Seattle Sounders Lose First Game to Expansion Side Atlanta United

Seattle Sounders lose their first game against MLS expansion side Atlanta United 4-2 in their 2nd game in the Carolina Challenge Cup

The first game between the Seattle Sounders and Atlanta United could have ended better for the Sounders. This was the Sounders 2nd game in the Carolina Challenge Cup, they tied their first game 1-1 with the Charleston Battery. Atlanta’s first game in the Cup ended in a 1-2 loss to MLS side Columbus Crew.

First Half

The Sounders started the game with such a young side that 23 year old defender Tony Alfaro wore the captains armband. Seattle started in a 4-2-3-1 with Bryan Meredith in goal. Meredith had a few good saves in the first half, and isn’t to blame for Seattle going down 2-0 in the first three minutes.

On defense, the Sounders had two defensive trialists going against Atlanta’s first choice forwards, two of which happen to be DPs. Jake Morris, a 17 year old playing for Seattle Sounders FC 2 (S2) started as left back. While Jake had a good first half, the Seattle back line was lacking chemistry, which is understandable.

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Jordy Delem and S2 player Zach Mathers started as center mids. University of Washington alumni Henry Wingo started at right mid and later scored in the 62nd minute. Harry Shipp started as an attacking mid with David Olsen in the left mid slot. Wingo, Shipp and Olsen played well and got better as the half progressed.

Tata Martino, ex-Barcelona and ex-Argentine National Team coach, has managed Atlanta well thus far, they had immediate pressure on Seattle whenever they got the ball. Ex-Sounder Tyrone Mears played well for his new team, he helped preserve a first half shutout.

Second Half

The second half started by former Charleston Battery player Ozzie Alonso entering the game. This is Alonso’s first preseason action as he is recovering from a knee injury. Will Bruin, Sam Rodgers and Stanford alumni Brian Nana-Sinka also subbed on at half. Two minutes into the second half Atlanta player Josef Martinez chipped a ball over Bryan Meredith to make it 4-0 in the 47th. The Sounders started the second half cleaner and sharper.

Seattle made two more subs in the 60th minute, Joevin Jones came on for Seyi Adekoya and Nico Lodeiro came on for Harry Shipp. In the 62nd minute, Henry Wingo scored after a pass from Will Bruin to lower the differential to three.

Six minutes later in the 68th minute Julian Gressel earned himself a yellow card after kicking Lodeiro. Less than a minute later he received another, ultimately getting himself sent off and forcing Atlanta to play a man down for the rest of the game.

In the 71st minute, the Sounders subbed on five of their regulars. Cristian Roldan, Roman Torres, Chad Marshall and Alvaro Fernandez all came on. Clint Dempsey also came on a received a huge reception, he played his college soccer close by at Furman University. Zach Mathers, Tony Alfaro, Jake Morris, Sam Rodgers and goal scorer Henry Wingo all came off.

Will Bruin made it 4-2 in the 75th minute with a header goal. The referee used VAR (virtual assistant referee) to confirm that there wasn’t an offside call that was missed on the goal. The goal was confirmed and the game moved on. A couple minutes later, in the 77th, Roldan was pushed from behind and Harrison Heath received a yellow for pushing Lodeiro after the play. Roman Torres was quick to defend both of them.

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Lodeiro earned himself a yellow as well in the 86th minute for diving in the box, although there did appear to be contact on his foot. The game ended 4-2 Atlanta. The Sounders play again on Saturday against the Columbus Crew.

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