As the Sounders prepare to face Real Salt Lake tomorrow, the question on most people’s lips involves Freddie Ljungberg’s availability. The city has collectively held its breath, waiting for Seattle’s newest star to show himself on the pitch.While Ljungberg’s appearance will help build excitement at the game, the biggest hurdle facing the team is expectation. No one was predicting a 3-0 blowout on opening night, and those who were calling for a large margin of victory probably had the Red Bulls on top.
So, how will the team respond to its fairy tale beginning?
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Seattle should be high on confidence entering the game on Saturday. Although confidence is essential for a winning team, it will be important for Kasey Keller and Sigi Schmid to keep the Sounders’ younger players grounded.
Fredy Montero, Sanna Nyassi, and Sebastian Le Toux all had wonderful debuts last week, but they may need reminding that it’s a long season with many ups and downs.
Luckily for Seattle, veteran leadership is entrenched at each position with Jaqua in the front line, Ljungberg in the midfield, Marshall at the back, and Keller in goal. So long as the younger players listen to the wisdom of the old hands, the Sounders should have a great shot to continue their impressive form from last week.
However, Real Salt Lake represents an altogether different challenge than the Red Bulls presented in week one. Unlike New York, who had large turnover following a successful season, Salt Lake returns almost everyone from a group that went to the Western Conference Championship game last year.
Salt Lake doesn’t boast a player with the pedigree of a Juan Pablo Angel or Landon Donovan, but they play team soccer and their goal is to contend in the West. Real’s defense is superior to the Red Bulls, who often looked lost amidst the atmosphere at Qwest Field. Montero and his teammates will have to contend with better marking and a more disciplined approach from Salt Lake as opposed to New York.
Here is the projected starting lineup for Real Salt Lake:
Coach: Jason Kreis (third year)
Goalkeeper: Nick Rimando
Defenders: Robbie Russel, Nat Borchers, Jamison Olave, and Chris Wingert
Midfielders: Will Johnson, Kyle Beckerman, Javier Morales, and Ned Grabavoy
Forwards: Clint Mathis and Yuri Movsisyan
Rimando is a steadying force in goal. He had 105 saves last year, but his time could be coming to an end with Chris Seitz waiting in the wings.
Real’s biggest strength is their defense. Wingert and Olave were rewarded with long-term contracts after their solid defensive performances last season. Salt Lake also boasts the veteran support of Borchers, a long-time player in the league. Russel has spent time in Europe and could be a breakout player for Salt Lake this season. Ian Joy could also be a potential starter for Real.
If defense is this team’s strength, then midfield is just behind them. Beckerman and Morales were spectacular a year ago. Morales may have been the most valuable member of the team, totaling six goals and fifteen assists a season ago, resulting in a long-term deal for him. Johnson is young with quickness and skill and Grabavoy will be a handful for Seattle’s defensive midfielder Osvaldo Alonso.
If Salt Lake has a weakness, it is probably in their forward line. Clint Mathis is well past his best years so it is possible Robbie Findley could get the nod ahead of him. Movsisyan is not considered a top-level talent, although he was the hero of Salt Lake’s season last year after he scored the game-winning goal that lifted them into the playoffs.
Here is the projected starting lineup for Seattle:
Coach: Sigi Schmid (first year)
Goalkeeper: Kasey Keller
Defenders: James Riley, Jhon Hurtado, Tyrone Marshall, and Zach Scott
Midfielders: Sebastian Le Toux, Brad Evans, Osvaldo Alonso, and Sanna Nyassi
Forwards: Fredy Montero and Nate Jaqua
Seattle’s starting lineup should be identical to what it was against New York. No one has suffered any setbacks or injuries, so it makes sense for Schmid to keep the team together that gelled so well together last week. It’s possible Schmid may decide to try Steve Zakuani on the outside in place of Nyassi, but both were impressive during their spells on the pitch against New York, so it’s likely both will play on Saturday at some point.
Fans can expect to see Freddie Ljungberg in the second half, probably at the expense of Brad Evans. Aside from that, the lineup should remain the same unless Nathan Sturgis is completely healthy, in which case he may be considered for a defensive role. It’s unlikely Sturgis would replace Alonso, however, because the Cuban defector was a tackling machine last week.
The Sounders should be riding high after their opening night performance. With Ljungberg coming into the fold, they should only get better from here. However, a dip in form could be coming because it will be almost impossible to replicate the perfection of week 1.
With Real Salt Lake’s defensive steadiness and overall discipline, the Sounders will be hard-pressed to score many goals tomorrow. With that being said, Real’s offensive firepower is not nearly as strong as Seattle’s. Add to that Seattle's home advantage with the boisterous crowd at Qwest, and the Sounders have a great chance. If Montero can perform with even half of his brilliance from week one, the Sounders should find themselves at 2-0-0.
Prediction: 1-0, Sounders over Real. Seattle records its second consecutive shutout and Montero keeps his form, scoring the game-winning goal.
Reach Alden Walcon at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
