The Seattle Sounders will be one step closer to a third MLS Cup trophy with a win on Sunday against the Houston Dynamo at Shell Energy Stadium (3:30 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360AM).
“We're in the playoffs, and you're looking for results, and however that needs to happen, you need to do whatever you can to make it happen,” said goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
Seattle is in position to advance to the Western Conference Semifinals after defeating the Texas side in Match One on Oct. 28. A positive result in Match Two would see the Sounders win the Round One, Best-Of-3 Series and progress to the next stage of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
“These games against Houston, we need a win, and we still have a lot to play for,” said midfielder Obed Vargas. “We're trying to make a deep run.”
While it is not a do-or-die match for Seattle, the hope is to close out the series early.
“[Houston] has to win,” said Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “So, they'll come out a little more aggressive defensively, they'll try and make sure their attacking movements are good, but we're doing the same thing.”
“We're not going to go there and just lay back for 90 minutes.”
The team will make adjustments in an attempt to capitalize on the Dynamo’s weaknesses.
“We'll just make sure that we're ready to go, and we'll have a good technical offensive game plan,” said Schmetzer. “We're going to try and fashion our attacking movements, to exploit what we saw on film.”
The objective is to combine their already strong defense with an attack-minded approach that began to spark in the second half of the regular season.
“I think if you can find that balance and be good in terms of execution on both sides of the pitch, that'll be a winning combo for us,” said Frei.
Houston will be without the 2023-24 Concacaf Player of the Year, Coco Carrasquilla, after receiving a red card in the opening match, but the fixture will be a challenge for the Rave Green nonetheless.
“They're still a good team,” said Schmetzer. “They’ll fill in.”
Seattle’s long-time head coach remains confident enough to not make any substantial changes to their overall line of action.
“We will probably stick to what we know,” said Schmetzer. “I think our team has been successful over the last course of half a season and I don't see why we should change.”
