{"id":18064,"date":"2018-07-27T20:59:13","date_gmt":"2018-07-28T00:59:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonsoccer.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=18064"},"modified":"2021-12-13T18:11:25","modified_gmt":"2021-12-13T23:11:25","slug":"seattle-sounders-unbeaten-streak-test-nycfc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/soccer\/2018\/07\/27\/seattle-sounders-unbeaten-streak-test-nycfc\/","title":{"rendered":"Seattle Sounders Unbeaten Streak Will Face Test Against NYCFC"},"content":{"rendered":"

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON (July 27, 2018) —\u00a0<\/strong>Leave it to Seattle Sounders FC<\/a> for giving the entire league a scare and then a shock.<\/p>\n

The Sounders are no strangers to a slow start to the season. However, this year, the slow start lasted longer than any owner, fan or player could have imagined.<\/p>\n

Seattle Sounders Unbeaten Streak Will Face Test Against NYCFC<\/b><\/h1>\n

With the emergence of solid defending, bringing key players back from injury and a certain Peruvian making a splash in the league, Seattle is back to the same championship-style play that took the club to back-to-back MLS Cup finals.<\/p>\n

There’s a lot of praise going to the players, but Brian Schmetzer deserves some credit. After facing some discussion of whether his coaching seat was “hot,” Schmetzer ignored the noise and continued to lead his players.<\/p>\n

Schmetzer and the front office bringing in\u00a0Ra\u00fal Ruid\u00edaz was the best spark imaginable. Seattle has emerged as serious playoff contenders now — even if the team sits in 10th place.<\/p>\n

It’s a tight race in the Western Conference. However, Seattle is currently riding a five-game unbeaten streak, winning the last two matches. The road form for Seattle has been superb lately.<\/p>\n

At home, Seattle is picking up points. However, matches have been too close for comfort. With a New York City FC team coming to town that is struggling on the road, Seattle has a chance to embarrass the second-place Eastern Conference club.<\/p>\n

Seattle Sounders FC vs. New York City FC
\n<\/b>2018 MLS Regular Season
\n<\/b>CenturyLink Field
\n<\/b>July 29, 2018 \u2013 2 p.m. PT\/5 p.m. ET<\/b>
\n<\/b>Stream: ESPN+<\/b><\/p>\n

What to Watch for<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Chad Marshall<\/h3>\n

Despite not being listed on any injury reports, Chad Marshall did not suit up against the San Jose Earthquakes<\/a> on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

However, Marshall was discovered to have a right calf contusion injury, according to Sounders Matchday on Twitter.<\/a> He remained back in Seattle.<\/p>\n

Lately, Marshall has been solid in the back with South Korean international Kim Kee-Hee. With Marshall out of the match, Kim featured alongside\u00a0Rom\u00e1n Torres. The two didn’t miss a beat, keeping San Jose’s leading scorer Danny Hoesen out of the match.<\/p>\n

The two defenders were solid for goalkeeper Stefan Frei.<\/p>\n

However, their hands will be full against New York City FC. The team boasts a solid attacking trio that includes David Villa,\u00a0Thomas McNamara, and\u00a0Maximiliano Moralez. Add Rodney Wallace into that mix and New York has no lack of attacking power.<\/p>\n

Kim and Torres were up against the last-place team in the Western Conference. If the Sounders want to continue the unbeaten streak, the two internationals will have to be on-point against New York’s attacking force.<\/p>\n

The same goes for defensive midfielder, Gustav Svensson.<\/p>\n

\n

Find yourself a friend like Ozzie Alonso \ud83d\ude02 pic.twitter.com\/gLFjUwUMkj<\/a><\/p>\n

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) July 26, 2018<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n