Sounders in big trouble: Three things we learned from Tuesday’s loss to the Fire
There was some early morning soccer viewing in Seattle on Tuesday, but unlike the opening match snooze fest for the Sounders, this match had a lot more excitement and intrigue.
Seattle’s 2-1 loss to the Chicago Fire is the Sounders first loss of the 2020 MLS campaign and now Seattle faces a win-or possibly go home scenario entering their final group stage match.
Here’s three things we learned from the early morning Tuesday tilt from Orlando, Fla.
Seattle is in big trouble
Here is what the standings look like.
Chicago (3 pts.)
Seattle (1 pt.)
San Jose (1 pt.)
Vancouver (0 pts.)
That’s one point in just two games and now Seattle enters its final matchup with the Vancouver Whitecaps in a must-win scenario. A winning result may be enough to advance, but the Sounders are going to need some help, especially if it ends in a draw.
Arreaga had a game to forget
Playing man to man in sports like basketball and football is pretty standard, but in soccer it can present some issues. In Seattle’s first game versus San Jose, the Earthquakes man-marking style helped change the pace and the game flow was a bit staggered at times and dragged for the first 50-60 minutes.
That was not the case in the early morning tilt between the two teams. The first half saw some pace and normalcy from what you’d see in a soccer game, much more deliberate passing and having the ability to set things up for each team.
Late in the first half, Chicago started to take more chances in the final third of the field, but the Seattle back line, along with goalkeeper Stefan Frei, helped keep it 0-0 in the first 45 minutes. The second 45 minutes was a different story.
Chicago took advantage of a laxed Sounders defender, Arreaga and Robert Beric put a shot past the goalkeeper Stefan Frei to give Chicago a 1-0 lead in the 52nd minute.
After Seattle tied it late, another situation showed up for Arreaga when his lack of awareness allowed another goal. This one, was the one that slammed the door on Seattle’s chances for a crucial win. Shortly after, Arreaga was replaced by Alex Roldan. It won’t be shocking if we don’t see Arreaga in the starting lineup for the Group B finale vs. Vancouver on Sunday.
No Joao Paulo again, but a tactical change gives youngster a first start
In the Sounders first game vs. San Jose, Seattle struggled to control the game in the middle, and oftentimes during the first half, the Earthquakes controlled possession. That 63-37 percent edge at the first intermission of the opening game may have had a little bit to do with the tactical change in the second game. Seattle midfielder Joao Paulo is still out with a strained quad and that forced a lineup change.
Cristian Rodlan moved to the middle to bring a little more stability to the Sounders midfield and up front replacing Jordan Morris was 21-year old Shandon Hopeau. The newly-signed homegrown product was with the Tacoma Defiance before getting the call up last season and on June 30, officially signed his first-team contract with Seattle.
From the start, Hopeau’s impact was felt, and although he did not score in the contest, the energy he added up front helped produce a few scoring chances. He, along with his replacement, Handwalla Bwana, who scored the game-tying goal, should see more time in the lineup with Roldan helping control the middle.
Up next for Seattle: vs. Vancouver Whitecaps on Sunday, July 19 (7:30 p.m. on FS1)
This story was originally published July 14, 2020 at 11:04 AM.
