Zach Scott called it an embarrassment. Sigi Schmid hinted at lineup changes.
In short, the 4-1 loss to the Montreal Impact on Saturday was deemed unacceptable by just about everyone in the Seattle Sounders locker room.
“It’s frustrating,” said Scott, who was part of a backline that allowed its most goals in a single game since May 8 of 2010 when the LA Galaxy dropped four on the Sounders at then-Qwest Field. “It’s not indicative of the team we are. To be frank, it’s embarrassing to lose like that.”
Schmid was a bit more ominous.
HIGHLIGHTS: MTL 4, SEA 1
“Everyone individually needs to play better or we need to put guys on the field who can play better,” he said following the Sounders’ fifth straight match without a win. “We just need to find guys who can play better.”
The three-goal loss was their first since falling 3-0 to Real Salt Lake in last year’s MLS Cup Playoffs. Adding insult to injury, the Impact had yet to score three goals in a game this year or beat a team by more than two goals.
“It felt like they were playing with a couple more guys than us the entire game, [even without Jhon Kennedy Hurtado geting] sent off," Scott continued. "We didn’t close down space, we didn’t do what we were supposed to do.”
The struggles were hardly limited to the defenders, though. Schmid highlighted several instances where midfielders gave away balls cheaply or failed to provide the needed support on defense. One play, in particular, really seemed to bother him.
On the Impact’s second goal, Justin Mapp was allowed to turn toward the middle of the field essentially unencumbered by midfielder Álvaro Fernández. Andy Rose then failed to close Mapp down, as he took the ball toward the middle of the field. Mapp then unleashed a shot that seemed to catch goalkeeper Bryan Meredith out of position.
“It’s on both sides of the ball, offensively and defensively,” Schmid said. “We need to improve and sharpen up.”
Jeremiah Oshan covers the Seattle Sounders for MLSsoccer.com and SB Nation.
