Another Sounders game against LAFC, another loss, this one the U.S. Open Cup tournament semifinal. You can call the final score, 1-0, an improvement over past losses; you can say Seattle made some adjustments to limit LAFC’s transition play; you could claim a moral victory that the visitors couldn’t score until the 83rd minute, and then only on a controversial penalty kick. Whatever … it’s still the same song, different day. LAFC apparently owns the Sounders. The Starfire venue was different, as were a few tactics, but Seattle again couldn’t create forward momentum and score. Apparently unable to both attack and defend, the Sounders settled for defending and that worked well until LAFC changed things up in the second half and pushed more numbers higher. This led to set pieces and eventually the referee had the opportunity to impact the game directly. Bad call aside, one team adjusted during an even game and created a lead, and the other didn’t do anything effective until trailing.
After needing a few days to process another devastating loss to LAFC, I’ve listed a few thoughts about players in that last game, plus what we learned from the tournament, given each player’s number of appearances.
Goalkeeper
Andrew Thomas – 6
Given a chance to finish out a tournament, Thomas wasn’t the problem. He showed an ability to limit LAFC when needed, especially a 63rd minute diving set piece save. Thomas nearly saved the penalty. One thing that needs to improve if he wants to seriously compete for first team minutes is his distribution, which was rough in the 14th and 34th minutes, each low, central clears that were in direct opposition to the Seattle tactical setup.
What we learned from Open Cup (4 app): Bolstered by an incredible 10 rating that helped Seattle get this far, Thomas showed he is clearly better than the competition he faced for most of the tournament. That hasn’t translated into above average MLS play, but if his showing in this cup is a preview, he is pushing for minutes soon.
Defense
Nouhou – 6
Nouhou was solid against LAFC, finding and taking space on the left wing and taking advantage of the small field to support high without leaving too many gaps behind him. He earned an early 18th minute free kick on a great burst into the attacking third. This type of play should have been more prevalent, as Seattle failed to victimize LAFC by creating set piece chances on the smaller field.
What we learned from Open Cup (3 app): We didn’t learn anything new about Nouhou, but there isn’t anyone breathing down his neck to compete for playing time. This is suboptimal for a team that needs more offense from his spot.
Jackson Ragen – 7 (MOTM)
Ragen looked comfortable on the hard surface of Starfire, showing aggressive physical defense and strong positioning to cut off any LAFC attempts through the middle. His defensive work was big, but nothing more critical than his 40th minute header off the line to stop LAFC from securing a lead right before half. A few turnovers and sloppy moments were easily overlooked due to his strong match up with Kei Kamara and his ability to find teammates neatly.
What we learned from Open Cup (3 app): Ragen played better against LAFC than against lower level competition, and has been consistent after a rough start to the season. His understanding of Starfire was essential to Seattle’s defensive improvements. He has been one of the few Sounders to play well against LAFC this year, and it continued in the Cup.
Yeimar – 6
Yeimar did a good job pushing wide and limiting Denis Bouanga from getting in behind Seattle. Even when he struggled (like a bad 9th minute clearance that was stolen) he recovered quickly, covering from sideline to sideline in the back. He also matched up well against Kamara, who pulled the center backs around but never created gaps, as the communication from Yeimar and Ragen was excellent.
What we learned from Open Cup (2 app): Yeimar was solid in both his appearances in Open Cup, and while he didn’t shine, he was a quality defender who didn’t drop his performance against LAFC.
Alex Roldan – 6 (off 84’ for Minoungou)
Roldan was in a tactical pickle against LAFC, never having the space or direction to go forward and attack on the overlap, instead mostly staying home and looking inward for possession instead of forward. This limited the usual Broldan combinations, freeing Alex or Cristian up the wing to cross the ball, and Seattle’s offense suffered as a result. The defensive positioning was much more standard and had a positive effect on the Sounders’ ability to limit most of what LAFC wanted to do. Caught up in the fateful call that changed the match, Alex awkwardly jumped to deflect a shot in the 80th minute and was part of the combination of Sounders players who were called for handballs.
What we learned from Open Cup (4 app): The Open Cup may have saved Alex’s season, as he started off rough but improved over the course of the tournament. This improved play carried over to league matches, where he’s recovered his starting right back position.
Defensive Midfield
João Paulo – 6 (off 79’ for Ruidíaz)
Although not great, JP was a hard worker who added some bite to an otherwise passive center of the field that was largely dominated by LAFC. His strong middle play and positive dribbling forward in the 59th minute was some of the only consistent attacking Seattle managed, as aggressive attacks anywhere on the field were limited.
What we learned from Open Cup (2 app): There wasn’t much learned here that we didn’t already know. Seattle needs JP to be great to be good, and he is both inconsistent and unable to play a full, effective 90 minutes.
Obed Vargas – 5
Obed struggled with the tight spaces, physical play, and hectic pressure in the middle. His 68 percent passing was a gift to the LAFC midfield who tortured him all match. With disappearing room in the middle, Seattle needed an aggressive dribble central and didn’t get anything of the sort from Vargas, who was disappointing against LAFC. His touch and presence weren’t enough against a team that was content to out-physical Seattle centrally.
What we learned from Open Cup (2 app): Obed played twice in this tournament and was below MLS average in both. A big issue impacting Seattle’s ability to beat LAFC is Obed disappearing in these matches. He is by far the worst rated starter against them this year.
