The difference is clear.

Mauro Rosales is an extremely valuable component to the Sounders FC offense.

In his four MLS starts this season, Seattle has been a dynamically attacking team.  His abilities on the right wing leave opposing defenders frantically seeking assistance from teammates whenever he gets possession.

That he has the freedom to roam throughout the midfield, taking possession and mounting an attack wherever and whenever he sees fit leaves the entire defense of the opponent vulnerable to his craftiness.

Evidence of that change comes simply in the scoreline.

In his four starts, the Sounders have scored eight goals.  In the four games he didn’t start because of injury, they scored three.

That is not at all to disparage the efforts of Roger Levesque, Christian Sivebæk or Alex Caskey, who started in his place.  The Sounders got results with those players in the lineup, going 2-1-1 in those four matches.

However, the opportunities that are presented when Rosales is in the lineup are undeniable.

“He’s very important to the team,” forward Eddie Johnson said after Seattle’s 2-0 win over the Galaxy last week.  “One of the strengths in our style is possessing the ball and Mauro is a player that can beat you with a 1-2, beat you on the dribble or put a perfect cross into the box.” 

Rosales has one goal and one assist, both coming in the last two matches to help the Sounders to crucial home victories over the Galaxy and Union.
He has been limited in his minutes because of a knee injury he suffered in a season-opening win over Toronto FC and an ankle injury against the Chicago Fire, but still managed 74 minutes against the Galaxy and 82 minutes against the Union.

“I’ve been working very hard to get my fitness and the pain out of my knee and my ankle,” he said after the win over the Union.  “These last two games, I’m feeling very good and a victory like that helps us to get some confidence.”

Now with two games this week – one on Wednesday against FC Dallas and one on Saturday at home against Real Salt Lake – that resiliency will again be put to the test.

Wednesday’s match at FC Dallas Stadium will be televised live on KONG 6/16 at 5:30 pm Pacific while Saturday’s match at CenturyLink Field kicks off at 7 pm on KING 5.