Seattle Sounders: 3 Takeaways from Frustrating Tie With Houston Dynamo

By Paul Taylor | Oct 13, 2016

Oct 12, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Sounders FC head coach Brian Schmetzer, middle, walks off the field following a 0-0 draw against the Houston Dynamo at CenturyLink Field. Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Herculez Gomez (9) walks at left. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

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Oct 12, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Sounders FC midfielder Oalex Anderson (39) reacts after his shot was saved against the Houston Dynamo during the second half at CenturyLink Field. Seattle and Houston tied, 0-0. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

1) Statistics belie final result

Objectively speaking, I’ve always understood and even appreciated the relevance of statistics in the NFL and even more so MLB. However, the same can’t be said for soccer.

Maybe it’s because I grew up in England, in a time when soccer (football) did not rely on statistics as much as today. Whether I’m right or wrong to think this, Wednesday night provided a strong case in favor of my stance.

If you were just to look at the statistics alone, you would figure the Sounders had won. Among other things, they led 15-11 in shots, 11 corners compared to five by Houston and held possession for 61.6 percent of the match.

And yet, the game finished 0-0, with the Dynamo arguably having the better chances. Throw in the Osvaldo Alonso factor (don’t worry, we’re getting to that) and in reality, a tie was probably the fairest result.

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