This was always going to be a tough stretch. After the Seattle Sounders needed to play 120 minutes on Tuesday in order to secure their fourth U.S. Open Cup, the situation was made even tougher.
While that may help explain their 4-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, the Sounders are now in a position where a result on Wednesday is maybe not quite needed, but certainly very important.
This game couldn't have gotten off to a worse start. Some defensive sloppiness -- Jalil Anibaba getting caught marking two players while a solid five yards behind the defensive line, as well as several players chasing the ball -- led to the league's leading scorer an open look in the 1st minute. Although the Sounders eventually settled down, a regrettable defensive error by Dylan Remick gave the Red Bulls a penalty and the game quickly unraveled. Just a couple minutes later, Anibaba failed to close down the wing and Djimi Traore got beaten badly on the cross.
The insertion of Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey around the 60-minute mark helped inject some life into the Sounders. And Dempsey's goal did give the Sounders a semblance of hope, but some more Sounders backline sloppiness and a couple big saves by Luis Robles effectively snuffed out any chance the Sounders had.
Hopefully, the Sounders can forget about this one and simply move on.
Scoring Summary:
NY- Bradley Wright-Phillips 1'
NY- Bradley Wright-Phillips (penalty) 54'
NY- Bradley Wright-Phillips (Roy Miller, Thierry Henry) 56'
SEA- Clint Dempsey (Lamar Neagle) 62'
NY- Tim Cahill 65'
Seattle Sounders FC -Stefan Frei, Jalil Anibaba
Substitutes Not Used: Marcus Hahnemann, Zach Scott, Micheal Azira, DeAndre
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (5 tied at 2); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (2 tied at 2); FOULS: 8 (2 tied at 2); OFFSIDE: 4 (4 tied at 1); CORNER KICKS: 4 (Marco Pappa, 4); SAVES: 5 (Frei, 5).
New York Red Bulls-Luis Robles, Chris Duvall, Jamison Olave, Ibrahim Sekagya, Roy Miller (Ian Christianson, 84), Lloyd Sam, Eric Alexander, Dax McCarty, Ambroi
Substitutes Not Used:Ryan Meara, Richard Eckersley, Armando, Peguy Luyindula.
TOTAL SHOTS: 15 (3 tied at 3); SHOTS ON GOAL: 8 (Wright-Phillips 3); FOULS: 8 (2 tied at 2); OFFSIDE: 4 (4 tied at 1); CORNER KICKS: 4 (Henry 4); SAVES: 4 (Robles 4).
Misconduct Summary:
None
Referee: Alan Kelly
Referee's Assistants: Paul Scott, Chris Strickland
4th Official: Robert Sibiga
Attendance: 25,000
Weather: Clear and 73 Degrees
All statistics contained in this boxscore are unofficial
Seattle Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid
On the match:
Obviously we didn't play well in my mind. Giving up that early goal was bad. We talk about it all the time, that off the kick off we want to put the ball into the other team's end of the field and then start the game from there. It started off badly for us there. The penalty kick in the second half killed us. [Kenny] Cooper has a great chance in the first half, we could've come out of the first half 1-1, and needed to come out 1-1. Then we take the penalty kick and then we're naïve on the third goal as well and then the game is over. We got the 3-1, 4-1, we almost had 4-2, you know, it would've made a difference, but we had a lot of tired guys, I needed to rest some guys today, there was no other option, there was no way around that. But disappointed in the performance of some of our guys and I think Red Bull was highly motivated, they were going to bring their top game into this one, and they did, and they finished their chances much better than we finished ours.
On if the team was battling a U.S. Open Cup hangover:
It's not an Open Cup hangover. Anytime you have a game like that you're going to maybe start off flat, and we started off flat, but after 10-15 minutes I felt we were okay, but we just made too many individual mistakes. I mean you look at the PK [penalty kick], we give that away, you look at the third goal where we just get beat for pace and our right back's not that slow, he shouldn't get beat for pace. Djimi Traore clears the ball right to the guy, so that's another goal. You know it's a lot of individual mistakes that ended up happening that cost the team. I don't think we kept possession well enough, as well; you know in keeping possession and take some of that pressure off of you, but it's just one of those days at the office where you forget about it and you move on.
On Bradley Wright-Phillips:
Well I thought the third goal he got was a good goal. He made a good run in between the two defenders and he finished the cross really well, so I thought that was a good goal. Obviously he's taking PK's and he's finishing those, you got to make those, so you got to take your hat off to him there, and I thought we gifted him the first goal.
Seattle Sounders FC defender Jalil Anibaba
On how the quick first goal changed their game plan
Obviously the early goal was rough. Felt that the final 25 to 30 minutes of the first half we responded well. We just tried to stay focused.
On defending Bradley Wright-Phillips
He knows where to be at the right times, and he got fortunate on the early finish on the first goal.
On bouncing back from this game
It's just a matter of staying positive. We're still in a great spot and the focus is on Dallas now.
