Seattle Sounders Head Coach Brian Schmetzer was admittedly cautious about returning to CenturyLink Field for the second leg of the Western Conference Semifinals of the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs against the Vancouver Whitecaps, but after a gutsy scoreless road draw at BC Place on Sunday, the Sounders are still in prime position to advance.
“It’s not that easy,” Schmetzer warned. “[Whitecaps Head Coach Carl Robinson] is going to get his guys ready, we’re obviously going to benefit from getting some guys back in the fold, so it should be a tough match. We’ll be in front of our home crowd so hopefully we’ll carry that advantage through.”
The Sounders’ success at home under Schmetzer is neither secret nor surprise. They have only lost at home once since Schmetzer took over in July 2016 and set the franchise record this year for fewest home losses in a season.
Seattle finished the regular season with three consecutive home victories and outscored its opponents 10-0, with a 3-0 win over this very Vancouver team to boot. Plus, the Sounders will have Clint Dempsey back from suspension and the potential return of Osvaldo Alonso and Gustav Svensson, each of whom entered as substitutes on Sunday, back in the Starting XI from injury.
“We understand that there’s an away goal rule, but you can’t bank on that,” said Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei. “They have to score now, a 0-0 tie isn’t going to do them anything at our place. I fancy our chances going at home. We’re a strong team at home, we’ve established a really good home record this year and we’re going to take it to them.”
Added midfielder Cristian Roldan: “I’ll take that [opportunity to advance] at home. If it were in Vancouver, it would be different…We play attacking soccer and we’re bound to score goals.”
Robinson mentioned that his first concern on Sunday was to not concede at home and allow the Sounders to record an away goal, a strategy that, combined with certain personnel decisions, dictated how he approached the first leg. He’ll be relying on his team’s ability to convert on counterattacks and set pieces in Seattle on Thursday and score an away goal of its own, but Schmetzer, for his part, isn’t interested in advancing to the Western Conference Championship for the second straight year on a tiebreaker.
“If we win 2-1, the away goal doesn’t matter,” Schmetzer said. “We’re going to play to win.”
