It was a successful international window for the Seattle Sounders, as several key contributors made inroads with their respective national teams. Here’s a rundown of all the action:
Sounders left back Nouhou played a pivotal role in helping the Cameroon qualify for the group stage of the U-23 African Cup of Nations, which kicks off on November 8th in Egypt. The young Seattle defender started both matches of a two-legged fixture against Tunisia. Pitching a shutout in a 1-0 win in Cameroon, Nouhou and the Indomitable Lions secured passage on away goals after a 2-1 loss in Tunisia.
Two of the most exciting talents to emerge from Sounders Academy in recent years, Homegrown striker Alfonso Ocampo-Chavez and U-19 midfielder Ethan Dobbelaere, starred for the U.S. U-17 men’s national team at the Four Nation’s Tournament in the Netherlands. Both prospects contributed assists in a 2-1 win over Mexico.
Dobbelaere’s assist, which set up the game winner, was especially impressive, as he first evaded a Mexican defender before supplying a no-look, outside-of-the-foot through-ball for Ricardo Pepi. In the next match, Dobbelaere earned the start while Ocampo-Chavez assisted the decisive second goal in a 3-1 win over the Netherlands.
Center back Xavier Arreaga appears to have turned a corner for Ecuador under new head coach Jorge CĂ©lico, who first called up the Sounders defender to the senior national team back in 2017. Arreaga went the full 90 and kept a pair of clean sheets in a 1-0 win over Peru and a 3-0 win over Bolivia.
Speaking of Peru, RaĂºl RuidĂaz got the nod in the starting XI for La Blanquirroja in both the loss to Ecuador and a 1-0 win over Brazil. Seattle’s Peruvian goal-scoring machine totaled 122 minutes of action across the two friendlies.
Moving to the U.S. Men’s National Team, winger Jordan Morris’ superb form in Rave Green has translated to the international level. The Mercer Island native came off the bench in the 3-0 loss to Mexico. In the next game against Uruguay, Morris put in a man-of-the-match performance, creating chances for teammates and scoring the equalizer in the 1-1 draw. Teammate Cristian Roldan started and played 90 minutes against Uruguay, stringing together arguably his best performance to date for the Stars & Stripes.
Jordy Delem and Joevin Jones squared off twice over the break in a home-and-way Concacaf Nations League fixture. Martinique and Trinidad & Tobago split the points in both matches, drawing 1-1 in Martinique and 2-2 in Trinidad. Jones scored the equalizer for T&T from the penalty spot in the 65th minute of the 1-1 draw, while Delem rescued a point for Martinique in the 2-2 draw with a left-footed finish in the 80th minute.
Gustav Svensson featured twice as a substitute for Sweden during their 2020 European Qualifiers matches. He helped see out the clean sheet on the 4-0 win over the Faroe Islands, slotting into defensive midfield as a 63rd minute sub. Tied 1-1 with Norway in the next match, he was brought on in the 85th minute.
Finally, Brad Smith participated in a week-long training camp with Australia in the United Arab Emirates. The Socceroos then kicked off AFC 2022 World Cup qualifying with a 3-0 win over Kuwait, but Smith did not feature in the match.
