Realio’s Ratings: Hard truths come hot against Europe’s elite

Seattle Sounders’ clash with Atletico Madrid, one of the world’s elite football clubs, proved to be a compelling encounter. For significant portions of the match, the Sounders not only held their own but actively competed with their esteemed opponents. While the talent differential ultimately proved too much to overcome, resulting in a 3-1 loss, the Sounders can be pleased with their performance. The match was competitive and high-quality from both sides, offering a lively, entertaining experience for the fans. It’s a testament to their fighting spirit that, while a few rough moments could have seen the score balloon to a 6-1 blowout, the Sounders created legitimate chances to secure a more favorable result. Avoiding that blowout should be a source of pride, however an honest appraisal of the team’s deficiencies and areas for improvement is also necessary. The match served as a valuable learning experience, exposing the gaps that exist between their current level and the top teams in the world, and addressing those gaps is crucial for the Sounders as they continue to strive for excellence.

Hard Truth: Moral victories are nice, but actual victories are better. For all the fight Seattle put up, this game would have been over in the first half if Atletico had finished their numerous big chances. That’s the second match in the row where Seattle played well against high level competition, but at the end of the day, it’s two losses and a -3 goal differential. And the team that just won the European Champions League is their next opponent. 

Soft Truth: Only conceding once in the first half and ending 3-1 against a team that rates in the top 15 in the world is a worthy accomplishment. Twice Seattle went down multiple goals and fought back to have some of the better chances, including pulling the deficit briefly back to a single goal. This showed incredible fight and resilience, making you wonder what might have been possible if the Sounders had been fully healthy. Atletico is valued at much more than the Sounders, and features individual players with much higher market value as well. And yet Seattle went toe to toe with them, matched their play, and gave them a competitive match. 

Goalkeeper

Stefan Frei – 6

Hard Truth: It’s hard to blame Stef for any of the inch-perfect shots that hit the post and crossbar and either scored or created havoc. The difference between the two goalkeepers’ mobility and comfort on the ball was obvious, however, with Frei glued to his line and kicking long almost exclusively. 

Soft Truth: In big moments there was Frei, keeping his team in it. None was bigger than his 25th minute save that kept Seattle in the match. With Atletico seemingly able to put the match away early, it was the dependable Stefan Frei who came up big to deny the opponent and give the Sounders a lifeline back into the match. 

Defense

Reed Baker-Whiting – 6

Hard Truth: Reed is not a good defender. In the 16th, 28th, and 36th minute Reed was directly culpable for huge chances that Atletico should have scored. Imagine anyone else on the roster being directly responsible for three goals against: they’d be getting crucified by the fans. Reed was lucky that Madrid didn’t score any of those chances, but they did score first after he missed a play upfield. Later, he was massively helped by VAR after being beaten on what looked like a penalty against. The second Madrid goal came as RBW stopped and casually watched his mark pass the ball across to be finished from a foot out. He cannot fall asleep and be beaten this badly and play defense for Seattle.

Soft Truth: That player that beat him on the VAR call is worth 40 million dollars, and it’s hard to accurately judge Reed’s defense against that level of talent. On the flip side, his offense matched up with Madrid’s impressive defense and stood on its own. A brilliant 32nd minute nutmegging of a defender, a first half extra time shot, and constant contributions in the attacking half showed he can play offense at this level. This performance wasn’t perfect, but it showed those moments of brilliance we have glimpsed, on the biggest Sounders stage yet. Baker-Whiting’s offensive contributions might be worth his defensive lapses. 

Jon Bell – 6

Hard Truth: Jon’s defense remains very up and down. The down was a 25th minute Atletico attempt where he was completely outplayed, with Seattle lucky not to concede, thanks to Frei. Other unfortunate defensive efforts showed Bell on roller skates in the box as opponents rounded him with ease. An unwieldy header landed on the capable foot of Madrid for their third goal, putting the game out of reach. 

Soft Truth: Seattle’s first quality shot came in the 32nd minute via Bell, of all people, and after some early first half struggles he calmed down and played solid. Excellent defense in the 60th minute after Reed was fleeced was an essential bit of soccer skill. There was enough connection with Ragen that Seattle stayed in the match and gave their offense a chance to compete. 

Jackson Ragen – 7

Hard Truth: Mobility is always going to be the Achilles heel for Ragen. At times he was exposed trying to get too far into the attack to support, forcing some Cristian heroics to prevent transition plays. When Atletico was scoring their first goal, somehow 6’ 6” Ragen shrunk to about 4’ 2”, with the ball going right where there should have been a big body. 

