SEATTLE, Wash. – Forward Oalex Anderson has made his name this season by coming on late and changing the momentum of the match. He’s a guy whose bread and butter is running at tired defenders one on one and using his extraordinary pace to create chaos in opposing back lines.
That was the game plan for the Seattle Sounders when they subbed him on in the 79th minute. Then, a little over a minute later, he limped off the field and that plan had to change.
“I told Oalex to try to stay wide and told Joevin [Jones] just to support,” said head coach Sigi Schmid. “He did exactly that on that play so he’s doing what we want him to do, but then you have to make an adjustment and you can’t get the message through to Joevin.”
Within the first 30 seconds of coming on, Anderson had already beat his man on his first touch and was streaking down the flank. Then, he was clipped from behind, earning a free kick in a dangerous position, but at the cost of the rest of his night.
“We thought Oalex could certainly help our game and that showed right away on that first turn,” Schmid told reporters following the match. “At the end of the day, obviously when you bring somebody in, you expect him to play.”
After some quick assessments on the sideline, Anderson was officially subbed off in the 83rd minute for defender Dylan Remick. This move forced defender Joevin Jones into the midfield, where he has had limited experience for the Trinidad and Tobago National Team, but has never played in the Sounders 4-3-3 formation. What exactly happened to Anderson, is still unclear.
“I haven’t had a chance to talk to the trainers,” said Schmid. “So I don’t know if on the sprint, if the guy clipped his heel and he hyperextended it or what happened, but he wasn’t able to continue.”
Anderson has made eight appearances for the Sounders so far this season including two starts after signing with the club in March from the Sounders USL side Seattle Sounders FC 2. While he has not officially recorded a goal or assist yet in his budding career, he has directly contributed to two different result-altering goals against Houston and Columbus.
“Unfortunate for him, unfortunate for the group," said captain Brad Evans. "He’s an impact player when he comes in and you just hope it’s a speedy recovery.”
