The race for the final playoff berths in Major League Soccer’s Western Conference is so tight, the Seattle Sounders went from a 13-match winless streak to being tied on points for the final spot thanks to a midweek victory against Real Salt Lake.
The Sounders (8-9-8, 32 points) will look to take another step forward when they play host to Minnesota United (7-11-8, 29 points) on Saturday.
Danny Musovski and Albert Rusnak scored second-half goals as the Sounders defeated RSL 2-0 Wednesday. That not only snapped their 0-8-5 stretch without a win, but extended their unbeaten streak to six matches (1-0-5).
“During our winless streak before, it was like we couldn’t buy anything,” Sounders midfielder Paul Arriola said. “Then we started to get a lot of ties and it was, ‘OK, we can’t buy a win.’ Now that we have the win, we hope that trend continues.”
Added Seattle coach Brian Schmetzer: “There were multiple reasons for the (losing) streak. But the one constant in that group, in that team in that locker room is that they just don’t quit … They’re doing everything humanly possible as individuals and as a collective to make sure they make this a meaningful season. That has never left the building.”
The Loons, meanwhile, have lost four in a row and are winless in their past five matches.
They suffered a 3-2 loss last Saturday to the visiting Los Angeles Galaxy, conceding a pair of second-half goals due to some sloppy defending.
“Space doesn’t score goals,” Minnesota coach Cameron Knowles said after the latest loss. “You have to wrap guys up. You have to mark in the box. Then you look at that last goal, we have numbers there, we have players there. It’s in that moment about recognizing the danger.”
Marcus Caldeira tallied in the 23rd minute for Minnesota and Kelvin Yeboah slotted home a penalty kick in the 30th for his team-leading 14th goal of the season.
The Sounders and Loons played to a scoreless draw March 22 in Saint Paul, Minn.
Both teams will be short-handed for the rematch.
Minnesota will have three players away on international duty in midfielder Nectarios Triantis (Greece), defender Carlos Harvey (Panama) and goalkeeper Alec Smir (Jordan). Seattle striker Dejan Joveljic, who has three goals in four matches since being acquired from Sporting Kansas City, is playing for his native Serbia this weekend.
–Field Level Media
