Slow Start Catches Up to Sounders in Montreal Draw
A second half Sebastian Gomez goal got the Sounders a point against basement-dwelling CF Montréal on Saturday, but an ugly first half from the Rave Green gave away points Seattle couldn't afford to waste.
SEATTLE, Wash. – If the pyrotechnic crew at Lumen Field were correct every time, the Seattle Sounders would've beaten a visiting and struggling CF Montréal squad 3-1 on Saturday night. Instead, they had an itchy trigger finger that prematurely set off the flamethrowers twice on Seattle chances that didn't find the net in the second half, as the Rave Green came to terms with a 1-1 draw.
For the Sounders (11-10-9), coming off a 1-0 loss at FC Dallas on Wednesday that ended a nine-game unbeaten streak, Saturday presented a chance to build toward the top of the MLS Western Conference playoff picture as they sat at seventh place with five regular season games. Instead of grabbing the chance to beat an ailing team at home - something they did three times in a row two weeks ago - the Sounders came out as flat as they have this season.
Poor passing allowed Montreal's press to pounce consistently, as the visitors were insistent on letting Seattle have most of the ball. By the 13th minute, Gennadiy Synchuk scored in transition off a poor back-pass from Albert Rusnák, as Noah Streit beat replacement center back Ryan Sailor to notch the assist.
With the Sounders playing their third game in seven days, usual starter Jackson Ragen (flu) and promising young player Stuart Hawkins (hamstring) missed the match, adding to head coach Brian Schmetzer's considerations when choosing a lineup.
At any rate, sloppy passes from Hassani Dotson, Alex Roldan and others allowed Montreal to be the aggressor.
"They played better than us in the first half… we came out flat," midfielder Cristian Roldan said. "We come out flat in the playoffs, our season's over."
