Sounders end preseason on frustrating note

Jeremiah Oshan -

RENTON – It wasn’t quite the final warmup they were looking for, but the Seattle Sounders at least got through another 90 minutes of semi-competitive soccer as they prepare for the season opener on Feb. 24. The Sounders’ presumed starters fell 1-0 to Sacramento Republic in the first game and the reserves were leading 2-0 at halftime of the second game when Republic effectively ran out of players and were replaced mostly by Tacoma Defiance players. The Sounders beat the Defiance 2-0 in the second half.

The Republic’s goal came in the 44th minute off a well-taken free kick that kissed the post and ricocheted into the net.

“A couple guys weren’t where they needed to be and it was a foul we didn’t need to commit,” Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer said about the free kick. “They didn’t play up to their potential.

“This was supposed to be a preview of LAFC, I might have changed my mind now.”

The starting group ended up being (l-r) Stefan Frei, Nouhou, Jackson Ragen, Nathan, Cody Baker, Obed Vargas, Josh Atencio, Léo Chú, Albert Rusnák, Cristian Roldan and Jordan Morris.

Although the Sounders didn’t score, Schmetzer was a bit more satisfied with the chances they created. Among their best chances were a shot that Morris put off the post following a good interchange with Roldan, and Léo Chú putting a close-range shot off the underside of the crossbar from a Paul Rothrock cross.

The second game featured a starting lineup of Andrew Thomas, Jon Bell, Xavier Arreaga, Stuart Hawkins, Kalani Kossa-Rienzi, Danny Leyva, Snyder Brunell, Pedro de la Vega, Danny Musovski, Dylan Teves and Raúl Ruidíaz.

De la Vega only played about 35 minutes and converted a penalty that was drawn by Ruidíaz. Ruidíaz scored a goal in the first half and then assisted to Jon Bell in the second half.

Quick observations

  • Even though they are still missing Yeimar Gomez Andrade (fitness) and Alex Roldan (hamstring), the defense looked strong throughout. The press was active and Sacramento struggled to create many chances outside of the free kick and one other chance that forced a strong Stefan Frei save and a Nathan block on the rebound.