On how the changes in lineup effect their chemistry
No, I think we have proven throughout the year that our chemistry is good through the whole squad. I think it's just a matter of staying positive and bouncing back.
On how the locker room chemistry enables them to bounce back
We are close knit. Staying even keel, obviously, when we're doing too well we're not riding to high, when we take rough results, we take them in stride. We're looking to do that now; luckily we have another game coming up soon.
On how the talent in the Red Bulls lineup puts pressure on their defense
In a way, yeah. But, also, in a way it gave us a bunch of chances on the back end. It creates an open game as you saw, and unfortunately we weren't on the winning end tonight but it's about Wednesday now.
Seattle Sounders FC defender Djimi Traore
On the match
We came here with a lot of expectations and we don't perform well. Of course the coach completely changed the lineup from the past few games, and sometimes it doesn't pay off. When we give them four goals, especially the first one from the first minute, I think that killed us, I don't think we ever came back from that first goal. I think we need to give them credit because they are a very good team, I respect them, they have good players and today they all performed well.
On Bradley Wright-Phillips
If you are good in front of the goal it easy for you to finish, and if you see today in the three goals he scored today it's those things. He didn't do something special, he was just in the right position to finish.
On conceding their first hat-trick of the season
We are not happy about that. Of course we conceded four goals today, but over the couple of games we concede a couple of goals. I think if we want to go far, win MLS Cup we need to change some stuff, especially when we play away from home we start to give up some goals. You can see it just takes one mistake when you play against a good team, they can finish you. The last three games we have been a bit lucky, but today that showed why we need to work and we need to concentrate for the whole game.
New York Red Bulls head coach Mike Petke
On the match:
It was a huge, massive result for us. I mean listen Seattle's the best team in the league right now. It shows in points and the way they play, so I'm very happy with the result and that's it.
On if he was surprised when he saw Seattle's starting lineup:
We prepared for a lineup this week and obviously it was a little different when they gave us the paper, but I mean you look at their front line tonight to start. Between [Chad] Barrett and Kenny [Cooper] I mean they have a lot of goals in this league, you know, they're experienced players, their midfield was pretty much a starting midfield, and their two center back's, and [Jalil] Anibaba's experience as well. They had an overtime match on Tuesday or Wednesday, whenever it was, so they have quality that they could do things like that with. So was I surprised? You know I was as much surprised as I wasn't. I don't know if that makes sense. It could have gone either way.
On Bradley Wright-Phillips:
Bradley was a - you know I didn't give the lineup until today pre-match, which I usually give the lineup the day before because we were really waiting on - he got the ‘OK' yesterday, I made the decision to play him, he said he felt great, but I wanted to see how he woke up today, and Bradley, you know, three goals tonight, huge goals, great goals. I'm proud of him and I told you a million times that his main focus is not the [MLS single season scoring] record, but of course the record would be a nice little icing on the cake for him, but he's producing for us so I'm very happy.
On the team's recent play against the top teams in the league:
The first part, why did we beat Arsenal 1-0? It doesn't matter who they put out there, their only loss of the preseason. Perhaps my team likes the challenge of playing the top teams? I don't know. All I know is that I think we have 10 points out of 12 in our last four games. We need to keep doing the same mindset, it doesn't matter who we play. We have a lot more cover for each other in the last four games, especially with Dax [McCarty] and Eric [Alexander] putting a lot of work in in front of our back four. We just need to keep going with that.
On why he took Bradley Wright-Phillips out of the match:
When I got the ‘OK' that Bradley was able to play it was one of those things that perhaps it's not a terrible idea not to play him but he's good to go, so I knew he wouldn't do 90 [minutes]. I don't like bringing on substitutes at halftime; I don't know if it's superstition, I just don't like it. So we said lets give him 10 more minutes and see, but it was pre-planned, you know, it was going to be 45-60 minutes, somewhere in that range.
New York Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips
On getting the start following his injury:
I just came prepared to start and, yeah, he (Petke) gave me the start. I felt alright.
On scoring after missing a few games:
Yeah when you haven't played for a couple of games it's good to not do anything and get a tap in, I was happy with that.
On his mindset after the early goal:
I didn't really, I know Seattle's a dangerous team. I was thinking more just keep a clean sheet, I wasn't expecting a hat-trick but that's how football goes.
On closing in on the MLS single season goals record:
Sorry, I don't really want to talk about the record. We haven't clinched a playoff place yet, so that's a bit selfish. I just want to clinch a playoff spot.
On how he felt last season to this season:
How did last season go for me? Honestly, I don't think last season was too bad. I came to a new team, a couple of goals. I wasn't starting every week, so I enjoyed it last season.
On how much fun he is having on the field:
I'm getting kicked every weekend, so it hasn't been too much fun, after the game is a lot of fun but during the game it's not too much fun.
