The Seattle Sounders trained in Houston on Friday in what was their final practice before opening the 2017 MLS regular season on Saturday against the Houston Dynamo (5:30 p.m. PT; Q13 FOX, KIRO Radio 97.3FM, El Rey 1360AM).
Saturday’s match features the return of forward Will Bruin, who signed with the Sounders in the offseason after spending the first six seasons of his professional career in Houston. He spoke after training about what it will be like playing in Houston as a visitor.
“It brings back some old memories,” Bruin said. “It’s weird staying in a hotel.”
Bruin will have a large supporters section of friends he made outside of soccer while in Houston and is looking forward to seeing some familiar faces. He made sure his group, though, will be supporting his current team.
“We’re going to have them in Sounders shirts that I got for all of them,” Bruin said.
On the pitch, head coach Brian Schmetzer was impressed with the life his team showed in their final run through. He even had to cut off some players trying to do extra training, saying they were staying on the field too long because they’re excited to play.
“Mentally they’re in a good spot,” Schmetzer said. “The question is: On short rest, how do they react in their first game against arguably a much-improved Houston team?
“[Head coach Wilmer Cabrera] does a good job,” he continued. “They run a very organized 4-3-3. They’re going to come after us, it’s their home opener.”
Because he spent a considerable amount of time in Houston, Bruin still knows most of the guys on the team, their tendencies and how they like to play. He’s hoping that will give him a bit of an advantage as the Sounders try and win their first regular-season-opening road game in their MLS franchise history.
“They’re going to come out and try and push the tempo,” Bruin said of the Dynamo. “The way they play is a very counterattack style and they have a bunch of speed up front. If we possess the ball and maintain the rhythm of the game, I think we’ll be in good shape.”
