The Seattle Sounders snagged a 1-1 tie against CF Montreal on Saturday, escaping what could have been a total disaster after turning in one of their worst halves of the season. Coming off their first loss in a couple of months, this point will feel deeply unfulfilling, especially against a Montreal team sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference, dealing with heavy fixture congestion, and traveling across the continent on short rest.
First Half Fizzle Leaves Fans Fuming
Instead of pouncing on a weary opponent, the Sounders came out absolutely flat, lacking intensity and sharpness from the jump. It was a brutal watch, as the boys in green didn’t even get their first shot off until 30 minutes into the game. Montreal, despite their struggles, looked inspired. They were winning nearly every second ball, brought plenty of energy, and got a well-deserved goal in the 13th minute after a Sounders turnover sprung a counter-attack, leading to a tidy finish. The Emerald City faithful let their frustrations be known, booing the Sounders off the field at halftime as the team trailed 1-0. It was a tough scene, and frankly, a performance that deserved those boos.
Second Half Fight Shows Glimmers, But Lacks Finish
Head coach Brian Schmetzer knew something had to change. He made two substitutions at halftime, bringing in fresh legs for a couple of players. The Sounders immediately responded, looking significantly better in the second half. Still, Montreal had the next big chance when one of their players found a teammate streaking into the box, but the open shot from about 10 yards out went wide. The Sounders nearly found an equalizer in the 62nd minute when a teammate found Jordan Morris over the top. Morris did well to control the ball and get off a shot that forced an awkward save, and though the rebound fell to another Sounders player who hit it first time, a defender blocked it off the line. Not to be denied, the Sounders finally equalized in the 66th minute. A Sounders player forced a turnover on a counter-press and drove into the box. Although a defender knocked it away, the ball fell to another Sounders player, who stroked his shot inside the far post. The energy in the stadium was absolutely rocking at that point, and a winner felt inevitable. The Sounders nearly got it when a teammate played Jordan Morris in on the wing. Morris drove into the box and unleashed a trivela shot that nearly bent inside the far post, but it cruelly struck the woodwork and stayed out. The team kept up the energy, but couldn’t quite find the quality needed for a winner. Their last close chance came in stoppage time when a Sounders player latched onto a volley at the top of the box that went just wide.
The Sounders had made six changes to the starting lineup, including three of four defensive spots, with some players getting rare career starts and appearances. But ultimately, the changes weren’t quite enough to turn a dismal start into a victory. While a point is better than none, this draw against the Eastern Conference’s last-place team after such a poor showing should be a wake-up call. The Sounders need to bring that second-half fire from the opening whistle if they want to get back on track and make some noise.
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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