Monday afternoon at Starfire Sports, a group of Sounders FC players stayed after training and played a juggling game for almost an hour. Among the group was captain Brad Evans, who is happy to be back with his club after spending the last few weeks with the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Evans and the USMNT didn’t accomplish their goal at the 2015 CONCACAF Gold Cup, falling 2-1 to Jamaica in the semifinal and losing to Panama in penalty kicks in the third-place match. It was a successful tournament for both Evans and Sounders FC forward Clint Dempsey, however, with the former making four appearances and two starts at right back.
“Overall, team-wise, we were disappointed. That was the mood,” Evans said on Monday. “But we understand that we can’t win everything all the time, and it was a little bit of a reality check in that sense. But I think everybody’s hungry now. It was a little bit of a setback.
“Personally, it went well. I was pretty happy with the way everything went. Obviously you want to play as much as you can. The circumstances are that it’s the coach’s decision, so it is what it is. When you get on the field, you need to do the best you can and hope to leave a good impression.”
Evans has been a regular on the backline for Jurgen Klinsmann’s team in 2015. The 30-year-old helped the Americans to friendly victories over Mexico and Germany earlier in the year before being named to the Gold Cup roster for the second time in his career. Considering he had the longest gap between Gold Cup tournaments of anyone on the USMNT roster – his first was in 2009 – Evans was glad to contribute in four of the team’s six games this time around.
Now Evans is ready to get back to business with the Sounders, who have been struggling in the absence of many key players during the month of July.
Seattle has lost three straight matches, all 1-0 defeats in which the opponent scored in the game’s final six minutes. After sitting atop the Western Conference table for much of the first half of the season, the Rave Green are tied for fifth with a 10-10-2 record.
“Three losses in a row on a goal in the last six minutes of a game is a tough pill to swallow,” Evans said. “But at the same time, with all the guys we have unavailable, it says we’re working hard for 90 minutes. If a little bit of luck goes our way, we find ourselves sitting atop the standings. It’s a big month for us. I think everybody’s ready to forget about last month.
“I think we’re all hungry, and that’s the most important thing. We’re hungry to get back on a winning streak. I don’t think we’ve had a month like this in years past, but the attitude is great at practice. Everybody’s working. Nobody’s throwing in the towel by any means.”
On Saturday, the Sounders will have a prime chance to pick up some much-needed momentum. In front of their first full-stadium crowd of the season at CenturyLink Field, the Rave Green will host Vancouver Whitecaps FC and can clinch the 2015 Cascadia Cup with a victory.
“Every game from here on out, considering where we’re sitting, is extremely important,” Evans said. “None of these games can be taken lightly. …It’s extremely important to get three points at home this weekend. That should be on everybody’s mind.”