Attacking Midfield
Paul Rothrock – 5 (off 75’ for de la Vega)
Rothrock brought some energy and some physical play but not much else against LAFC, as he was unable to combine through a compact defense on a small field. His toughness and willingness to mix it up with the opponent were appreciated and necessary in the intensity of a cup semifinal, but he didn’t bring enough skillful plays to back up his bluster. His positive plays were typically followed by long touches, wrong pass choices, or other errors in creating opportunities for others.
What we learned from Open Cup (4 app): Paul began his climb to the first team starting lineup by doing well in the Open Cup, smartly moving to a good spot and scoring a goal in Seattle’s first match. He didn’t do much outside of that, but the hustle he showed throughout the tourney translated well to MLS play.
Albert Rusnák – 5
Like in other LAFC matches, Albert struggled to get on the ball and find connections with teammates. With more compact play and ceding possession to LAFC, Albert was constantly roaming and trying to connect without success. He did create two chances for Seattle and was clean in passing, but he needed to figure out how to contribute more when Seattle’s midfield was being overrun in the second half.
What we learned from Open Cup (2 app): Albert was solid, but not great in two appearances in the Open Cup. Neither match showed him as a dominant force, which mirrors his MLS play; it can be hit or miss.
Cristian Roldan – 7
If there’s one person who brought it for the entire match, it was the elder Roldan. He continually harassed his side of the field, moved central to support the numbers deficit, and got a lot of bumps and bruises along the way. His early defense set the tone, recovering multiple times as the Broldans handled Bouanga in the first half. He consistently won fouls, including a 33rd minute penalty shout that was quickly ignored. Cristian brought all the intangibles to the match to give Seattle an edge that was necessary in a physical game.
What we learned from Open Cup (3 app): Roldan is great in a cup environment, bringing effort and tenacity that at times seems to be missing from the rest of the squad. He does a ton of little things that are important, but similarly to MLS matches, isn’t hitting the scoreboard.
Forward
Jordan Morris – 5
This game did not play to Morris’ strengths at all. A smaller field led to almost no break out moments to use his speed, and this was compounded by Seattle sitting back and conceding almost all attempts to push forward. He worked hard, blanketed by three center backs all match, and was ineffective until Seattle played more direct after conceding. A flubbed 20th minute shot and a 68th minute whiffed volley were two big opportunities that Jordan missed, and the chances were few and far between otherwise. In the 91st minute, being a few inches offside prevented him from tying the match; his called-back goal deserved a longer look.
What we learned from Open Cup (2 app): Morris was good in this tournament, mirroring his quality MLS play. He pressured backlines, often matched up and occupied multiple defenders, and ultimately did what he needed to do, but lacked enough support.
Substitutes
Pedro de la Vega – 5 (on 75’ for Rothrock)
PDLV got into the match and was energetic but without much connection to others. Seattle, to its credit after having absorbed a lot of pressure in the second half, changed tactics with Pedro’s insertion, but there wasn’t much time to evaluate the impact. His desire to be everywhere found him on the wrong end of an 80th minute handball call. It’s hard to fault his effort, although this was a similar result to a Nouhou effort earlier this season that was loudly decried.
What we learned from Open Cup (1 app): Still a glass cannon, it was both good to see Sounders willing to play their fragile winger on the concrete of Starfire but bad to see how long the staff waited to risk him, perhaps worrying about extra time when rationing his minutes.
Raúl Ruidíaz – 5 (on 79’ for JP)
Raúl came in and completed his three passes while taking one hopeful volleyed 97th minute shot. He wasn’t a spark, as yet again Seattle looked for a bench option to bring some late hope and didn’t find it. Ruidíaz was particularly unsuited to a gamestate asking for long, direct play and won aerials.
What we learned from Open Cup (2 app): Raúl is at that point in a striker’s career where you remember that they used to do magical stuff, and they remember that they used to do magical stuff, but when they try to do magical stuff now, the ball ends up on the train tracks.
Georgi Minoungou – 5 (on 84’ for Alex Roldan)
Surprisingly included in both the bench and the match, Georgi was inserted immediately after Seattle conceded but was not able to utilize his 1-v-1 skills against an even more bunkered defense. He ran a few times but wasn’t up for MLS-level play, most notably going 0/4 on duels.
What we learned from Open Cup (3 app): It was perhaps Minoungou’s inspired Open Cup play that led to him being signed for the full MLS squad, as his ability to dribble and create was highlighted against quality teams and is a notable deficit on the first team.
What we learned from Open Cup (Players not appearing in this game): RBW looked good in one appearance against lesser competition. Kalana Kossa-Rienzi got on the first team radar. Danny Leyva reminded the coach he’s still young with upside. Cody Baker and Léo Chú lowered their stock playing poorly against lower level competition.
Referee
Ricardo Fierro – 4
Fierro was not up to the needs of two competitive MLS teams in a cup semi-final. He started out okay, correctly calling Rothrock for a 2nd minute foul, but it quickly became apparent that Fierro was in over his head, missing many simple calls and struggling with a physical match. There was a bizarre lack of consistency on contact, sometimes letting way too much go and other times whistling. LAFC, and Lewis O’Brien in particular, used this to their advantage to foul incessantly in the middle any time Seattle had an advantage, and Obed Vargas was completely thrown off his rhythm by these tactics. The match got more and more intense, culminating in a hair-trigger PK call that completely changed the match. The contrast between this play being reviewed at length versus the Morris goal being immediately waved off without review was absurd. One team put pressure on until this referee made a big call in their favor, and the other did not.
Upcoming: Apparently we can’t beat LAFC but we can beat other teams. So, we should do that.
