Sounders FC is back at home in the Emerald City after a long road swing that twice took the Rave Green across the country and back again. The team kicks off its home stand against Sporting Kansas City, a team that rejoined the Western Conference this season after two expansion clubs were added to East.
To preview this weekend's tilt, SoundersFC.com sat down with Andy Gruenebaum, former goalkeeper for both SKC and Columbus Crew SC. Gruenebaum retired in the offseason and joined the broadcast team for Sporting Kansas City after almost a decade in MLS.
Dangerman
It’s got to be Benny Feilhaber. He has just been lights out, game in and game out. He should have 15 assists this year already, but unfortunately some of our players haven’t been able to finish the chances he’s created. He’s put in a complete game in pretty much every game so far. He’s showing that he’s saving the best for his 30s, apparently.
Best Offseason Pickup
I think coming back to the team, Roger Espinoza’s been pretty good this year. But Krisztian Nemeth is a guy that has been in and out of the lineup with injuries. When he’s been in the lineup, he’s been very good. Especially coming over from another league, that can be very difficult to do. He’s got very good composure inside the box and an ability to create for himself and teammates. The league knows Roger – he was playing for Sporting a few years back. Krisztian Nemeth is a guy that will have to really provide the spark on the wing or tucking inside.
Seasonal Stats
We’ve scored 13 goals and given up 13 goals. Almost half of the goals-against total has been off set pieces, which is just so rare. That’s something that really needs to be cleaned up if Sporting is going to be a contender this season. All of last year, we had four goals-against off corner kicks, and there’s already been six this year. That’s something that I know Sporting has been very adamant about. They’re going to have to clean that up in order to make any sort of run at the playoffs.
There’s a lot of soccer left, but you just don’t know what’s going to happen. You can’t take anything for granted.
Last Matchup
I was on the bench for that game, and I thought we actually played very well in that game. It was Seattle’s home opener and the first game of the season, and that can provide a very difficult atmosphere. For long stretches of the game, I thought we were very good and did what we wanted to do technically.
We made one mistake at the end of the game, and Chad Barrett is gifted a game-winner, which has come to be a trend between Seattle and Sporting. He had two very good finishes last week, and Seattle obviously has a lot of depth. It’s a good team from top to bottom. Sporting will look at the film from that game.
Obviously there are some new players who have never experienced the atmosphere there or playing in those conditions, so it’s going to take a great team effort across the board to come away with a result.
