The Seattle Sounders watched a 14-game home unbeaten streak go up in smoke after falling 3-1 to Sporting KC on Sunday. The loss cut the Sounders’ lead at the top of the Western Conference to two points.
It was also the first time the Sounders had suffered a multi-goal loss at home since June 25, 2016, a span that encompasses all of Brian Schmetzer’s tenure as Sounders head coach.
MATCH SUMMARY
Seattle Sounders FC 1 – Sporting Kansas City 3
Sunday, July 25, 2021
Venue: Lumen Field
Referee: Ramy Touchan
Assistants: Ian Anderson, Jeff Hosking
Fourth Official: Michael Radchuk
VAR: Hilario Grajeda
Attendance: 32,790
Weather: 81 degrees and clear
SCORING SUMMARY
SKC – Johnny Russell 31’
SKC – Daniel Sallói (Gadi Kinda, Khiry Shelton) 42’
SEA – Fredy Montero 51’
SKC – Cameron Duke (Graham Zusi, Johnny Russell) 72’
MISCONDUCT SUMMARY
SEA – Danny Leyva (caution) 29’
SKC – Graham Zusi (caution) 80’
SEA – João Paulo (caution) 84’
LINEUPS & STATS
Seattle Sounders FC – Stefan Cleveland; Jimmy Medranda (Brad Smith 64’), Xavier Arreaga (Ethan Dobbelaere 74’), Yeimar, Abdoulaye Cissoko (Reed Baker-Whiting 34’), Kelyn Rowe; João Paulo, Danny Leyva (Shane O’Neill 64’), Josh Atencio; Raúl Ruidíaz, Fredy Montero
Substitutes not used: Spencer Richey, Andrew Thomas, Alex Villanueva, Obed Vargas
Total shots: 13
Shots on goal: 6
Fouls: 12
Offside: 1
Corner-kicks: 6
Saves: 1
Sporting Kansas City – Tim Melia; Andreu Fontas, Nicolas Isimat, Graham Zusi, Luis Martins; Roger Espinoza (Ilie Sanchez 64’), Gadi Kinda (Cameron Duke 70’), Remi Walter; Johnny Russell, Khiry Shelton, Daniel Sallói
Substitutes not used: John Pulskamp, Jaylin Lindsey, Roberto Puncec, Graham Smith, Kayden Pierre, Kaveh Rad, Wilson Harris
Total shots: 7
Shots on goal: 4
Fouls: 15
Offside: 2
Corner-kicks: 3
Saves: 5
POST-MATCH QUOTES: SOUNDERS FC 1 – SPORTING KANSAS CITY 3
SUNDAY, JULY 25, 2021
LUMEN FIELD – SEATTLE, WA
SOUNDERS FC HEAD COACH BRIAN SCHMETZER
On if there was any one thing the team didn’t do during this loss:
“There was not just one thing, there was a ton. You know, we had talked internally about this being a trap game. You go into this game against an opponent that is right behind you in the standings, they were up for the game and the emotional high of what we accomplished in Austin, it was hard for the team it seemed like to get emotionally ready for this game. And it’s almost like when we beat Minnesota last year in the semifinal did that kind of trickle into our performance in the Cup Final which is even worse because that was actually MLS Cup Final. But that’s human nature. We talked about it as a group, we talked about it as a collective, not just amongst the coaches but with the players as well. It’s just hard sometimes to get back up on the horse and provide another inspired performance. I thought we were lacking that a little bit, that little bit of inspiration, that we are at home that we are going to come out on the front foot. We are going to do what we do. We just didn’t have that. Plus, there was some performances that weren’t up to their standards by senior players, by some younger players. This wasn’t up to the standard.”
SOUNDERS FC FORWARD FREDY MONTERO
On his overall impressions of the game:
“We always have a really solid defense, and from there we can build up our game and go forward, especially having the top scorer of the season with us. But today we started losing, and when you start losing it’s always difficult because then you have to come back and we are starting to play against the flow and we are risking more so it makes everything more difficult.”
On his birthday tomorrow overall view of his career:
“I’m happy that I am reaching this stage of my life. It’s a birthday that I always wanted to celebrate, it’s particularly important for me because it’s been a long time since I have been back here in Seattle and it’s great to be able to celebrate with this goal with my family and my friends, people that I started my career here with the MLS, it makes it very special. And from the game perspective I love that I can keep playing, I love that I can keep contributing to the team inside the field and outside the field and that makes me very, very happy.”
SOUNDERS FC DEFENDER SHANE O’NEILL
On the message from Brian Schmetzer when he subbed in:
“We wanted to keep the press high, obviously. I feel like we had three pretty athletic guys back there. Trying to keep Kansas City hemmed in and I think if the game stays 2-1 it’s really great and I think there were some opportunities for us to keep pressuring them and keep them in that cycle but obviously when they get the third it just totally changes everything. And then then obviously we go with four at the back and we are kind of chasing it at that point so obviously it’s unfortunate that I feel like a couple of the goals were maybe a little bit soft. It’s a long season, there’s ups and downs and we really got to dial in for next weekend.”
On if there was anything different they saw from SKC than from their other opponents:
“No, I think they did what teams are starting…I mean it’s no secret, it’s pretty obvious what teams are trying to do to us. They keep guys high and wide and they try to switch the ball really fast and try to hit us on the counter and you know, to be fair they did a pretty good job but I mean goals change games, I think we were right in the game until the third goal. Obviously, that was an unfortunate goal. It’s a goal that I feel like we haven’t been conceding goals like that this year except for maybe like [our] Vancouver game. So, you know, we were solid defensively. It’s been really good, but teams are starting to do this. We started to really start to see it in that Vancouver game, against Colorado, Houston, I mean everyone is trying to do the same thing and now it’s about us really trying to make sure the press is good and keeping teams hemmed in so that that’s how we counteract that by keeping them pressed, so yeah that’s a tough…to hear them celebrate but they are a good team, they are a measuring stick team so we got to bounce back.”