Sounders FC is approaching a massive week ahead as they look to close out their seven-game unbeaten streak heading into Leagues Cup.
The Seattle side is set to host St. Louis CITY SC on Wednesday night (7:30 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS) before facing LAFC at Lumen Field on Saturday night (7:30 p.m. PT; Watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, 93.3 KJR FM, El Rey 1360AM | TICKETS) at Lumen Field.. These will be the club’s final two regular season matches before the league-wide break due to the upcoming North American tournament between MLS and Liga MX teams.
“They are both must-win games,” said midfielder Obed Vargas. “We want to win everything we play, so getting that momentum going into Leagues Cup is big.”
It will be a telling test for the Rave Green as they go up against the Western Conference clubs for the second time this season. The first time Seattle went head-to-head with St. Louis, the Sounders left CITYPARK with three points, while their prior matchup with LAFC ended in a 1-0 loss at BMO Stadium.
“I don't know how many points we’re off from the top, but we have to get closer and closer each game,” said Vargas. “If we just keep winning, then that's only going to help us.”
While St. Louis and LAFC are at opposite ends of the standings, both matches will be hyper competitive and carry massive implications in the Western Conference table.
“They're both at home, and [we need to] continue our home run and keep getting three points,” said Vargas. “These games are [worth] 6 points, LAFC is ahead of us, St. Louis is behind us, so [they are] very important.”
It’ll be just as difficult for the club’s opposition to face the Sounders, with the team’s recent run of form in the last several matches.
“We're making plays, we've got a good squad, and they believe that they can win,” said Head Coach Brian Schmetzer. “I think the coaches have done a great job of kind of getting the players to all understand what we want and the players have been delivering.”
The Sounders’ morale is through the roof. Seattle enters the two-match week with a 6-0-1 record in their last seven outings across all competitions, including five straight wins. After a slow start to the season, the team’s attack has ignited for 14 goals during that stretch.
Seattle’s revamped attack has been spearheaded by Albert Rusnák and Jordan Morris, who have combined for 13 goals and six assists from their last 11 starts. But it’s been a collective effort that has solidified win-after-win for the team.
“The team has been able to put different starting elevens, different guys on the field and everyone has responded,” said Vargas. “I think that's what has brought us together and has helped us through this stretch…Everyone is contributing.”
The Sounders recognize the daunting task that lies in front of them , but they are optimistic they can maintain their explosive run of form during this critical juncture in the season.
“We've always said that we have a deep team but when the deep team can get confidence as well, it's going to be dangerous,” said goalkeeper Stefan Frei.
After spending the early months of the season below the playoff line, the team is within striking distance of fourth in the West. The Sounders are ready to take on whatever comes at them in their upcoming two-match week at home.
“When we're playing in front of our fans, I think we’re more enjoyable to watch, and we can feed off of that,” said Frei. “And so for us, we just want to extend this confidence streak and keep rewarding ourselves with points for as long as we can.”
