Brian Schmetzer believes the Seattle Sounders are in command of their playoff future after edging out the Houston Dynamo in Recreation 1 of their best-of-three collection.
After a goalless encounter, the Sounders held their nerve within the shootout, scoring all 5 spot-kicks earlier than Erik Sviatchenko’s miss proved expensive.
In addition they stopped their opponents from registering a single shot on course, marking the fourth time the Sounders have achieved that milestone in a playoff match, and shall be trying to do the identical of their second encounter.
“Proper now it doesn’t matter how we performed, actually. We’re in management and we received,” Schmetzer stated. “This was going to be a decent collection as a result of the 2 groups are excellent defensively.
“We’ve had our challenges this 12 months typically scoring targets. Did we create sufficient? These are all legitimate questions. Once more, I might simply repeat that these guys put the hassle in. We have been shut on a few events.”
Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei can be on the verge of historical past, along with his shutout within the first sport his 14th playoff clear sheet, needing yet another to go degree with LA Galaxy’s Kevin Hartman for the MLS report.
“Stef has a possibility in Houston to tie for primary [all-time],” Schmetzer identified.
“In order that’s a purpose that he can attain, he can attain, and let’s see if he can try this. As a result of that might give us the very best likelihood of ending the collection in Houston.”
Subsequent cease: Houston pic.twitter.com/fkusQ0rHPC
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) November 1, 2024
For Houston, in the meantime, their merciless defeat in Recreation 1 was partly right down to their very own doing, so says head coach Ben Olsen.
The Dynamo boss acknowledged his aspect didn’t do sufficient within the last third, not helped by Adalberto Carrasquilla’s purple card, which can see him miss the upcoming encounter.
Although the efficiency didn’t come as a shock to Olsen, given the 2 sides’ defensive report within the common season, he needs to see enhancements on the Shell Power Stadium this time round.
“It was hardly shocking. They’re the very best defensive workforce within the league. We’re additionally one of many higher defensive groups within the league, however you then add the playoffs to it,” Olsen stated.
“It’s a heightened sport of being alert defensively. You have got these sort of video games within the playoffs. We didn’t do sufficient to create higher alternatives for ourselves to win that sport.
“A few of that’s our doing, a few of it’s that we’re taking part in defensive workforce. I stated this main as much as the sport, we aren’t going to get a variety of probabilities.
“We might get just a few massive ones and it’s important to end them. It is going to be an analogous state of affairs at house, they don’t seem to be going to show into a foul defensive workforce in a single day.”
It’s nearly time to get LOUD #Grind2Shine pic.twitter.com/XmtzawJTRN
— Houston Dynamo FC – x (@HoustonDynamo) November 1, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Houston Dynamo – Amine Bassi
In a workforce that isn’t full of targets, Bassi has impressed for Houston, along with his 9 purpose involvements (three targets, six assists) within the common season, a complete solely bettered by Ibrahim Aliyu (10) for the Dynamo.
The Moroccan additionally created extra probabilities (79) than any of his team-mates, and his inventive aptitude shall be wanted to unlock the Sounders’ defence.
Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak
Rusnak has performed a starring function for Seattle this time period, with solely Jordan Morris (17) scoring extra targets within the common season for the Sounders than the Slovakian.
Regardless of not hitting the again of the web in Recreation 1, Rusnak notched 4 purpose involvements (two targets, two assists) in three video games heading into the postseason.
MATCH PREDICTION: HOUSTON DYNAMO WIN
The Dynamo have misplaced solely two of their 18 all-time house playoff matches (W12 D4), although a kind of defeats was in opposition to Seattle within the 2017 Convention Finals. Houston received 9 of their first 10 house playoff matches however have received simply three of eight since (D4 L1).
Seattle, nevertheless, have received six of their final seven away matches, together with the final three in a row, all with clear sheets. That is the second time they’ve saved three immediately clear sheets in all competitions since becoming a member of MLS in 2009, additionally doing so between June and July 2011.
They’ve additionally misplaced solely two of their final 23 matches in opposition to the Dynamo in all competitions, together with securing a shootout win after a scoreless draw at house in Recreation 1. Houston have additionally failed to attain in 12 of their final 18 conferences with the Sounders.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Houston Dynamo – 42.1%
Draw – 26.7%
Seattle Sounders – 31.2%
