It’s not a secret the Seattle Sounders have been a disaster this season. Clint Dempsey’s team sits ninth in the Western Conference with 27 points after 23 matches. They are five points behind the red zone, and to make things even more complicated, they have an interim manager following the firing of Sigi Schmid a few weeks ago.
Seattle has to pass the Vancouver Whitecaps, the San Jose Earthquakes and the Portland Timbers to make its way into the playoffs. It’s a tough challenge, but the Sounders have enough talent to make a late-push in the standings. The likes of Dempsey, Jordan Morris and Osvaldo Alonso have all improved their play in recent weeks.
No player, however, has made a bigger impact in Seattle than Nicolas Lodeiro. The Uruguayan playmaker has only three matches at the MLS level, but he’s already an important piece of the team. The numbers say it, but he also passes the eye test. He’s providing a huge boost in the final third.
The former Ajax star already has three assists in three matches, but that’s not enough. Lodeiro also scored his first goal this past weekend against Real Salt Lake. His strike was the perfect testament of his individual quality.
The rapport Lodeiro built with Dempsey it’s also an important part of Seattle’s improvement of late. Both players play as a central attacking midfielder, but in the last game Lodeiro moved to the right wing and Dempsey played in the n° 10 hole. The results were encouraing, as both playmakers looked pretty comfortable. Aside from netting the first goal, Lodeiro also assisted Morris for the second strike.
It must be noted that Morris leads Seattle in goals this season with eight. The rookie has been magnificent this season, and at this rate he should have an opportunity to represent the USMNT sooner than later. He absolutely deserves it.
Dempsey, Morris, Alonso and Frei need to keep producing if Seattle wants to have a chance to reach the playoffs. But the last few weeks have evidenced just how important Lodeiro is for Seattle. And as long as he stays hot, the Sounders will remain a threat to sneak into the playoffs late in the regular season.