Following the team’s 1-0 win over the San Jose Earthquakes with a heavily rotated lineup at PayPal Park on Sunday evening, Seattle Sounders winger goalkeeper Andrew Thomas and Head Coach Brian Schmetzer were named to the MLS Team of the Matchday for Matchday 4.
Thomas put in a monster performance in goal, repelling wave after wave of attacks from San Jose as Seattle defended a one-goal lead in the second half.
Making his fourth consecutive start in league play, Thomas produced seven saves on the night and kept a clean sheet against an Earthquakes side that generated 2.5 Expected Goals. Additionally, he was dominant on crosses into the box as he made four claims, one punch and helped the Sounders repel 17 corner kicks from the hosts.Â
After picking up a 3-0 Leg One Round of 16 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps in Concacaf Champions Cup midweek, Coach Schmetzer made seven changes to his lineup for the match against the Earthquakes. Two Tacoma Defiance players on short-term contracts -- Peter Kingston and Antino Lopez -- got the start and put in stellar performances. The rotated starting lineup put in a gritty performance that fans have come to expect from the Sounders, and the substitutes that entered the match played a pivotal role in seeing out the result.Â
The Sounders return to action on Wednesday, March 18 when they host the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Leg Two matchup in CCC at ONE Spokane Stadium in Spokane, Wash (8 p.m. PT; FS2, TUDN).
