It's been a rather strange season for the Seattle Sounders,as one look at their current rank within the MLS standings will verify. In four previousseasons, the Sounders have made the playoffs each year andhave won three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups. Always tabbed asa playoff favorite, this year they sit at the bottom of the Western Conferencewith just one win in six games, and five total points. Only D.C. Unitedhas fewer points than Sigi Schmid's crew.
This is why they are a dangerous opponent on Saturday for thePhiladelphia Union. They arrive off of a week's rest, after winningtheir first game of the season at Colorado on April 20. Some oftheir injured players have had a chance to heal, and the club hasbeen able to acclimate new Designated Player Obafemi Martins tohis teammates. This team is too good to be where they are for long.
The game at PPL Park will be the first of three games in eight nights and for
the Sounders a chance to get back to where they belong – a winning streak needs to start.
Defensively, Seattle has been sound, allowing just five goals in six games.In Michael Gspurning, they have one of the league's best goalkeepers. He had the lowest GAA last season in MLS.
Comingoff two straight shutouts and 235 consecutive shutout minutes,it seems like they are organized defensively. Hard working midfielder Osvaldo Alonso is a key factor in that strong defense withhow much he breaks up plays in the middle of the field. It's the offense that needs to improve and soon.
However, a total of three goals in five games won’t win games, even with exceptional goalkeeping. So far,the Sounders have yet to score more than one goal in any gamein 2013. The weapons are there in Martins, U.S. internationalEddie Johnson, plus Mauro Rosales and Steve Zakuani. It's a matterof getting them all on the same page, and keeping them all healthy.
The Union could have their hands full Saturday against a hungrySounders team. Philadelphia had “probably our worst performanceof the year,” according to Manager John Hackworth, and no one disagreed with that sentiment. They allowed New England toomuch time on the ball and gave away too much space in losing bya 2-0 score.
Zac MacMath made a season high five saves, but the Revshad seven shots on target and had other good opportunities that missedthe net. The Union cannot afford the same mistakes against a betterteam and better players.
Offensively the club is still led by 20-year-old Jack McInerney's sixgoals. The young forward added another honor to this terrific startwhen he was named as the MLS Player of the Month for his four goals in a four-game span over the month of April. With other teams targeting McInerney now more thanever, it is vital the club find a way to give him some help.
Who elsecan step up and score goals?
The Union went with the same lineup versus New England that theyhad in the previous week, a win over D.C. United. Hackworth rewarded those players who picked up three important road points at RFK Memorial Stadium.
Coming off a loss like last week, there are no rewards, so I’d expect a change in the lineup – or two.
Will Sebastien Le Toux return to the startinglineup to face his former club? Is Brazilian midfielder Kleberson ready for more minutes, and perhaps even a start? What about otherslike Gabe Farfan?
One thing is for sure: on this Union roster there is goodcompetition for spots on the starting 11 and gameday 18-man.
The loss at New Englandfollowed by a good week of training will help to determine whoplays and who doesn't against the Sounders.
Kickoff is this Saturday at 4 p.m. Hope to see you there. Can’t make it out? Catch color analyst Alejandro Moreno and myself calling the action on 6abc.
