A lot of pieces contributed to the Seattle Sounders’ incredible turnaround in 2016. The appointment of assistant Brian Schmetzer to interim head coach. The return Roman Torres. The coming of age of Jordan Morris.
But none was as significant as the signing of Nicolas Lodeiro, and he proved that immediately.
The Uruguayan Designated Player made his Major League Soccer debut against the LA Galaxy on July 31, less than a week after Schmetzer took over. Coming off an embarrassing loss to Sporting Kansas City the week before, the Sounders looked like a revitalized team against the Galaxy. Seattle played like a club that was playing for more than just its pride and like it really believed it could right the ship.
Lodeiro started, went the distance and bossed the midfield in ways few MLS players can. He touched the ball 123 times, more than any other Sounders player has in any other game this season. He nearly scored twice and played effective through balls to Morris and Nelson Valdez all afternoon.
Lodeiro’s debut was the first sign that things in Seattle were about to change. The Sounders were in desperate need of a spark, and Lodeiro was that diminutive piece of magic that had been missing all season.
He went on to record four goals and eight assists in just 13 regular-season matches, including an eight-match point streak. His inventiveness was on full display in his debut and it’s powered the Sounders all the way to the Audi 2016 MLS Cup Playoffs.
