players, as they relied on Mexican national team player Veronica Perez as they beat rivals Vancouver Whitecaps 2-0.
So that's no losses in 6 matches, including 4 wins. Not a bad haul for Seattle (and US) soccer fans. And if you want the weekend of soccer to continue into the holiday, the Pre-Academy is kicking off their final match of the Friendship Cup, which you can follow on @SoundersAcademy on Twitter.
Update: I foolishly left out the Sounders U23s, who picked up a 0-0 draw on Friday night versus Victoria and beat Fraser Valley 2-1 away on Sunday. That's 8 without a loss (though the Pre-Academy did lose their final match of their tournament today)