Defense paves the way for Sounders
Team-wide commitment to pressure key to win streak
TUKWILA, Wash. – Sounders FC has always prided itself on being an entertaining, attack-minded team.
Who doesn’t love offense, right?
Seattle led MLS in scoring in 2011 and has signed some of the most exciting players in the league the past couple seasons in Clint Dempsey, Obafemi Martins and Eddie Johnson.
Recent success, however, has been less flash and more grit. A commitment to defense following an embarrassing defeat has helped lead the team to three straight wins – all by shutout – heading into today’s 7 p.m. home game against Chicago.
The Sounders haven’t allowed a goal in 286 minutes, their longest streak of the season, and have improved to third in MLS with 1.03 goals allowed per game.
“It’s been an absolutely great team effort and, of course as a goalkeeper, I like it very much,” said Michael Gspurning, who is tied for second in the league with nine shutouts.
Ask what has improved on defense and the Sounders provide many answers. And there was much to fix from the team’s last loss, a 3-1 drubbing at Houston that Gspurning called “an eye opener for us.”
Leo Gonzalez, who is back from a red-card suspension, said defensive success has been due to a team-wide commitment, all the way to the forwards.
Marc Burch credited team pressure in Wednesday’s win over Chivas USA: “Every time we lost the ball we chased them down. We made them uncomfortable, and that way we were winning a lot of balls back.”
Coach Sigi Schmid has been especially impressed with the team’s tight marking on set pieces and crosses. He also noted the team’s improved effort in blocking shots.
In the past three games, the Sounders have blocked 19 of their opponents’ 47 attempts, over 40 percent.
“We want to create a momentum that makes it tough to score on us,” said Gspurning, whose team has allowed only 11 second-half goals, best in MLS.
Martins still questionable
Obafemi Martins will be a game-time decision for the Sounders as he continues to recover from a nagging ankle injury. The forward missed his fourth straight game Wednesday.