The Seattle Sounders fell 2-0 to Danish SuperLiga club Brøndby IF on Friday in Portugal, surrendering one goal in the first half and a second on a late-match penalty.
This was the Sounders’ first preseason match of the year, while Brøndby was playing their second match during their winter break. Brøndby, who sits third in the Danish SuperLiga, is scheduled to return to competitive play on Feb. 8.
Key moments
First half
- Lineup: Andrew Thomas; Reed Baker-Whiting, Yeimar Gómez Andrade, Antino Lopez, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi; Nikola Petković, Cristian Roldan; Sebastian Gomez, Albert Rusnák, Peter Kingston; Osaze De Rosario
- Same tactics as last year, defend in 4-4-2 and attack in 3-2-2-3. Most interesting positional decision was Kingston at LM.
- Possession wasn't nearly as clean as we usually see from the Sounders and Brøndby probably had the overall run of play in the first half.
- The goal conceded resulted from a Brøndby player on the near touchline getting a ton of space as RBW was pushed up and Lopez couldn't keep tight, cross to the back post where KKR couldn't hold off the Brøndby attacker physically, missed a clearing header and the ball landed to the goal-scorer who chipped Thomas.
Second half
- Lineup: Stefan Frei; Paul Rothrock, Gallatin Sandnes, Jackson Ragen, Alex Roldan; Snyder Brunell, Hassani Dotson; Jordan Morris, Jesús Ferreira, Georgi Minoungou; Danny Musovski
- Still defended in 4-4-2 but was the first glimpse of what Schmetzer hinted at with a 2-3 build. Rothrock was the LB but would get high and wide in possession/attack. Alex would pinch in alongside the two central midfielders to make a line of three. Ahead of that was a bit more fluid, but there was almost always Rothrock wide left and Georgi wide right.
- I would say we were the better team in the run of play for the second half, kept possession really well and the line of three central midfielders counter-pressed really effectively to protect only the two in the back.
- The penalty was conceded when a Brøndby attacker got the ball at top of the box and was able to get past Ragen who did a slight jersey pull in the box.
Notable performers
- Players that stood out in first half were De Rosario, Kossa-Rienzi and Roldan. De Rosario didn't have many shooting opportunities but really showed his hold-up ability and smoothness on the ball. KKR had at least three really nice passes to break open defense, though he was bullied on the goal.
- In the second half, Brunell and Ragen (despite the penalty) were the players that stood out but also shout out to Sandnes who looked very comfortable. Alex Roldan also looked very composed in what was a slightly new look for him, as he pinched more into the midfield.
