TUCSON, Ariz. — The Seattle Sounders defeated Cal United FC 6-0 on Wednesday afternoon and 5-1 on Thursday morning in their final two preseason scrimmages in Arizona.
Nicolás Lodeiro led the way on Wednesday with a penalty-kick goal and four assists, while Chad Marshall and Jordan Morris each bagged a brace. Cristian Roldan rounded out the scoring.
On Thursday, it was Magnus Wolff Eikrem’s time to shine, scoring twice and adding an assist and several other key passes. Will Bruin recorded a brace, scoring a minute apart in the first half, while Nouhou made a 60-yard run on a counter and added the final tally in the second half.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Lodeiro and Eikrem pack a creative punch
We know what Lodeiro can provide, sliding into the middle of the final third as an inverted right winger, and his creativity and touch look in midseason form. New signing Eikrem has looked every bit as good as advertised, playing with craftiness and excellent vision to set up his teammates.
Shift in formation
The Sounders played Wednesday in their traditional 4-2-3-1 formation, but switched to a 4-4-2 diamond on Thursday, a new look they have been working on all preseason. With Bruin and Clint Dempsey as the two forwards on Thursday, it opened space underneath for Eikrem to work as a No. 10 and set up each of them for dangerous looks on goal.
Dempsey and Torres earn minutes
Dempsey and Román Torres each started and went the full 75 minutes on Thursday, their first game action in Tucson after not playing against the Portland Timbers and Columbus Crew last weekend. Dempsey had several key looks on goal and set up Eikrem’s second tally, in addition to hitting the crossbar from distance. Torres looked strong, wearing the captain’s armband and locking down the back line with unsigned 2018 MLS SuperDraft selection Markus Fjørtoft.
