September record: 3-2-0 (4-2-0 overall)
Overall record: 18-9-3 (22-9-4 overall)
MLS Results: @ Chivas USA (4-2); vs. Real Salt Lake (3-2); @ New York Red Bulls (1-4); @ FC Dallas (1-3); vs. Chivas USA (4-2)
USOC Results: @ Philadelphia (3-1, AET)
The month of September ended the same way it started for Sounders FC. Back on September 3, Seattle posted a 4-2 win over Chivas USA and sat atop the MLS Supporters’ Shield standings. Now with the rigorous month behind it, Sounders FC finished with a 4-2 victory on Saturday over Chivas USA, remaining in the driver’s seat for the trophy for the league’s best record with four matches left to play.
Along the way, the Sounders won their fourth Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title and returned to a diverse attack that helped Seattle’s ascension to the top of MLS this season, getting three or more goals from four different players in the month. Ending on a victory gives Seattle a positive feeling after dropping two consecutive matches after the Open Cup championship, and the club now enters the final month of the season on a high note.
“It was a little bit of a rollercoaster, especially with the Open Cup win. But it was a good way to end the month and we go to the final stretch now,” Sounders FC Sporting Director Chris Henderson said. “We keep putting pressure on teams chasing us. We want to make sure we cut out the goals against and a lot of those are correctible mistakes. But the attack has been really good and to have guys that are hitting our all-time scoring marks for a season is pretty cool.”
Seattle had 19 players see the field in six September matches, including six players who played in every one.
Getting that sort of minute distribution helped Head Coach Sigi Schmid navigate a grueling schedule that saw Seattle play five matches in 16 days in four different cities, including a 12-day road trip. Having a strong bench that has been able to contribute throughout the season has been a key in Seattle’s success this year, as it has in previous seasons.
“The coaching staff has done a really good job of keeping the team aspect. We’re a team and not individuals, and that shows in some of the combinations we have,” Henderson said. “When our core is playing well, that brings up the level of everyone else. And the demand is high and that pushes everyone in a positive way.”
Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins have been dominating in stretches during the month, and Martins was nominated for Etihad Airways Player of the Month honors with his five goals and one assist. He also added one goal and one assist in the U.S. Open Cup final. Demspey finished with two goals and three assists and added the game winner in the Open Cup final.
Meanwhile, Lamar Neagle had three goals and three assists for the month, contributing to the scoresheet in all five regular season matches. Andy Rose also scored three goals, including the game-winner in stoppage time against Real Salt Lake.
“It’s great to have guys who are contributing from all different positions. Oba and Clint have been pushing each other and they’ve been knocking on the door with other opportunities and they’ve been unlucky not to go in,” Henderson said. “To have Neagle and (Marco) Pappa coming in from the flanks, it’s hard to key on individuals when you’re dangerous from other places. That’s how the team was built. We wanted to have an attacking team that’s entertaining and takes risks. Sometimes it’s a little bit scary but if we can come out on top in the end, that’s important.”
All told, Seattle accomplished its two biggest goals of the month by winning the Open Cup and remaining in front in the chase for the Supporters’ Shield.
Now with one cup in tow, Seattle sets its sights on the other two, beginning with the prize for the top regular season record in MLS.
“Your goal at the start of the year is to win three cups. We’ve got one of those. You can’t win three without getting the first one and now you focus on the next one,” Henderson said. “Right now, it’s Supporters’ Shield. We’re going to go for that and the next one is MLS Cup. There are a lot of things that have to go your way, but that mentality in that locker room and the focus within the group needs to be really tough and strong. In the next four games, we’re going to have some adversity. But I think we have the group that can handle it. There are a lot of leaders that lead in different ways and we’re going to expect those guys to take charge.”
