CHARLESTON — No Seattle Sounders player has seen his stock rise more in preseason than Henry Wingo.
The 21-year-old Homegrown Player and University of Washington product signed a first-team contract this offseason and has been playing as well as anyone on the club. The young midfielder is explosive on the ball and is picking up the professional game faster than most his age.
He started in Seattle’s 4-2 loss to Atlanta United FC in the Carolina Challenge Cup on Wednesday and proved yet again why the Sounders were so high on him.
“[Wingo] is more than holding his own, he’s actually playing very well,” Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer said. “[I’m happy] he got his first goal, but that’s not really his only contribution to the game.”
On the right side of the box in the first half, Wingo took a defender 1-on-1 and utilized a subtle move to free up space like a seasoned veteran. He hesitated, then in one motion burst to his left and fired a menacing shot that had to be punched away by Atlanta goalkeeper Alec Kann.
Wingo would not be denied in the second half. Substitute Will Bruin picked out an onrushing Wingo in the box, who coolly slotted home the finish for his first professional goal. It would have been his second had he not had a goal disallowed on Saturday after another pass from Bruin, who was ruled offside.
“Henry’s been great, he’s really impressed me,” Bruin said. “He brings a lot of energy, he’s confident on the ball, he likes to go forward at pace.”
The Sounders will need that spark on the wing this season as they employ a motley crew in the third attacking midfield spot alongside Nicolas Lodeiro and Clint Dempsey in Schmetzer’s 4-2-3-1 formation. If Wingo keeps producing like he has, he’s going to be hard to ignore.
“Henry’s hungry,” Schmetzer said. “He’s sharp, he’s fit, you saw some of his technical ability. I’m very happy with Henry.”
