SEATTLE — No player achieved more in his time with the Seattle Sounders than Nicolás Lodeiro. During eight seasons, he led the Sounders to two MLS Cups, a Concacaf Champions League title and left the team as the leader in all-time goal-contributions.
The Sounders confirmed that they talked to Lodeiro earlier this year about potentially returning, but ultimately decided he wasn’t a fit for what they were trying to do. Lodeiro was apparently keen on a return, but eventually signed with the Houston Dynamo after Orlando City bought out his contract.
Now, Lodeiro is set to return when the Dynamo play the Sounders on Saturday. Before the game, Lodeiro will be honored in an on-field ceremony thanking him for his service. But once the game starts, he’ll surely have some measure of revenge on his mind.
“It will be a little bit strange to see him in a different color,” Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer told reporters on Friday. “There will be a lot of hugs and good words, but on the field it will be all business.”
Lodeiro has been thrust into a starting role with the Dynamo over the past two games, logging a season-high 74 minutes in the most recent match.
He hasn’t been able to do much to improve results for the Dynamo, however. They are 0-3-1 while getting outscored 8-3. But their one point came in a 0-0 tie on the road against the Columbus Crew.
The Sounders are coming off a 1-0 loss to St. Louis City and are looking to rebound from a frustrating 1-2-1 start to their season.
Schmetzer said he’s more focused on his players’ performance than anything Lodeiro might do.
“We loved having Nico around, he was such a tremendous player for us,” Schmetzer said. “But now we’ve got a good team. They’re going to have to come out and do their job.”
Addressing the defense
After allowing the fewest goals in MLS each of the past two years, the Sounders’ defense was not considered much of a concern coming into the season. But through four league games, they’ve already given up seven goals. Their biggest problem seems to have been uncharacteristic mistakes, allowing two own-goals and another that came off an obvious mistake.
Schmetzer said he had a meeting with centerbacks Jackson Ragen and Yeimar Gomez Andrade in hopes of tightening things up.
“That conversation is about reality and leadership and doing a little more at training to make sure they’re sharp in games,” Schmetzer said. “It’s about good communication. We have to get them sharp.”
Rare home game
The Sounders are in the midst of a stretch in which they’ll play 8 of 12 games on the road. After the Dynamo match, they’ll play three straight road games. That only underscores the importance of getting full points.
“Taking advantage of our home games is crucial, that’s our mindset,” Alex Roldan said. “This used to be considered a fortress. We want to get back to that. We want teams to come in hear knowing they’re playing for one point. We know we’re capable of that.”
