SEATTLE — The Seattle Sounders’ confidence is as high as it’s been so far in the 2018 Major League Soccer season.
Fresh off a solid 3-1 win over Minnesota United on Sunday and a road draw last weekend at Sporting Kansas City, the Sounders finally feel like the tide is beginning to turn. After an 0-3 start to the season coupled with a CONCACAF Champions League exit, several red-card ejections and more injuries than one could count, the club feels like it’s at last showing the potential and quality of which it is capable.
“The last two games where we’ve kept everybody on the field, we’ve been competitive,” said Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “I think that has something to do with it.
“You want to be a championship team,” Schmetzer added. “Championship teams are able to finish games out, close games out, get that third goal and make sure the game becomes a little easier...Championship teams actually win ugly some times and you have to gut things through. That’s another character trait of championship teams.”
Gustav Svensson celebrates his golazo in the first half against Minnesota | Mike Fiechtner
Captain Osvaldo Alonso made his season debut last weekend and made his first start of 2018 on Sunday, bullying the midfield and helping link the Sounders’ attack. Kelvin Leerdam and Clint Dempsey returned from suspension. Víctor Rodríguez made his first appearance on the 18-man roster after missing a couple months with a right knee sprain.
Slowly but surely, though, things are coming together and the team is building a rhythm.
“We have a lot of depth when everybody is healthy,” said Will Bruin, who scored in his second straight match on Sunday. “When trainings are intense and guys are fighting for minutes, it leads to a better product on the field. When you’re on the field, you raise your game because you know there are guys who are trying to get on the field.
“We know that we’ve got a really good team, we’re not too worried,” he continued. “It’s obviously not the start we wanted, but getting that first win off our back is a positive.”
