When the Seattle Sounders hit an injury crisis it seems to be at a position group. This year it's the attack – two forwards and a winger/wingback are down. The only other 9 on the roster looks best as a winger rather than the trequartista of his recent past or false 9 of his best season.
That's why one-time CPL phenom Osaze de Rosario (yes, that DeRo family) got the call for the weekend.
Under Schmetzer the org doesn't have many successes for players coming up from Defiance to play as a No. 9. The two that were the most successful, earning their emergency duty from Defiance by slamming in goals for the second team were rather ineffective in MLS – Justin Dhillon and Sam Adeniran.
Others earning that emergency call have players like Eythor Bjørgolfsson, Felix Chenkam and Andy Craven.
Diehard Defiance/S2 fans may remember some of those names, but for most they're a list of "just remembering some guys."
Justin Dhillon dominated the lower level. He continues to do so. His play in practice also earned him playing time. That playing time was praised by Schmetzer, but didn't directly contribute to goals. The team parted ways and Dhillon took a couple of titles in the USL since leaving.
With Defiance Slammin' Sam was a singular force. He had the body of Dhillon with the speed of Nouhou. His shot was more powerful than anyone the org has had before or since. But, something about his play, likely in practice, didn't earn him much first-team time. He's moved around a lot, currently with his 10th professional team.
You may have noticed a pattern with the ones that can be called success within the organization – no matter how good they were competitively with Defiance it is their approach towards the profession of soccer that earns them prolonged looks. That's a thing that can often be a secret from fans and media.
But there are stories of extra ball work, extra film, extra reps, extra weights, refining meals, asking questions.
An emergency call doesn't have to be a career ender due to a failure to see the field.
Instead it is the opportunity to demonstrate that willingness to be the worker who thrives on practice, who asserts their mentality.
We may not see Osaze against San Diego. But these travel days will be when he shows the full coaching staff that he's more than the Son of DeRo or 'just another emergency call.'
His most important times are on the large field at Longacres, the video room, the flight, the walk through.
I'd still like to see a goal.
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Catching up on Sounder at Heart
Here's what you missed on the site this week.
Sounders
Next match: Saturday, April 5 at San Diego FC | 7:30 pm PT | MLS Season Pass
San Diego has 4 points in their last 3 games, +0. Seattle has 2 points in their last 3 games, -1. SDFC is 3rd in the West. SSFC is 12th.
- Everything you need to know ahead of San Diego FC-Sounders
- Joining Sounders ‘like a breath of fresh air’ for Ryan Kent
- Realio’s Ratings: Still searching for solutions
- Lobbing Scorchers: Tom Bogert Still Believes in the Seattle Sounders
- Sporting KC ownership set up Peter Vermes to fail
- Lobbing Scorchers: It's Time to Start Danny Musovski
- Postgame Pontifications: Making do with what you got
Reign
Next match: Saturday, April 12 vs. Orlando Pride | 4:30 pm PT | iON
Defiance
Next match: Sunday, April 6 vs. Whitecaps 2 | 7 pm PT | MLS Season Pass
- Key Performers in Defiance’s win over Spokane Velocity
- Defiance will host Oakland Roots in U.S. Open Cup third round
- Defiance add another midfielder
Spokane
Velocity: Saturday April 5 vs. Hearts of Pine | 6 pm PT | SWX and ESPN+
Hearts of Pine have 1 point in 1 match. Spokane has 4 in 3.
Zephyr: Saturday, April 12 vs. Dallas Trinity | 6 pm PT | KHQ and Peacock+
Dallas is in second with 33 points in 20 matches, +12. Spokane is in 6th with 25 points in 20 games, -2.
Ballard/Salmon Bay
Looking back at the news
Everything else you need to know
Coastal Carolina is trying something new with their football program. Chants Feast Free At Football In 2025.
The City of Dragons will host at least one national team during Men's World Cup 2026. There isn't yet word as to which team it is. Longacres and VMAC are both capable of being training sites for massive national teams – the rules are kinda quirky. Seattle's host city poster for the World Cup is top tier.
With multiple nations publishing warnings about immigration to the US, The Nation asks with ICE Out of Control, How Can the US Cohost the 2026 World Cup?
The Whitecaps are for sale. So why'd they drop stadium news? To raise that value. Staying in a location that has a soccer-specific stadium is better than moving to one that does not.
NWSL viewership is up. As the smart people say "everyone watches women's sports."
Sounders dropped 9, yes NINE, spots in the Backheeled power rankings. At some point the team needs to be what everyone thought they were when the season started, right?
Unlike previous USMNT squads this version isn't winning, isn't fun, isn't likable, and isn't a draw.
My favorite band owns a soccer team. Union Omaha beat Hasbeen FC in the Open Cup.
Back when the US hosted the Men's World Cup in 1994 there were three competing plans for what men's pro soccer in the US should be. One of those featured pro/rel.
At one point 2031's Women's World Cup was supposed to be a joint venture with Mexico. Then Concacaf floated that it should have Caribbean nations host. Instead it'll be the USA, by itself.
A hateful soccer fan in Gotham FAFOd. They're banned, as is right and just.
Messi's bodyguard is banned from the touchline. The gentleman who hasn't been able to stop the record level of pitch invaders says that he's better at protecting Messi than league security who also haven't stopped the record level of pitch invaders.
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