Brian Schmetzer believes the Seattle Sounders are answerable for their playoff future after edging out the Houston Dynamo in Recreation 1 of their best-of-three sequence.
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.
Additionally they stopped their opponents from registering a single shot on track, marking the fourth time the Sounders have achieved that milestone in a playoff match, and can be seeking 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 mentioned. “This was going to be a decent sequence as a result of the 2 groups are superb defensively.
“We’ve had our challenges this yr typically scoring targets. Did we create sufficient? These are all legitimate questions. Once more, I’d simply repeat that these guys put the hassle in. We had been shut on a few events.”
Seattle goalkeeper Stefan Frei can also be on the verge of historical past, together with his shutout within the first sport his 14th playoff clear sheet, needing yet another to go stage with LA Galaxy’s Kevin Hartman for the MLS report.
“Stef has a chance in Houston to tie for primary [all-time],” Schmetzer identified.
“In order that’s a aim that he can attain, he can attain, and let’s see if he can try this. As a result of that may give us the very best likelihood of ending the sequence 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 all the way down to their very own doing, so says head coach Ben Olsen.
The Dynamo boss acknowledged his facet didn’t do sufficient within the closing 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 then you definitely add the playoffs to it,” Olsen mentioned.
“It’s a heightened sport of being alert defensively. You will have these type 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 enjoying a superb defensive workforce. I mentioned this main as much as the sport, we’re not going to get a variety of probabilities.
“We might get a couple of huge ones and it’s a must to end them. It is going to be an analogous state of affairs at residence, they don’t seem to be going to show into a foul defensive workforce in a single day.”
It’s virtually 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’s not full of targets, Bassi has impressed for Houston, together with his 9 aim 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 artistic aptitude can be wanted to unlock the Sounders’ defence.
Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak
Rusnak has performed a starring position 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 aim 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 residence playoff matches (W12 D4), although a type of defeats was in opposition to Seattle within the 2017 Convention Finals. Houston received 9 of their first 10 residence 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 stored 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 residence 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%
