SEATTLE – It might be time to consider that the Seattle Sounders are a pretty darn good team.
Yes, some recent results cloud that determination. Drawing the team on pace to be the statistically worst in MLS history is obviously bad. Following that up with another draw at home to a team that was on a nine-game winless run was also extremely frustrating.
But facing the Supporters’ Shield-leading San Jose Earthquakes – even if they rotated pretty heavily – the Sounders turned in one of their more impressive performances of the season, even if they made it a bit harder on themselves than they needed to. Facing a team that has been among the best in most statistical categories this season, the Sounders were dominant for large portions of the match. They outshot the Earthquakes 23–11 and out-possessed them 63–37, which translated to the Sounders’ best expected goal-difference (+2.2) and highest expected points (2.52) of the season.
"We knew we had to bring it," Sounders midfielder Jesús Ferreira said in the postgame locker room. "Maybe we started a little slow, but we turned it around and got three points."
As Ferreira said, the start was pretty bad, though. Less than a minute into the game, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi mishit a pass seemingly intended for Alex Roldan. That allowed Nanso Adimabua to jump on the ball and set up Nick Fernandez for a goal that gave the Earthquakes a 1–0 lead.
Rather than hang their heads, the Sounders came right back and started creating good looks. Kossa-Rienzi was a bit unlucky not to grab the equalizer himself when his left-footed effort deflected off a defender and then hit the post. He finally got a measure of redemption in the 41st minute when his header hit off a defender's hand for a penalty. Albert Rusnák calmly converted to tie the score.
The Sounders started the second half even better and grabbed their first lead on what might be the Sounders’ best goal of the season. Ferreira picked off a pass deep in the defensive end, dribbled forward about 60 yards, crossed up his defender with a couple moves and then placed his right-footed shot just inside the post.
Perhaps predictably, the Quakes did get themselves back in the game after more of their regular starters entered and found an equalizer through the red-hot Preston Judd, who took advantage of some sloppy clearances to bang in his ninth goal of the season. It was the Quakes’ first shot on frame in about 50 minutes and just their seventh shot overall.
But the Sounders seemed determined to find a winner. Jordan Morris had one particularly tantalizing look when he was played in by Ferreira and fired a left-footed shot that forced Daniel into an impressive save. The winner came later than hoped, but it did come when Nouhou set up reserve forward Osaze De Rosario for an open header in the 89th minute.
It’s the second straight game in which a forward has come off the bench to grab a late result-changing goal. Oddly, though, the Sounders have been struggling to find that kind of production from starting No. 9s, who have not scored a single goal this season.
Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer has said he’s waiting for someone to take hold of the position. De Rosario seems to be the latest to stake a claim.
"He wants guys to be hard-asses in the paint," De Rosario said about Schmetzer's directions. "I think I bring that to the table in a different kind of way. We all bring something different. It’s just about getting the job done."
Those struggles aside, the Sounders seem to have found some offensive groove. This was their third straight game with at least 23 shots and they’ve generated at least 2.0 xG in four straight. The Sounders have also now swept the Earthquakes, delivering them their only two losses of the season. The Sounders’ record against teams currently in playoff positions is 5–1–1 across all competitions, which includes two wins against the Vancouver Whitecaps, who now lead the Shield race.
There have been some frustrating results along the way, but the Sounders continue to show they can stand toe-to-toe with anyone.
