TUKWILA, Wash. — When Seattle Sounders interim head coach Brian Schmetzer took over in July, his first gift as manager came in the form of newly signed Designated Player Nicolas Lodeiro. And for the first time in 10 matches since Lodeiro arrived, Schmetzer must adjust to his absence.
The Uruguayan international picked up his fifth yellow card in 10 games in Wednesday’s win over the Chicago Fire, which means he will be suspended for Sunday’s tilt in Vancouver (5 p.m. PT; FS1; KIRO Radio 97.3 FM, El Rey 1360am). Lodeiro's impact since arriving has been measurable; the midfielder has scored three goals, recorded eight assists and played all 900 minutes of game action while collecting August’s MLS Player of the Month award.
If the loss of Clint Dempsey for the season stripped the Sounders’ attack of creative bite, then Lodeiro’s vacancy leaves an offensive abyss between Cristian Roldan and Osvaldo Alonso at defensive midfield and Jordan Morris at forward in Schmetzer’s 4-2-3-1 formation.
“Losing Dempsey was critical,” Schmetzer said. “Losing Nico is the same type of deal.”
Lodeiro’s suspension comes at an incredibly important time as well. Seattle has won three matches in a row for just the second time all season and has finally gone above the playoff line for the first time. A road match against a Cascadia rival becomes all the more critical with three points at stake and only four matches remaining, especially considering the team’s good run of form.
“At times, [Lodeiro] puts the team on his back and understands the responsibility of his stature,” Sounders captain Brad Evans said. “He wants that. He understands he’s a DP and he’s meant to produce and he’s done that.”
Evans will likely return to the lineup this Sunday for the first time in five matches as he recovers from calf and lower back injuries. A starter at center back for much of the season, he expects to play somewhere in the midfield and could ideally mitigate the effects of not having Lodeiro out there. Evans’ addition will also give Schmetzer some much-needed depth as Erik Friberg plays through a sprained left ankle.
One can speculate how Seattle will line up without Lodeiro, but whomever is tasked with that responsibility will have his work cut out for him.
“What we will try and do better is finish our chances, make sure we establish good possession, make sure we get our set pieces right,” Schmetzer said. “We would hope [our players] trust the process because we believe in the process.”
