Since joining the Sounders FC 2 on opening day of the season, Giuliano Frano has appeared in all but one match for the club. On Friday night against Portland Timbers 2, he found himself in a position he hadn’t played since joining the Rave Green.
Starting at right back for the first time since his Boston College days, Frano helped the S2 defense to its first win on the road, and its second shutout against T2 at Merlo Field. Usually a defensive midfielder for S2, Frano wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with his new role.
“I had some time to train with the First Team and I got put in at right back during a 10 vs. 10 scrimmage,” Frano said. “I had a talk with Ezra where I told him I played in that position for a couple years in college, and I would just need a game or two to get back in the groove if he needed me.”
The fullback positions for S2 have been a revolving door throughout the season so far and with minor injuries along with First Team call-ups, players are gathering opportunities to learn new roles with the development squad.
Although it had been a few years, it didn’t take long for Frano to acclimate to the new spot on the pitch.
“The first half, I was pretty quiet and not really communicating with guys, but when we came out during the second half, [Sam] Garza and I figured things out and it was a lot easier to play,” said Frano. “With the accumulation of minutes I have played over the last couple days, I started to get tired toward the end and let a few opportunities through I don’t think I would have if I was fully fresh.
Frano doesn’t see the switch to defense as a permanent change in position, but knew that, when it came down to the wire, he would be able to get the job done. By helping the team to its second shutout, Coach Hendrickson will feel confident in using the Canadian midfielder as a replacement when necessary.
Set to face Timbers 2 again this Wednesday in the Third Round of the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Frano is cautiously optimistic about the rematch.
“We can’t go into this match with a sense of complacency and overconfidence just because we beat them the last two times,” Frano said. We need to think about them as the strong, fast team we faced in that first match.”
Kickoff to Wednesday’s match is set at 1:00 p.m. PT, and tickets to see Frano and S2 take on T2 are available here.
