Three keys: Sounders look to keep rolling vs Real Salt Lake

The second half of the 2016 MLS season is in full swing, and for the first time this season, there’s a truly positive vibe surrounding the Seattle Sounders squad. Their recent record isn’t even particularly noteworthy – a two-match unbeaten streak with just one win is about all they have to hang their hats on. But the team played quite well in both of those matches and truly dominated in last weekend’s 3-1 victory in Orlando

The Sounders host Real Salt Lake at CenturyLink Field on Sunday, the first of a two-match home stand that could very well define the rest of the season. The club still sits in ninth place in the Western Conference with 24 points, eight off from the Whitecaps, who currently occupy the last playoff spot. A win against a tough conference rival wouldn’t just be nice, it’s absolutely vital.

But their opponents won’t roll over easily. The two matchups between the Sounders and RSL this season couldn’t be more different, especially for young goalkeeper Tyler Miller: the early MLS matchup ended 2-1 in favor of RSL after a calamitous error by Miller, and their June meeting in the US Open Cup saw the Sounders win on penalty kicks thanks to Miller’s excellent goalkeeping in both regular time and during the penalty shootout. Overall, though, Real Salt Lake has had a much better season than the Sounders. It’s currently sitting in a comfortable third place in the West with 37 points, and its recent record has been solid if not exceptional.

Here are three keys for the Sounders vs. Real Salt Lake, which will air live on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM at 4 p.m. Sunday.

1. The Sounders’ reinvigorated attack could thrash RSL’s leaky defense.

Even though RSL are sitting pretty in the standings, its defense – especially away from home – is one of the worst in the conference. The team has allowed the second-most goals in the West (34), as well as the second-most goals away from home (25) this season. RSL has had to do a bit of shifting on defense, and it was without captain and defensive midfield stalwart Kyle Beckerman during the Copa America. Seattle, on the other hand, is firing on all cylinders in attack and should do well against a pretty weak defense.

2. Don’t underestimate RSL’s attackers.

Naturally, because its defense has been shoddy at times, Real Salt Lake has had to rely on its very talented attacking corps to pick up the slack. Joao Plata, Burrito Martinez and Javier Morales are especially good and can punish teams on the counter-attack if given free reign to break. Salt Lake might be missing its leading goal-scorer, as forward Yura Movsisyan is officially listed as questionable going into the weekend. Either way, this is a very good attack that especially thrives on the left side and will be bursting towards Tyrone Mears and the rest of the Sounders’ defense as much as they’re able to. Osvaldo Alonso and Cristian Roldan, who interim Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer suggested were his preferred central midfield duo, may need to come out wide at times to slow down the RSL machine. It’ll come down to what Schmetzer likes to refer to as “smart soccer,” where every player must be keenly aware of the necessary balance of offense and defense in their position.

3. Could we finally see Roman Torres?

The hulking Panamanian center back, who endured a serious knee injury and subsequent surgery last fall, is finally back in full training and could be in contention for Sunday’s match. He’s looked excellent in the sessions he’s been in, but Schmetzer has been mum on whether or not Torres would be in the match-day squad. The biggest question this raises is what happens to Brad Evans? Earlier in the season, it might not have been much of an issue – players all over the pitch were injured or on international duty and Evans could have slotted into a number of positions. But Torres and Chad Marshall are natural center backs, even if Evans has done a solid job at the position. When the time comes, I expect him to either end up at right-back or in central midfield, though it’s unlikely that he could unseat Alonso or Roldan in their current form. I think we’ll most likely see Torres get a spot on the bench for Sunday’s match, but I wouldn’t put it past Schmetzer to bring the big guy in if he’s 100 percent ready to go.

Spenser Davis also covers the Sounders for Sounder at Heart.

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