SEATTLE – Few places in Major League Soccer have traditionally given the Seattle Sounders more trouble than Houston, where sweltering heat and and steady soccer have combined to leave the Sounders winless over seven years on the MLS map.
Heading into this weekend’s match at BBVA Compass Stadium, the Sounders are 0-4-2 all-time in the regular season and postseason in Houston. The two teams played to a 1-1 draw there in their only matchup in Texas in 2015.
Part of those struggles stem from the heat – the weather is expected to reach the high 70s or possibly low 80s when the teams clash on Sunday – but equally as tough is the quality teams Houston has put out through the years, either with former head coach Dominic Kinnear or former Bolton boss Owen Coyle, who took over in 2015.
“Historically they’ve been a good team,” center back Brad Evans said. “Sometimes you match up with teams better than others, and for whatever reason they’ve just had our number, especially in Houston. Teams have changed, coaches have changed, but still, they find a way to get a result against us down there. It’s a difficult place to play, fast, physical, they’ll be buzzing.”
The heat likely won’t play as much of a factor on Sunday, which is something Schmid said he’s hopeful for as he watches the weather report.
“Last year it was one of those games, it was just really hot,” Schmid said of the teams’ draw last October, when it reached 82 degrees. “We had issues with that. Hopefully it will be not as hot when we go down there this time.”
Friberg Still Out
Schmid said Erik Friberg continues to recover from a knee injury suffered last month, but there’s no timeline for the Swedish midfielder to return to the lineup.
Friberg went down a knee injury in the team’s match at Real Salt Lake on March 12 and hasn’t trained since, and Schmid said he’s slightly behind the expected timeline for his injury.
“Everybody is different – some guys are ready quicker, and some guys it takes a little longer,” Schmid said. “Right now, for him, it’s taking maybe a little bit longer than a general timeline. But he’s making progress. When exactly he’ll return I’m not exactly sure, but the most important thing is for him to be healthy.”
No Issues With Evans
Evans appears to have returned to full health after a shoulder injury sidelined him for much of March.
Evans started and logged a full 90 minutes in the team’s 1-0 win over the Montreal Impact on Saturday, his first action since suffering a separated shoulder in the season opener on March 6. His return to the lineup helped the Sounders lock down their first shutout of the season, and although he’ll continue to play with a brace, he expects no issues ahead of the team’s matchup against the Dynamo this weekend.
“All along I’ve said positive things about the group,” Evans said. “And the way they came in, put their head down and really worked for the first win of the season.”
