The Seattle Sounders’ first competitive match in four months went about how you might imagine it would. There were glimpses of quality and there probably should have been a goal or two, but even head coach Brian Schmetzer admitted that a 0-0 draw was probably fair. Here’s how it looked on paper:
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 0 - San Jose Earthquakes 0
Friday, July 10, 2020
Venue: ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Referee: Drew Fischer
Assistants: Logan Brown, Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho
Fourth Official: Armando Villarreal
VAR: Victor Rivas
Attendance: None
Weather: 81 degrees and cloudy
SCORING SUMMARY
None
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SJ - Tommy Thompson (caution) 19’
SEA - Xavier Arreaga (caution) 24’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC - Stefan Frei; Kelvin Leerdam (Shane O’Neill 90’+5’), Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Xavier Arreaga, Nohou (Miguel Ibarra 77’), Gustav Svensson, Jordy Delem (Joevin Jones 56’), Cristian Roldan, Nicolás Lodeiro, Jordan Morris (Shandon Hopeau 77’); Raúl Ruidíaz
Substitutes not used: Trey Muse, Stefan Cleveland Alex Roldan, Handwalla Bwana, Josh Atencio, Ethan Dobbelaere, Danny Leyva, Justin Dhillon
Total shots: 12 (5, Ruidíaz)
Shots on goal: 6 (C. Roldan, 3)
Fouls: 10 (Three players, 2)
Offside: 2 (Morris/Ruidíaz, 1)
Corner-kicks: 1 (Lodeiro, 1)
Saves: 8 (Frei, 8)
San Jose Earthquakes - Daniel Vega; Tommy Thompson (Shea Salinas 64’), Guram Kashia, Oswaldo Alanis (Florian Jungwirth 64’), Nick Lima; Judson (Chris Wondolowski 75’), Jackson Yueill, Cristian Espinoza (Carlos Fierro 75’), Magnus Eriksson, Valeri Qazaishvili (Cade Cowell 85’); Andres Rios
Substitutes not used: James Marcinkowski, Paul Marie, Tanner Beason, Eric Calvillo, Jack Skahan, Luis Felipe Fernandes, Siad Haji
Total shots: 16 (Eriksson/Qazaishvili, 3)
Shots on goal: 8 (Qazaishivili, 3)
Fouls: 10 (Four players, 2)
Offside: 1 (Rios, 1)
Corner-kicks: 9 (Espinoza, 4)
Saves: 6 (Vega, 6)
POST-MATCH QUOTES: SOUNDERS FC 0 – SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES 0
SOUNDERS FC GOALKEEPER STEFAN FREI – LINK TO SOUNDBYTES
On the conditions…
“These conditions would be tough even if you were in midseason form, so to come back and play in something like this after such a long break – it makes it difficult. Even more reason to try and find more possession. I think that’s where we need to be a bit better. Towards the end of the second half it was okay, but just having some patience and having the ball, running at the opponent is going to go a long way in these conditions. But happy to get the first game out of the way, the butterflies out of the way. Get a points, no injuries in these conditions is something to build on.
SOUNDERS FC MIDFIELDER CRISTIAN ROLDAN – LINK TO SOUNDBYTES
On executing the game plan...
”We were patient, we were good. And obviously, when we played direct, Raúl into the half-space and Jordan and I made some runs. First half, me specifically having that chance and should’ve scored it, however that was really the game plan. Trying to exploit the runs in behind, get free of your marker and exploit that three-v-two in our back, their attack. In the end, obviously sloppy play – first game in three months, whatever…We could have taken care of one or two opportunities, we’d be happy with the result.”
SEATTLE SOUNDERS FC HEAD COACH BRIAN SCHMETZER – LINK TO SOUNDBYTES
On his team’s play:
“It got better in the second half, although we should have scored in the first half. They’re a very good team, so give them some credit.”
On navigating the new substitution rules:
“I thought the subs that came on did a good job…We should have had had a couple chances that we created, maybe we walk away with three points. But I think 0-0 might have been a fair result.”