Seattle Sounders v New England Revolution: ´This team doesn´t quit´ – Schmetzer happy with fighting

Seattle Sounders head coach Brian Schmetzer has praised his side’s attitude in recent comeback wins as they look to extend their streak against the New England Revolution.

The Sounders are on a four-match unbeaten streak, having come from behind to salvage points in each of the last three and scored stoppage-time winners in the last two.

They are now up to ninth in the Western Conference and are closing in on the teams above them after a slow start to the season.

Despite their impressive run, Schmetzer stressed there was still a lot of room for improvement.

“There’s a combination of a couple of things,” Schmetzer explained. “There were some sloppy, uncharacteristic, untimely giveaways and the group defending was not good, we weren’t compact enough.

“We weren’t consistent enough, but the guys have a lot of pride and as the excitement built, we got it done.

“This team doesn’t quit. We’ve got quality on this team.”

Meanwhile, the Revs are up to 11th in the Eastern Conference after losing just one of their last six.

They got back to winning ways against Atlanta United, though they lost more players to injury in the process, and head coach Caleb Porter admitted his squad is a little thin after their busy schedule.

“It does take pressure off winning against Atlanta on Wednesday; we look at it as bonus points,” Porter said. “We took a few more injuries, so we’re looking at all options to fill our bench.

“Seattle are in good form, and it’s obviously a long trip across the country. It’s not going to be easy, since they’re usually very good at home.

“We have to be very organised in this game – we just don’t have much depth right now, we can’t afford to play an open game.”

6.22.24 & 6.29.24

For the first time in club history, we have scored stoppage-time winners in back-to-back matches. pic.twitter.com/qxF5OuhTEH

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) July 2, 2024

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak

Albert Rusnak leads the assist charts for Seattle, having set up seven goals for his team-mates in MLS.

He found his shooting boots last time out though, scoring twice from the spot as the Sounders came from behind to beat the Chicago Fire.

New England Revolution – Giacomo Vrioni

Giacomo Vrioni scored twice as New England beat Atlanta in midweek, having also scored twice in their victory against Cincinnati FC.

He now has five goals in his last four games, finding his form at the right time.

MATCH PREDICTION: SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN

Seattle opened the season with just one win from their first nine matches in the league, but have since gone on to win six of their last 12, including their last two outings.

It has been almost five years since the sides last met in MLS, with nothing to separate them that day in a 3-3. New England edge the head-to-head record though, recording six wins compared to Seattle’s four.

In fact, the last three meetings between the sides have ended level, with both games in Seattle ending 3-3, with a goalless draw in New England sandwiched between them.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Seattle Sounders – 49.7%

Draw – 25.4%

New England Revolution – 24.9%