The Seattle Sounders (0-1-1) are hoping the unveiling of the teams 2016 MLS Championship banner in front of a home crowd expected to exceed 40,000 fans will jump start the team to it’s first of win of the season Sunday afternoon, when the team takes on the New York Red Bulls ( 2-0) Sunday ( 4:00 p.m. PT) at Century Link Field.
FUN BUT NO GAMES
Seattle will need to take a moment to reflect and get down to business with a quickness Sunday. The Eastern Conference-leading New York Red Bulls are about the business. The Red Bulls are led by the dynamic duo of English forward Bradley Wright-Philips and Huntington Beach, California midfielder Sacha Kljestan. The pair
The pair are two of the most prolific players in Major League Soccer and to have them on the same team makes the task of beating the Red Bulls near to impossible. Wright-Philips led the MLS with 24 goals last year while Kljestan was the assist leader with 20. New York hasn’t lost a regular-season game since July 3, 2016, and is currently on an 18-match unbeaten streak.
PRESSING THE ISSUE
The Red Bulls success is built on their strategy of a high press. The Red Bulls will pressure opponents when they have the ball in their half hoping to create a turnover that will lead to a quick goal. This means the Sounders will need to take care of the ball and minimize turnovers. Nicolas Lodeiro, Cristian Roldan, Ozzie Alonso and Clint Dempsey will all need to be on the same wavelength throughout the game as each will have some time with the ball. Center Back Roman Torres will not play due to an MLS Disciplinary Committee violent conduct suspension for his action in last week’s game at Montreal. Gustav Svensson will take over for Torres and Oniel Fisher will start at right back.
Center Back Roman Torres will not play due to an MLS Disciplinary Committee violent conduct suspension for his action in last week’s game at Montreal. Gustav Svensson will take over for Torres and Oniel Fisher will start at right back.
THE SOUNDERS WIDE PLAY
Along with smart ball possession and heady defense, the Sounders will try to counter the Red Bulls high press by sending fullbacks Joevin Jones, and Fisher down the field to create space in the middle of the field for Lodeiro, Dempsey, and Roldan to operate. The three will be looking to get the ball to Jordan Morris inside the Red Bulls goal box.
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