TUKWILA, Wash. – The goals just kept coming Monday night for Seattle Sounders FC 2, who found the back of the net a season-high four times in a 4-1 victory over Real Monarchs SLC.
Forwards Darwin Jones and Myron Samuel were the heroes of the match, grabbing two goals apiece in a wild night at Starfire Stadium. Jones, who hadn’t appeared on the scoresheet until July 10, now leads the team in scoring with five on the season. Samuel who hadn’t scored since early June, tripled his season total in one game.
After the match, head coach Ezra Hendrickson shed some light on how the team’s offensive strategy plays to their strengths, and added that Jones and Samuel never lost confidence in themselves.
“Our game predicated on what they do on the wings,” he said. “We try to get the ball through our midfield and through the guys out on the wings and let them do their thing.”
S2 went down early in the 22nd minute when a fast break found midfielder Andrew Brody, who slid a shot past goalkeeper Tyler Miller.
“I think we had the better of the play for the first 20 minutes but sometimes football is like that,” Hendrickson told reporters. “You’re controlling the game but you still find yourself down one.”
S2 weren’t down for long, however, as they then equalized on a penalty kick earned by midfielder Jordan Schweitzer and converted by Samuel in 35th minute. Samuel, who is the primary penalty taker for S2, attributed the goal to his experience taking them for his home country of St. Vincent and Grenadines.
“I always take penalties for my national team so I’m accustomed to it,” he said. “The keeper tried to get in my head but I just kept my cool and put the ball away in the net.”
Jones then put his team ahead in the 60th minute when a defensive error created the chance. Jones charged into the area uncontested, picked up the ball and slammed it past Real goalkeeper Eduardo Fernandez.
Jones and Samuel each struck one more time in final five minutes of the match to earn a decisive victory for S2. Sitting only one point out of playoffs, S2 are in striking distance of the red line but with the majority of their home games already played out, the final run won’t be easy.
“We finish the season with seven road games so it’s going to be tough,” said Hendrickson. “But we’re confident and I think we can do it.”
S2 travel up the road to Vancouver Whitecaps FC 2 on Saturday (3 p.m. PT, livestream on SoundersFC.com).
