Ship’s Log, Sept. 14: Right side of rock bottom
Once upon a time the rivalry between Sporting KC and Seattle Sounders was all about a tongue wagging contest for the U.S. Open Cup. Since early 2021 it has been defined by a Rock Bottom.
That was the first time a wrestling move was executed against a Sounder, and unlike in the Crew match, the referee felt that it was a soccer move and not-at-all violent conduct.
In some ways KC and Seattle are similar. They’re two orgs that punch above their market ranking, winning titles. Their coaches are two of the longest-serving in the league, with Jim Curtain nestling between Peter Vermes' fourteen years and Brian Schmetzer’s seven. Schmetzer and Vermes combined have more time as head coaches with their current teams than coaches four through eleven combined.
In other ways these teams are not alike.
Since the Rock Bottom, Sporting is a pathetic 31-47-22, -25 in MLS play. They are finally on the edge of a trophy again, making the Open Cup final. SKC also made the Western Conference final once in the intervening years.
Sounders FC are in their ‘bad’ stretch, too. A vocal segment of the fan base insists the current team is awful, unworthy of support. The current team is fifth in the West and has the fourth best record over the last six MLS matches (fourth best GA, mid-table GF, fifth best GD). Those two losses were to rivals – that causes more emotional pain.
Oh, and since that Rock Bottom, the Seattle Sounders are 38-36-25, +16 in MLS play winning the CCL.
Bad signings and bad coaching are why Kansas City never got on the right side of rock bottom – even if we want to insist that it's also bad karma.
Sunday’s match should be a grand time.
Seattle’s best scorer of 2024 dominates KC historically. The afternoon crowd should be booing Tim Melia on every touch. Seattle is positioning for home-field advantage in the playoffs. Sporting is positioned as a surging spoiler who needs a half-dozen things to break their way to repeat their play-in round appearance.
🎶We're on the good side of bad karma
'Cause we keep on coming back for more
We're on the right side of rock bottom🎶
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Catching up on Sounder at Heart
Here's what you missed on the site this week.
Sounders
Next match: Sunday the Seattle Sounders host Sporting Kansas City at Lumen Field. You can catch the 4:15 pm PDT match on FS1 and MLS Season Pass for free.
- Sounder Strategy: KC plays spoiler
- Georgi Minoungou could be Sounders’ missing ingredient
- Cristian Roldan seems to be settling in at an old position
- João Paulo likely out 2-3 more weeks with calf strain
- The change-makers that define a team
- Nos Audietis: Not quite done with ‘Goalie-Gate’
- Roster mismanagement led to Crew having no backup GK
- Lobbing Scorchers: The Best Seattle Sounders Win Ever
- MLS Fantasy Week 26: The return of Messi
- Realio’s Ratings: Magic 8 Ball edition
- Postgame Pontifications: No reasons to apologize
- Crushing the Crew: Sounders halt losing streak
- How Sounders’ stagnant roster has created a mini-crisis
Reign
Next match: Monday, Reign FC host Gotham at Lumen Field. You can watch the 7 pm PDT match on CBS Sports Network. Gotham are in 4th. Seattle is in 10th, charging up the standings thanks to to a three-match winning streak.
- Joy in SoCal: Reign beat Angel City, win third straight
- The Cooler Guild: Another win in the bag
- Valkyratings: Winning by a Head edition
- Three Stats: Seattle Reign vs. Angel City
- Reign fullback Lily Woodham loaned to Crystal Palace
- Defender Sofia Huerta loaned to Olympique Lyonnais
Defiance
Next match: Defiance travel to Vancouver Whitecaps 2 on Saturday September 21. MLS Next Pro hasn't announced the streaming location yet. Defiance's shootout loss last night failed to clinch a playoff spot.
- Key performers is Defiance’s shootout loss to Real Monarchs
- Key performers in Defiance’s emphatic win over Timbers2
Spokane
Velocity host South Georgia Tormenta at 6 pm PDT on Saturday. The match is on ESPN+ and SWX in Spokane. Spokane is in 6th and hasn't lost a league match in five played. South Georgia is on a three-match winless run.
Zephyr host Carolina Ascent at 6 pm PDT on Sunday. The match is on Peacock and SWX in Spokane. Zephyr are searching for their first win. Carolina has yet to lose.
Looking back at the news
Everything else you need to know
LAFC finally managed to convince Carlos Vela to sign, just prior to the roster lock date. The former MVP will strengthen an already potent attack. Will that be enough to push them back into the Shield hunt with the returning-to-play Messi? Probably not, but it will make the contest for the top of the West with Galaxy massive – ugh.
Garth Lagerwey is looking for a new Chief Soccer Officer to work under him in Atlanta. Doug Robertson from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution lists five most likely hires, with three being people who worked for Garth in Seattle, including Craig Waibel.
Hiring Mauricio Pochettino to coach the USMNT wasn't easy, but it was the easy part (Backheeled)
Ji So-yun leads Seattle Reign’s resurgence in the NWSL (All for XI)
NWSL GM survey: League execs on rule-breaking, abolishing draft, USWNT players, and more (ESPN)
Sinead Farrelly shares thanks and remarkable vulnerability as Gotham FC honors her retirement (Philadelphia Inquirer)
New Reign centerback Jordyn Bugg is off with the USWNT 20s and shining.
Why the NWSL Draft had to go: Best for the players (and the league, too) A current U.S. Soccer Vice President writes at Backheeled.
Albert Rusnák was Player of the Week and three other Sounders joined him in the Team of the Week.
How much has soccer grown since 2009? Modesto may get pro men's and women's sides.
ESPN revealed that they're doing generative AI recaps for the NWSL. Their debut got the teams competing records wrong, failed to mention Alex Morgan in her retirement match and their upcoming schedule included multiple errors. As always, Sounder at Heart is written by people that people like you pay.