Preseason Friendly: Recap and Info vs. Odense

We were at the La Quinta Football Center for our third and final match of our stint in Spain. We faced Danish side Odense BK in a pair of 90-minute friendlies as we continue to build fitness ahead of the 2024 season.

The Sounders lost both matches, the first by a score of a 3-0 and the second 2-1. Raúl Ruidíaz scored for Seattle.

First Match:

Lineup: Stefan Frei; Cody Baker, Nathan, Xavier Arreaga, Jon Bell; Josh Atencio, João Paulo, Cristian Roldan, Albert Rusnàk, Léo Chú; Jordan Morris

1’ We are underway in Marbella!

5’ Odense has a chance with a cross in front of goal, but just misses a diving header.

7’ Stefan Frei gathers a low shot for his first save of the day.

10’ The Sounders have struggled to settle into the match, with not much possession in the attacking half.

11’ Cristian withstands pressure and draws a foul. He is showing great body control, as always.
 
18’ The squad settles and begin to play more through the middle with João Paulo. 

23’ A shot off the crossbar from Odense!

24’ Atencio runs to far field and earns a corner. Huge hustle play.

26’ Another shot from Odense sails over the bar.

28’ A blistering counterattack looks promising for Odense, but Xavi makes a sliding tackle. The rebound attempt is thwarted by Baker.

29’ A diving stop by Stefan Fei to keep it scoreless.

31’ Snyder Brunell subs in for Atencio, who leaves with a knock but can walk off the pitch on his own.

35’ Jon Bell’s sliding tackle is whistled for a penalty

36’ Goal Odense. The taker from the spot coolly slots home thee shot to the bottom right corner.

39’ Rusnák tries to spring a counter, but is taken down from behind. 

45’ It’s the end of the first half in this one.

46’ Xavi starts the half with a deep ball to Roldan, but the pass just misses him.

47’ Flying out of the gate, Morris earns a corner. 

48’ Yellow on Baker, who took down the attacker on a counter 

53’ Roldan to Morris at the far post, but his leaping header goes just wide.

57’ Morris’ shot in front of goal is saved from close range, then Runsák’s follow up is also saved.

57’ Later that minute, Nathan rips a volley and the goalkeeper gets fingertips on it to slightly nudge it over the bar.

64’ A yellow card is given to Odense for impeding on Frei during a drop kick.

65’ Goal Odense. The goalscorer rips a ball into the top left corner on Frei’s near post. 

68’ A breakaway for Morris, but his hard shot just misses wide.

72’ SUB: Kalani comes in for JP.

78’ Impressive sprint from Nathan to thwart an attack. He is an incredibly athletic defender. 

79’ A very good save by Frei as Odense burns in transition and puts a ball directly in front of Frei, who stands firm and snags the ball. 

82’ Goal Odense. Frei gets a paw on a shot, but the opposing player is there for the rebound.

89’ Rusnak’s free kick from about 25 yards out is blocked by the wall.

90’ Final from Match 1.

NOTES:

Atencio injury was a bummer, but Tacoma Defiance midfielder Snyder Brunell held his own. Schmetzer confirmed post-match that Atencio and JP’s subs were precautionary. Seattle had a couple of close chances – two from Morris, one from Nathan – that could have changed the score. The Danish side was impressive in transition, their fitness level showed they were in midseason vs. preseason.

Match 2

Lineup: Castro; Kossa-Rienzi&, Lopez&, Hawkins, Rothrock; Leyva, Vargas, Teves, Brunell+, Minoungou+; Ruidíaz

+ Tacoma Defiance player
% Sounders Academy player
& MLS SuperDraft selection

1’ We are underway in our final match in Marbella!

2’ Danny Leyva takes a free kick that goes out for a corner. 

7’ Goal Odense. On a counterattack, Odense delivers a hard strike past Jacob Castro. 

11’ CHANCE! Georgi finds Brunell for a shot in the area, but it’s stopped. 

11’ Goal Odense. The Danish club responds quickly and scores with a precise finish into the left side of the net.

15’ Odense’s shot goes over the bar.

18’ Hard foul on Leyva to draw a free kick, he then springs a deep ball to Georgi, but nothing comes of it.

29’ Rothrock once again doing well at left back, playing through Leyva to get the ball to Georgi.

31’ Obed Vargas’ shot goes straight to the keeper.

36’ Free kick delivery to the center of the area for Odense, but the header goes over the bar.

39’ Raúl attempted bike sails over the bar. That would have been nasty.

40’ CHANCE! Leyva has a look from distance, but his low shot flashes barely wide.

46’ Second half sub: Academy player Gallatin Sandnes for Snyder Brunell.

46’ SHOT! Raúl shot from top of 18, but there’s a fingertip save.

51’ Yellow card on Odense for a hard foul on Tino Lopez.

55’ Great tracking back from Lopez to stop a counter.

56’ A shot from Rothrock goes just wide.

66’ Good team passing here. Georgi sends a low cross to Raúl, but his one-time shot just misses frame.

71’ An impressive slide by Gally to stop a shot and regain possession. 

75’ Teves’ shot goes straight to the keeper.

80’ Ruidíaz shot from 20 yards out barely misses. He is hungry for a goal here.

81’ A long run from Rothrock, but the window closes on a through-ball to Raúl as defenders swarm him.

85’ GOAL! Ruidiaz chips an absolute curling stunner from beyond the area to cut the deficit to 2-1. It is a great pass from Danny Leyva to set him up.

90’ Full time from Marbella.

NOTES

Danny Leyva was once again given the captain’s armband, and he proved it with his performance. Despite being fouled all over the pitch, he was the centerpiece of the offense, and provided amazing service to Ruidíaz on the goal. The two MLS SuperDraft picks – Kossa-Rienzi and Lopez – showed their athleticism and value. It was also a great opportunity for Gallatin Sandnes, the Sounders Academy player who has gotten incredible experience this whole camp.