So much of the Seattle Sounders’ success in 2022 has been because of their ability to overload the right side of attack and overwhelm defenses. That tactic is not a novel concept, but it’s the way that their personnel operate that makes it so difficult to stop.
Much of the onus in this approach falls to Cristian Roldan, the 26-year-old Swiss Army Knife. Nominally a central midfielder, he’s been pushed out wide because of how he unbalances opponents. He doesn’t play the position like a true right winger, and that causes problems that often lead to great looks on goal.
“I’ll float into the midfield as an attacking mid, into the half space,” said Roldan. “I’ll be out wide at times and sometimes I’ll float to the other side because Nico [Lodeiro] is on my side. We’re a very fluid team, and the way I play the right wing position is very fluid. Our front six in particular can really play any position.”
The Sounders have been excellent and nearly unbeatable when Roldan gets into the prime assist zone on the right side. He’s first in Concacaf Champions League with five assists through five matches, and so much of that has to do with how he attacks space and finds opportunistic moments.
“His movement is insanely good,” said MLSSoccer.com’s Matt Doyle on the “ExtraTime Radio” podcast. “Playing him as a winger full time now just opens up more of the field.”
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It’s not just Roldan’s play and the rest of the front six that defenses have to be prepared for, though. It’s not just Lodeiro finding the ball on the right side, it’s not just Raúl Ruidíaz making darting runs across the box, it’s not just João Paulo and Albert Rusnák operating as both escape valves and deep-lying playmakers.
Where the Sounders really have success is when Cristian’s brother and right fullback Alex joins the attack.
“I have really good chemistry with [Alex],” said Cristian. “We find each other a lot. Our right side has been really balanced because we understand our roles really well. Alex has flourished being able to go with the national team and coming back and playing different positions and being really comfortable on the ball because of it. He’ll continue to get better.”
Added Head Coach Brian Schmetzer after their Leg One win over New York City FC in the Concacaf Champions League Semifinal last Wednesday: “The right side was very good. He and his brother have a good connection.”
It’s easy to forget that this is only Alex’s second full year as a starting right back in MLS, and he’s flourished into one of the best attacking fullbacks in the league. That form has led him to captain El Salvador in Concacaf World Cup Qualifying and up his level even more. He currently leads the Sounders in Expected Assists through five matches of MLS play.
“If Alex gets the ball and I’m not in a position to help him, I know that he’ll wiggle out of trouble because I’m overloading the midfield,” said Cristian. “That inner play within the right side is really good right now. We need to continue that because it makes it tough for the opponent to follow our deep-lying runs.”
The Sounders have a chance to make club history on Wednesday when they visit New York City FC in the second leg of the CCL Semifinals (6 p.m. PT; FS1, TUDN, 950 KJR AM, El Rey 1360 AM). Entering with a 3-1 aggregate advantage, Seattle is looking to advance to its first CCL final and become the first MLS team to win Champions League.
“When we get to New York, we know they’re going to step it up a notch,” said Cristian. “It’s a do-or-die situation. They need two goals minimum. For us, it’s about being solid defensively and taking it up a notch as well. We understand that we’re going to get chances in front of goal. We can create those.”