Soft Truth: Ragen’s passing was as good or better than the opponent’s back line passing, and it impressed all afternoon. Time and again, he would find the right progressive ball, pushing Seattle forward. A gorgeous pass forward nearly found Albert Rusnák in the 17th minute, and a sneaky smart 29th minute flick back post on a set piece nearly provided a Sounders equalizer. He looked up for the task both defensively and offensively, banging with their attack while also cushioning a delightful little header to the middle to start the lone Seattle scoring sequence. He had a 93 percent passing completion rate.

Kalani Kossa-Rienzi – 6 (off 79’ for Minoungou) 

Hard Truth: Any criticism of Kalani has to start with his 10th minute terrible defending, which allowed Atletico a chance that they generously shot off the outside of the far post instead of tucking into the wide open goal. KKR’s size was also exposed on the final goal. He had less impact on the offensive end than expected, failing to complete a cross or create a chance. 

Soft Truth: The fact that we barely thought about Kalani on his wing meant he was doing just about everything right. Sure, he didn’t get forward and overload the offense, but he quietly and efficiently did his defensive duties and held his own against a dynamic attack. He had a shot and a key pass and made his case for more time as a starter.

Defensive Midfield

Cristian Roldan – 7

Hard Truth: A 33rd minute ball fell to Roldan at the top of the box with a chance to change the entire tenor of the match. Unfortunately, he wasn’t able to do more than Nouhou-it into T-Mobile Park. 

Soft Truth: Unsurprisingly, Cristian was up for the game, matching Madrid’s intensity, toughness, and skill. As usual he did it all, leading Seattle by example on each facet of the match from defending strong, connecting forward, and attacking the opponent’s goal. It was no surprise when in the 87th minute a lung-busting defensive recovery run was necessary, Cristian was there to deny Atletico and give Seattle a late opportunity to compete for a result. He absolutely stuffs the stat sheet. 

Obed Vargas – 6

Hard Truth: On the first goal against, we got an episode of the Obed Chasing Simulator as he jogged back following the Atletico attack and promptly marked the 18-yard line. The line did not score but an opponent did! His 54th minute foul directly led to Atletico regaining a two-goal lead. While not exactly the same as the play that got Nouhou benched for a game and a half, it was another set piece handed to a team to which you cannot offer free dead ball opportunities. It took Vargas a while to get up to the speed of the match.

Soft Truth: When he warmed up, Obed showed he can hang with some of the best midfield movers in the world. Although allergic to the penalty box, he had a great idea to chip far post and found Danny Musovski for the eventual Sounders goal. There are so many little control things he does that are essential to Seattle’s success, holding and possessing the ball under pressure and constantly finding safe outlets. There was almost no point where Vargas wasn’t on par with the players around him, holding his own physically and technically. 

Attacking Midfield

Paul Rothrock – 5 (off 65’ for A. Roldan)

Hard Truth: Against most any opponent, completing barely over half your passes is not going to cut it. Against a team like Atletico, Paul had one crushing turnover after another. With 58 percent passing he ran into better athletes he couldn’t outwork, outthink, or outplay, and his 21 total touches were indicative of the Sounders’ struggles to use their width productively for long stretches of the match. A single key pass and almost no direct threat on goal were elements of a slow match for Rothrock. Madrid wasn’t interested in any of his trademark shithousery. 

Soft Truth: Even denied much service from the teammates behind him, Paul still made some stuff happen in his own unique style. He won a free kick in the 18th minute, displaying a firm understanding of the dark arts. He nearly made something happen in the 29th via a strong header attempt. He was active and a consistent opportunist against Madrid. 

Albert Rusnák – 8 (MOTM) (off 79’ for João Paulo)

Hard Truth: With Seattle struggling to compete and Atletico missing big chances, a rare breakout came in the 23rd and it was via the best Sounders player on the afternoon. Unfortunately, Albert had a long touch and bungled an opportunity to transition into quick attack. With chances at a premium, this was a devastating small mistake that ended some Seattle momentum. He needed more help in the wide areas. 

Soft Truth: Albert Rusnák was not only able to hang with Madrid, he was at times the best player on the field. Every bit the dynamic DP playmaker people love to claim he isn’t, he was a constant menace to Atletico. His touch and control were on display, and eventually his skill and pressure earned him and Seattle a goal against a strong opponent. What a moment! This goal was quickly and reflexively taken, bringing Seattle back into the match and believing they could compete. He added two other shots, a key pass, and 92 percent passing, continually driving Seattle into their best attacks. 

