Sounders FC 2 returns to the friendly confines of Starfire Stadium for a game against Oklahoma City FC Energy on Monday, June 18. Although the last outing for S2 ended in a 3-1 loss to Rio Grande Valley, many of the players will enter Monday’s match in fine form after helping the First Team to a 2-1 win over the Portland Timbers in U.S. Open Cup action.
OKC Energy, an affiliate of FC Dallas, typically lines up in a standard 4-2-3-1 or an empty-bucket 4-4-2. No matter the system to start the match, the formation tends to morph into an attacking 4-3-3 in the run of play, with winger Jose Barril operating as an inverted playmaker on the left and the No. 10 pushing higher up the pitch to play as a center forward. And while the full backs provide the width for the team, they don’t push as far forward into the attack but instead, seek to offer an outlet in possession.
While the different systems that OKC uses can be a bit confusing, their style of play is rather simple: Establish enough possession to supply consistent service to the strikers. The wingers may swap places and the central midfielders may cover a ton of ground, but the movement away from the ball remains the same. Essentially, the creative players on OKC move all over the field to find pockets of space where they have time to pick their heads up and play an incisive pass.
Like most teams that play a relatively conservative brand of soccer, Energy FC lives and dies by set pieces. In fact, they generated four quality chances from corner kicks alone in their last match against Portland Timbers 2. With plenty of size up top and along the back line to contend with, S2’s defenders must be ready to compete for every cross into the box.
Since the playmakers on OKC tend to start wide and drift infield, the key is to hit the Energy on the counter. The overload in central areas when in possession will lead to plenty of 1v1 opportunities for S2’s attackers in transition. Moreover, the midfielders for the Energy tend to struggle when it comes to tracking runners, so look for guys like Ray Saari and David Olsen to make late runs into the box to finish off cut-back crosses.
Here are three stories to watch.
Return of Craven
Former S2 and First Team fan favorite Andy Craven will make the return to Starfire Stadium for the first time since joining OKC Energy FC. The former UNC starlet will provide a stern test for S2’s young center backs, as his constant movement off the ball and harrying defensive work will put the Rave Green defenders under near-constant pressure. As a hybrid between a No. 9 and a No. 10, S2’s double-pivot of Saari and Francisco Narbon will have their work cut out for them Monday evening.
Sam Rogers Debut Part 2
After agreeing to terms with the club last week, former Sounders Academy U-18 captain Sam Rogers will make his debut as an official member of S2 on Monday night. Rogers, 18, has been a mainstay in S2’s back line this season and even managed a victory in his first start for the First Team in Open Cup action. With a clash against former S2 and First Team striker Andy Craven on the horizon, Rogers will need to put in a quality performance like he did against the Timbers.
First Team Exposure
A number of S2 players enter the match with OKC in fine form after impressing for the First Team in Open Cup action. Rogers and Rodrigue Ele went the full 90 while largely restricting the Timbers attackers to speculative efforts on goal. Narbon and Saari bossed the midfield with their excellent range of passing and defensive nuance, while
Felix Chenkam put in a solid shift upon returning from an injury lay-off. Additionally, forward Irvin Parra has been in scorching form of late and will look to replicate his offensive fireworks on show against LA Galaxy II.
