Sounders show up for their National Teams

The Seattle Sounders had 10 players and one academy player off with national teams over the most recent FIFA window and most had pretty successful trips.

USMNT - Jordan Morris and Cristian Roldan

While losing Morris and Roldan for the Colorado Rapids match was bad, both showed well for Gregg Berhalter. Neither started against Mexico, very disappointing since they could’ve played against Colorado then reported for the Uruguay match, but Morris did sub on for Tyler Boyd. Morris played 32 minutes and while the attack couldn’t find a goal and the defense gave up two more, Morris was effective going forward. His pace and ability to get into the box created a dangerous chances, including a penalty that Josh Sargent failed to convert.

Against Uruguay, who did not call in Nicolas Lodeiro, both Sounders started and looked effective. Morris bagged the USMNT’s lone goal in a very strong performance. He eventually subbed off in the 85th minute after his goal and two key passes, including one that really should have been a goal. Roldan focused on the right side of the field in triangle midfield with Jackson Yueill and Sebastian Lletget. Roldan showed well and hopefully gets more minutes under Berhalter as one of the few players (and Morris) who played well in Berhalter’s style.

USMNT U17s - Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez and Ethan Dobbelaere (Academy)

The two were called in for the U17s Four Nations Tournament in the Netherlands and started off hot immediately. In the first match against Mexico, AOC started and grabbed an assist on the team’s first goal. He subbed off in the 72nd minute, replaced by fellow academy member, Ethan Dobblelaere. Dobbelaere continued the offense assisting on the team’s game winner, taking down Mexico 2-1. Game 2 was against the hosts, Netherlands, and the USA won 3-1 with both making an appearance. Dobbelaere started and played the first half while AOC subbed on in the 62nd. The final match, which could clinch the tournament, the team fell apart and lost 4-1 to Denmark. AOC did start the match but subs were not posted.

Martinique - Jordy Delem

After suffering a concussion against the LA Galaxy, Jordy Delem did not feature for Martinique in their first match against Trinidad & Tobago, a 1-1 draw. In the second match, Delem started on the backline, where he normally does for the national team, and went the full 90. Jordy grabbed the tying goal in the 80th minute. Free kick in, headed across goal, crossed back to the far post where Delem was unmarked and tapped it in. Martinique sits tied with Trinidad on two points in the Concacaf League of Nations, League A, Group C. Honduras didn’t play tournament matches during the window.

Trinidad & Tobago - Joevin Jones

Joevin started the first match for Trinidad and bagged the sole goal in their 1-1 draw with Martinique. Joevin was called on to convert a penalty for T&T in the 65th and hit a beautiful PK to tie the match. Jones subbed on a little later in the 71st. In the second match, also against Martinique, Joevin was on the bench. He subbed on in the 63rd just after T&T gave up a goal to make it 2-1 Trinidad. Martinique found their way back in and drew 2-2. Trinidad sits tied with Martinique on two points in the Concacaf League of Nations, League A, Group C. Honduras didn’t play tournament matches during the window.

Ecuador - Xavier Arreaga

Ecuador played two friendlies. Game one was 1-0 win over Peru. Arreaga went 90 and defended club teammate, Raul Ruidiaz, most of the match. He picked up a 22nd minute yellow making a hard challenge at midfield to stop a Peruvian counter attack but it was not against Ruidiaz. In game two, Ecuador beat Bolivia 3-0, Arreaga went 90 again. This time they held possession for most of the match and the game was never in jeopardy.

Peru - Raul Ruidiaz

In the first friendly, Raul Ruidiaz went 77 minutes in the 1-0 loss to Ecuador. Ruidiaz went up against Arreaga for most of the match but Peru held about two-thirds of the possession and didn’t utilize Ruidiaz’s ability to run into space as much. Ruidiaz also started the second match against Brazil, a 1-0 win. He subbed off at half when it was 0-0 for Yordy Reyna as the team setup more defensively. Ruidiaz was not on when they grabbed the winning goal.

Sweden - Gustav Svensson

The midfielder didn’t start either Euro 2020 qualifier match but did sub on for both. In the first game, Sweden won 4-0 over the Faroe Islands. Svensson subbed on in the 63rd to help see the game out but the match was pretty much over since it was 4-0 at halftime. In the second match, Sweden drew 1-1 with Norway. Svensson subbed on in the 84th to close this match out as well. Dropping two points against Norway did hurt Sweden’s chances of locking up a top two spot early but as of now they are sitting in second on 11 points with Spain in first with 18. Romania sits in 3rd with 10, all having played six of 10 matches. Sweden plays Malta and Spain next round and then Romania and the Faroe Islands in the final two match stage.

Cameroon U23- Nouhou

Cameroon advanced on away goals over Tunisia to make it to the group stage round of the African U23 Cup of Nations. Nouhou started both legs and appeared to go 90 in each. Cameroon won the first leg 1-0 at home and then fell 2-1 to Tunisia in Tunisia but advanced on away goals.

Australia - Brad Smith

Australia had one match, a World Cup Qualifier with Kuwait. The Socceroos won 3-0. Smith was on the bench but didn’t sub on.