Pedro de la Vega – 6 (off 60’ for Kent)

Hard Truth: Seattle fans want more from a player with this pedigree. A single shot and zero key passes were pretty much par for PDLV, who once again tried hard but had little tangible success against a team that he couldn’t just outskill. The half chances and times where he had success against lesser opponents were completely denied. 

Soft Truth: Pedro has not been a showstopper, but he’s been generally solid in this tournament. Lofty expectations aside, his touch and passing connectivity were on par with the opponents. His excellent 93 percent passing was in sharp contrast to the other wing, and it paired nicely with KKR behind him. It’s reasonable to want more, but his control helped Seattle move forward instead of turning it over on multiple occasions. 

Forward

Danny Musovski – 6 (off 60’ for Ferreira)

Hard Truth: Starved of service, surrounded by giant, mobile center backs, it wasn’t a great day to be a moose. Danny didn’t cover himself in glory with a 15th minute turnover and generally poor holdup for long periods, losing the physical battles against said defenders and not offering Seattle a consistent support valve. 

Soft Truth: Seattle was under the gun early, so Musovski took a foul in holdup in the 17th minute to earn the team a breather. He assisted the Rusnák goal with smart vision in a scramble in the box, choosing to head down to Albert. He almost scored in the 59th on his own, showing that while not explosive, he was competent as a lone forward with three shots, two on target. 

Substitutes

Jesús Ferreira – 5 (on 60’ for Musovski)

Hard Truth: Brought in to be a difference maker, Jesús was just as invisible against prime international competition as he’s been in MLS. This meant 13 mostly inconsequential touches when Seattle desperately needed a spark. 

Soft Truth: Seattle wasn’t actively getting the ball forward on the left, and the right was crowded. This meant Jesús was relegated to smart stretching of the field and running off the back shoulders to make space. He did this well, earning a few offsides calls for forcing the issue a little too much. His movement was essential to open the spaces in which Georgi Minoungou and others had late success. 

Ryan Kent – 5 (on 60’ for PDLV)

Hard Truth: Brought in to be a difference maker, Kent was the difference between flowing offense and a stagnant plodding mess – but in a bad way. Completely indecisive, Kent was somehow too eager to dribble and yet unwilling to attack the Madrid defense. He was almost completely a non-factor. 

Soft Truth: When he was able to connect and play more of his style, Ryan found a few creative central passes. He was willing to body the opponent, one of the few Sounders who gave back more than he received, which was important as RBW flagged behind him. 

Alex Roldan – 5 (on 65’ for Rothrock)

Hard Truth: Outside of his shot, it was hard to remember Alex was on the field. His passing and connection were fine, but he wasn’t the spark the team needed for the last 25 minutes. Getting out of the way of Georgi is fine, but Alex is missing the internal combination play that was a big driver of central midfield success a few months ago. 

Soft Truth: Roldan immediately came on and found a shot, showing he was paying attention on the sideline and knew instinctively where to go to find a chance. The defense was exhausted by the time he arrived, and Alex helped recover and support better backline integrity.

João Paulo – 5 (on 79’ for Rusnák)

Hard Truth: Expecting JP to run the midfield against these Euro kids was a heavy ask, and it didn’t set him up for success. On a few occasions he was unable to keep up with their pure athleticism.

Soft Truth: In the 90th minute, JP threaded a brilliant vertical pass through multiple lines that nearly gave Seattle a huge opportunity. This direct vision was both magical and missing from central areas for much of the match. 

Georgi Minoungou – 6 (on 79’ for KKR)

Hard Truth: Atletico was ready and prepared for Minoungou, sending upwards of four defenders at him, and their recovery speed and coordination severely limited a lot of what Georgi wanted to do. On a number of occasions he was lost after options one through three were denied. 

Soft Truth: Not even multiple defenders could completely contain Georgi, who did find some previously unseen success on the wing. In the 92nd minute he magically beat several opponents before walking on the end line in an improbable second of brilliance, nearly setting up a late goal. His exceptional athleticism was on display. 

Referee

Yael Falcon – 9

Hard Truth: Some minor nitpicks came with Paul getting away with one in the 26th, Cristian not getting away with one in the 69th, and a few hand ball shouts that weren’t looked at closely. 

Soft Truth: This was by far the Sounders’ best refereed match this year in any competition. The ref was consistent, fair, balanced, and kept full and clean control of the entire match. It was a masterclass in using communication and the whistle instead of cards to manage the match efficiently. The fouls were even, the cards were even, he listened to VAR when needed, and both teams were allowed to play their style without encroaching illegally onto the opponent’s style. This was a fantastic job that gave so much oxygen to the match, allowing it to be played quickly, intensely, and fairly. 

Upcoming: Monday afternoon. Some French team. Shock the world.