Ten games without a league win is a gut punch, Emerald City, but Dejan Joveljić just dropped a brilliant brace in his debut, and suddenly, the Sounders have a pulse. You feel it, don’t you? Add in those positive draws against FC Cincinnati and the Chicago Fire, and there’s a real shift happening. Now, Michael Bradley’s Red Bull New York rolls into town, and we know exactly what kind of headache they’re bringing.
Cracking the High Press Code
The Red Bulls? They love to press high, like, aggressively high, whenever an opponent tries to build out from the back. It’s their defined style. These guys are ranked third in challenge intensity and fourth in MLS for passes per defensive action. That’s serious heat! They press with their ball-side winger narrow on a centerback, which, crucially, leaves the near fullback free behind. Sounders, you gotta be ready to outfox this. Luckily, other teams like Nashville SC and Philadelphia Union have already shown us the blueprint. Both those teams run a 4-4-2, similar to our Rave Green, and they've proved you can beat this press. We can hit that free fullback directly with a long ball or use a slick third-man combination to push upfield. The path is there, we just need to take it.
Rusnák, Joveljić, and the Space We Need
Here’s where it gets even spicier. RBNY’s "8s" are notorious for jumping high onto our two midfielders, or even pushing up to a central defender. Guess what that does? It leaves exploitable room between the lines, and that’s music to Albert Rusnák's ears, right? Plus, RBNY often shifts into a 4-1-4-1, leaving their single pivot midfielder with a ton of ground to cover on either side. Hello, openings! If Paul Rothrock and Sebastian Gomez can be instructed to venture infield and get narrow, we can overload those central zones and combine in close proximity with Rusnák and Joveljić. Even if their centerback tries to jump out, it’s way harder with Joveljić around. Defenders do NOT want him 1v1 because of his tremendous threat. Dejan’s also going to be a crucial outlet if we can't beat the initial press, giving us an ideal target man to win second balls high up the pitch. The guy's already proving he can bring others into play and feed his fellow attackers in forward-facing positions, which fits perfectly with our compact offensive structure where our nominal wingers keep indenting. This is where Joveljić's nous and experience against their younger, less battle-hardened defense will really shine. Oh, and watch for penetrative runs from deep, that’s another avenue that could bear major fruit!
The Red Bulls game isn’t just another match, it’s our chance to snap that brutal streak. With Joveljić buzzing and a clear tactical plan to exploit their aggressive press, this is where we prove we’re turning the corner. Get ready, Seattle, because we’re going for that win!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Sounder at Heart.
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