Seattle Sounders: 3 Key Takeaways from the NYRB Match
3 key takeaways from the Seattle Sounders win against the New York Red Bulls in Seattle. The Seattle goals were scored by Dempsey, Morris, and Harry Shipp.
The Seattle Sounders grabbed their first win of the 2017 season at home against the New York Red Bulls 3-1 on Sunday. This was Seattle’s home opener and their championship celebration. The Red Bulls were trying to tie the MLS record for the longest unbeaten streak. They had gone unbeaten for 18 straight regular season games.
Clint Dempsey scored on a PK in the 27th minute and Bradley-Wright Phillips equalized 12 minutes into the second half. Jordan Morris scored in the 66th and Harry Shipp sealed the win in the 79th. Below are three takeaways from the game:
1. Early Press From Sounders
The Sounders knew that they would have to press and score against New York. They started sending balls forward quickly and trying to connect with forward Jordan Morris. Clint Dempsey, Cristian Roldan, and Harry Shipp all had good balls to Morris early in the match. In the 27th, Morris was tripped by NYRB goal keeper Luis Robles and Clint Dempsey converted the ensuing penalty to give the Sounders their first lead of the 2017 season. With Dempsey’s goal, he has 8 in his last 9 MLS regular season appearances.
The Sounders did well to break through the Red Bull’s defense and midfield and had good ball possession found the right gaps to play through. Seattle continued to play well throughout the second half. Hopefully the Sounders can continue to press early in the game and hold off teams with powerful offenses.
Versatile Defense and Midfield
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With Roman Torres’s suspension, the Sounders had to change their back line for the daunting task of facing BWP, Sacha Kljestan, and a dangerous Red Bulls offense. They chose to start Oniel Fisher at right back, Joevin Jones at left back with Gustav Svensson and Chad Marshall as center backs. Svensson held BWP to one goal and overall kept the Red Bulls at bay. Oniel Fisher made several dangerous runs and had good passes throughout the game as right back.
The Sounders also started with the same midfield as last week, Nico Lodeiro at right mid, Dempsey at attacking mid and Harry Shipp at left mid. This pushed Alvaro Fernandez to the bench for the second straight week. The three played well together, with Shipp doing especially well dropping back on defense.
Fisher went down with an injury in the 63rd minute and had to be taken off. Fernandez replaced him which changed up who was playing were for the Sounders. Cristian Roldan moved to right back, Shipp dropped to play center mid next to Ozzie Alonso and Fernandez played at left mid. Roldan has moved to play right back in the past and it’s good to see the Sounders being able to switch positions comfortably.
The Sounders took Jordan Morris off in the 81st due to an ankle injury he suffered earlier in the game. Will Bruin subbed in and had a few chances at goal. Morris flew to train with the USMNT after the game and did not practice Monday but instead got treatment on his ankle.
Joevin Jones
Joevin Jones had key runs up the line throughout the game and has quickly turned into one of the best left backs in MLS. So far he has been an important piece in Seattle’s team. In the 66th minute of the game, he nutmegged defender Sal Zizzo, crossed the ball back to Lodeiro who sent it to the back post for Morris to head in. Against Houston in the season opener, he sent the cross in for Clint Dempsey to pull one back for the Sounders in the 2-1 loss.
A key part of his technical ability is the fact that he plays winger for the Trinidad and Tobago national team. He’s able to translate his attacking attributes back to Seattle when he plays as left back. He’s fast, recovers from his field long runs quickly and causes lots of problems for opposing team defenders and midfielders.
Jones is only 25, but he was a key part of a championship team last year and is shaping up to be an important asset to the Sounders this year.
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Seattle has a week off due to USMNT World Cup Qualifiers and will play Atlanta on March 31st.