On teams playing him differently from the start of the season to now:
Yeah they're a bit more aggressive. I don't have the body for that, I don't think they need that much aggression for me. I'm not strong or anything, but yeah it's been a bit more aggressive.
On Roy Miller's pass that lead to his third goal:
With Roy his left foot is brilliant and I know that we have tried sometimes to get those balls on occasion and we have been so close, and today it worked. Great ball in by Roy, I didn't have to do much.
On exposing Seattle on the left side:
I think both of our wings are very good, but on our left side with the balance of Roy and Oyongo, they can both do the same thing. If one goes forward the other one can defend, they're both left back and wingers so it causes teams a lot of problems.
New York Red Bulls midfielder Lloyd Sam
On Seattle challenge:
Yeah it was always going to be a difficult game, we didn't know what lineup they were going to come out with, we were a bit surprised by the lineup, but we've been strong at home lately. I mean it was encouraging to see that they didn't have their main men out straight away and it's nice to get a first goal so soon into a game and then that settled us down and then ended up being a good day for us.
On if he was insulted by Seattle lineup:
I mean I wouldn't say its disrespect, I mean I can imagine why they're doing it, they had the cup final in the week so obviously they have a big squad, but I wouldn't say disrespected but it was definitely something that we could capitalize on and we did.
On Bradley Wright-Phillips performance:
Bradley, he keeps doing it doesn't he? I'm really proud of him. He's had a great season and he really hasn't trained much this week And to come in and get a hat-trick for us, I mean it's phenomenal and I'm really proud of him.
New York Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry (postgame on NBC SN set)
On the win over Seattle
My focus is trying to get some points against L.A. We all know [that] if you don't go down there well and well-prepared, you can easily [concede] three or four. We have seen that recently. As long as we defend the way we do defend, we can score goals against any team. Recently before the run we've been having, we were conceding too many goals and we've rectified it.
On Red Bulls forward Bradley Wright-Phillips
He is the "plus one". He always goes behind the defense [and] he doesn't care too much about combining play. He can hold the ball, though. I'm just saying he's there to score and you see that. I'm just happy for him because, after seven games at the beginning of the season, people were having a go at him, and rightly so because he wasn't scoring. Right now he's our go-to guy and that's why if the boss asks me to play on the left, I'll play on the left for him [or] if I have to play behind him. We all try to feed him tonight again and, you know, what a game. I don't think he played particularly well but it's what you ask from a striker. He scored three goals and, therefore, that's a good game.
New York Red Bulls midfielder Lloyd Sam
On Seattle challenge
Yeah it was always going to be a difficult game, we didn't know what lineup they were going to come out with, we were a bit surprised by the lineup, but we've been strong at home lately. I mean it was encouraging to see that they didn't have their main men out straight away and it's nice to get a first goal so soon into a game and then that settled us down and then ended up being a good day for us.
On if he was insulted by Seattle lineup
I mean I wouldn't say its disrespect, I mean I can imagine why they're doing it, they had the cup final in the week so obviously they have a big squad, but I wouldn't say disrespected but it was definitely something that we could capitalize on and we did.
On Bradley Wright-Phillips performance
Bradley, he keeps doing it doesn't he? I'm really proud of him. He's had a great season and he really hasn't trained much this week And to come in and get a hat-trick for us, I mean it's phenomenal and I'm really proud of him.
On Oyongo
Oyongo was impressive, he was really impressive, did really well. It was a good team but performance but him especially. He's been one of the main revelations I've seen this season. He's been the one that people really don't know about. He's played left-back and he's played forward, he scores goals, he runs at defenders, he does a lot and he's getting recognition from his country too and that's good to see.
New York Red Bulls midfielder Dax McCarty
On his role in the team
It's a role I think I started getting used to back when Hans Backe was here our old coach and it's a role that I'm comfortable in. I've played it last year, I've played it a couple times in Dallas, and you know sometimes it's hard for me to reign it in and be disciplined and not get in on the attacking, I still have that tendency to want to get in on the fun, go and get involved, but for the most part it's a role that you kind of need to be more selfless and you have to be a little bit disciplined in the way you go about things because we have guys that can change games and if we get more solid defensively I think that can help our team in the long run. I've never been a guy that's been about individual stuff, I could care less about that stuff, I'm all about getting wins and if that's going to get us wins then that's a great position and I'll do whatever it takes.
On chemistry with Eric Alexander
I think anytime you have a good relationship and a good friendship with someone off the field, you're always going to make a good partnership on the field. A lot of respect for Eric Alexander, he gets some outside forces but he's got a huge role on this team and he's got a huge respect that he commands in this locker room. Everyone knows how important he is to the team so for me he's a guy that you can't be without. You can't be without a guy like that on this team and he works for the team, not selfish, does whatever he's asked, that's how you win in this league. You have to have some players that are willing to be adaptable and guys that are willing to kind of sacrifice himself for the team and that's the guy that Eric is.