Northwest bragging rights on the line against Vancouver
Jun 9, 2011, 3:21 PM | Updated: 4:27 pm
Editor’s note: Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid will blog weekly for the Sounders page on 710Sports.com. Check in each week to see coach Schmid’s thoughts on the team.
Well, it is Canada week. The week we play the Whitecaps from Vancouver. The game is very important to us in that we want to be the top dog in the Northwest.
Last week was a tough game in Chicago. They were energized by a new coach and played a direct game. They had good team speed and played a lot of passes into their big forwards. Our defense was up to the task and Kasey Keller as usual did a fine job.
Lamar Neagle had two good early chances and an early goal would certainly have changed the game. We are never happy with a tie but based upon the day, Chicago’s emotion and our first game in warm weather, I was pleased.
Remember our first warm weather game last year we lost in Philly.
Mauro Rosales looks like he should recover from his sprained ankle and I think Erik Friberg will be available again this week.
Vancouver is another team with a new coach and they will be full of life. When a team gets a new coach all the players try extra hard again to impress the new guy. The Whitecaps will be the same. We need to match that early intensity.
After two road games we look forward to being at home in front of you, our great fans – the best fans in the Northwest and the country.
Take care
Sigi Schmid