One of the biggest challenges the Seattle Sounders faced against the Vancouver Whitecaps in the Western Conference Semifinals of the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs was slowing down their Cascadia rivals’ counterattack.
One of the best teams all year at absorbing pressure and punishing opponents on the break, the Whitecaps posed a formidable obstacle for the possession-oriented Sounders. Seattle never wavered, though, and kept Vancouver off the scoresheet in both legs, including limiting the ‘Caps to just one total shot.
The Sounders will have their hands full yet again in the Western Conference Championship against the Houston Dynamo, the West’s fourth seed that knocked off the No. 1 Portland Timbers in the semis. Houston has a plethora of pacy attackers with the likes of Honduras internationals Alberth Elis and Romell Quioto, who are more than capable of striking against the run of play.
- THE STAGE IS SET: Houston stands in Seattle’s way for return trip to MLS Cup
“You have to do it as a whole group, as a whole team,” Sounders defender Kelvin Leerdam said of how to defend a counterattacking style of play. “Be good on the ball, be good in possession and have your organization always in the right spot. When you lose the ball, you have to know where their attackers are. You need to put pressure on the ball directly so they cannot play a perfect pass. If you give them time to look, then we’re going to have a tough time.”
Added Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer: “Going back to the middle of the season, teams were bunkering and countering against us. Over the course of the season, we’ve adapted a little bit and played better defensively in that regard.”
The Sounders are also honed in on preventing Dynamo forward Erick “Cubo” Torres from having any impact on the series as well. Torres scored 14 goals this season, revitalizing his promising young career under Houston Head Coach Wilmer Cabrera, and has caused teams fits all year, not unlike Vancouver forward Fredy Montero.
“They’re pretty similar,” Schmetzer said of Torres and Montero. “Different, but similar. They’re both crafty, sneaky, good goalscorers, so that’ll be a test for [defenders] Chad [Marshall] and Román [Torres].”
Schmetzer praised the work that Cabrera has done in his first season in charge. He transformed a last-place Houston team in 2016 — the Dynamo finished 16 points better than last year — into a contender that is one series away from an MLS Cup berth.
“Wilmer has done an exceptional job,” Schmetzer said. “He’s got his team believing they can win games and that’s one key part of it. His tactics have been good based on the personnel that he has.”
The Sounders will visit the Dynamo in Leg 1 on Tuesday, Nov. 21 (6:30 p.m. PT; FS1, FOX Deportes, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM) before hosting Houston in Leg 2 on Thursday, Nov. 30 (7:30 p.m. PT; ESPN, ESPN Deportes, KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360 AM | TICKETS). Seattle is grateful for the extended time off between rounds, but the players are itching to get back on the pitch and defend last year’s MLS Cup.
“I think everybody wants to play,” said Leerdam. “But we’re confident…Everybody wants to be remembered as a guy who won something for their team.”
