TUKWILA, Wash. – Seattle Sounders FC 2's six-match unbeaten stretch came to an end last Saturday as the team fell 6-0 to Rio Grande Valley FC, the largest margin in club history. And while it was a rough outing, S2 are heading into their next match at San Antonio FC this weekend with as much confidence as ever.
S2 take on San Antonio on Saturday at 5:30 p.m. PT (Live Stream on SoundersFC.com).
“In our last game, we lost but it doesn’t mean we won’t reach the top,” said midfielder Mark O’Ojong. “I believe that we’ll play in the playoffs and we’ll play with everything we have. I’m so sure that more victories will come our way.”
Prior to last weekend, S2 had been on a steady climb to the top and went from last place to one point out of the playoffs in six weeks. San Antonio FC, meanwhile, now find themselves in 14th place out of 15 teams in the Western Conference after a strong start to the season.
“Every game for the rest of the season is going to be difficult,” said head coach Ezra Hendrickson. “Every team in this conference still has an opportunity to be in playoffs. A good showing this weekend keeps us relevant.”
With S2 sitting right in the middle of the pack in the Western Conference with 27 points, the team can't afford many more slip-ups like it had at Rio Grande Valley, and Hendrickson knows it.
“It’s a home game for them so I expect them to come out and pressure us a little bit,” Hendrickson told reporters. “It’s upon us to go in there and execute our game plan. Two things we talked to the kids about last week and what has gotten us the success over the previous six games was our discipline and our consistency.”
Injury Update
Recent signing Irvin Parra may make his debut this weekend after sitting out his first two matches in Sounders camp with an ankle injury.
“Yes, he certainly is available this weekend,” he said. “He still has a little bit of swelling but we expect to have him this weekend.”
