When coming away with 3 points is not good enough

After giving up two goals and a red card in the second half against Sporting Kansas City, Brian Schmetzer emphasized that they got the three points, but it may be more costly than he is letting on.

It manifested in their next game against Colorado yesterday. Having Nouhou suspended for the Colorado match as well as San Jose match and giving up 5 goals in on 4 penalty kicks in the second half of the last two games raises concerns that are ordinarily overshadowed by the sustained success of the team.

The Sounders calling card has been their defense and composure since their entry to MLS. Penalty kicks and red cards happen, but their recent discipline is hurting the team. The accumulation of yellow cards is also a concern, with Jackson Ragen missing the next match with a suspension. With their offense picking up steam with the return of Jordan Morris, even unbeaten, their last 2 games have been disturbing.

Unfortunately for the Sounders, they are in a busy part of their schedule, and continuing poor performances will impact their positioning for the playoffs. Coming up next for the Sounders will be San Jose (currently 1 point behind for a playoff spot) and Atlanta (bottom 3 of the Eastern Conference standings) before taking on Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup.

This could be a rough spell for the Sounders if their lack of attention to detail is being exacerbated by the absence of Stefan Frei, who is on the concussion protocol and is not expected to return until after the Leagues Cup games. Thomas has performed well and has been victimized by 4 fouls inside the box, leading to 4 goals.

Christian Roldan conceded that most seasons have a lull, where mental fatigue plays a role in mistakes made on the field as players lose their focus on touches or defending. In the past the Sounders have rallied over the course of the season, but limiting those miscues is needed for the second half of the season.

Both Brian Schmetzer and Albert Rusnak conceded that the tie felt like a loss. With that said, there were some bright spots. Obed Vargas was named to the all All-Star Game as well as scoring his third career goal, so it has been a good couple of days for the Sounder who is most likely at risk to leaving Seattle at the end of the season for a team in a superior league with better players and better pay.

Albert Rusnak had a great game with 2 goals and an assist that emphasized his alertness and contributions to the Seattle attack. It was also good to see the return of Yeimar and Kim Kee-Hee who have both missed substantial time due to injuries. Jesus Ferreira has also shown some signs of being more comfortable in his role and is starting to contribute the the Sounders attack with some consistency.

How the Sounders respond to their "lull" will determine how successful this seasons campaign will be. If they can restore their traditionally solid defense with the energy their attack is providing, the Sounders will once again be in contention for another MLS cup title.

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