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The Sounders Offense is Just Warming Up

By Ben Renner

May 7, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Sounders midfielder Erik Friberg (8) attempts a header with San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Simon Dawkins (49) during the first half at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
May 7, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Sounders midfielder Erik Friberg (8) attempts a header with San Jose Earthquakes midfielder Simon Dawkins (49) during the first half at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Sounders are off to Texas to take on FC Dallas on Saturday having won four of their last six matches. An improved offensive performance in recent weeks has boosted the team and we may only be seeing the beginning.

The Sounders were staring down another disappointing home performance last week against the San Jose Earthquakes. As Quakes forward Chris Wondolowski lined up a penalty kick that would have tied the match with less than five minutes to go before stoppage time, it looked like the Sounders would have to settle for one point at home in a game in which they ended up outshooting their opponents eight to one.

The Sounders caught a break on the penalty kick when goalkeeper Stefan Frei dove to the wrong side but Wondolowski missed the goal anyway. Then, on the other end, rookie sensation Jordan Morris put the Quakes down for good with an 89th minute goal. The two goals against the Quakes brought the Sounders back to a zero goal differential and allowed the Sounders to even their record at 4-1-4. At 13 points, they sit in eighth place in the MLS Western Conference.

Morris and fellow star forward Clint Dempsey scored for Seattle last week. They were expected to be the main goal scorers for the team after Obafemi Martins abruptly bolted for China just before the season started. But during a slow start to the year, many wondered how this team could score on anyone. Morris looked overwhelmed at times early in the season. Dempsey was banged up. Key distributor Erik Friberg was injured, and the Sounders generally seemed confused by the new 4-3-3 alignment coach Sigi Schmid designed to make up for the loss of one of his key offensive players.

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Friberg is back and linking the lines extraordinarily well for the Sounders, as evidenced in their 2-0 win over San Jose. Dempsey appears to be back to his normal goal-hungry self, and Morris has tied an MLS record by scoring in his fourth consecutive game last week. The monster that is the Sounders offense appears to be awakening.

This offensive renaissance is coming at just the right time. On Saturday, the Sounders will get a crack at second-place FC Dallas, a team that has won six games despite a -2 goal differential. A road win or even a point against them will help them in the conference. Next week, the Sounders will have a chance to get revenge against the first-place Colorado Rapids, who beat them 3-1 in Commerce City (the White Center of the Denver area) last month.

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Morris has found his groove, Friberg and Dempsey are at full strength, and the Sounders appear ready to regain their reputation as a goal-scoring machine last year led by Martins and Dempsey. It took some time to figure it out, but Schmid’s squad has adapted to the loss of Martins and the new formation. Can they keep it going against Dallas?

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