Sounders: 4 takeaways from the Seattle Sounders' 2-1 loss to Atlanta United

2. The defensive breakdown

While credit does need to be given to Andrew Gutman for a stellar strike at the far post, it was the moments leading up to the goal that Seattle will scratch their heads at.

Yeimar Gomez Andrade moved forward with the ball, losing it. Then, Gutman had space and fired to the far post. Stefan Frei was static, and there wasn't much he could do to save the attempt.

Defender Alex Roldan gave insight to his own positioning on the play.

""It’s a tough situation. Me being part of the backline, I have a guy on me to my right shoulder, and I’m hesitant to step to him, because that will open up a gap. I would rather hold my ground to the last moment I can hold my ground and then push forward. At the end of the day, you have to give him credit for a shot that’s 20, 30 yards out. I could have stepped earlier, but it opens the gap in the backline. I think we need to look at what we could have done before that moment, and correct those things.” "

Alex Roldan

Meanwhile, head coach Schmetzer said he refuses to put blame on Gomez Andrade, Roldan or any player.

"When players are tired and their legs are heavy, they make mental mistakes," Schmetzer explained. "I think from the long season, the Champions League, the whole storyline that's out there with that, we struggle a bit in certain moments. It's not just Yeimar in that final play. It's our attacking as well."

Seattle has lost 10 matches this year by only one goal.