SEATTLE — Just minutes before the start of the Seattle Sounders’ scoreless home draw against Atlanta United on Friday, center back Chad Marshall gave the red light to head coach Brian Schmetzer.
Marshall was battling an illness, but was initially in the starting lineup and wanted to give warmups a shot. They didn’t go well, and Marshall shut it down. Schmetzer turned to second-year defender Tony Alfaro in Marshall’s stead to round out a back line that was already being run by committee.
Regular center back starter Roman Torres played 180 minutes in two World Cup Qualifying matches with Panama last week and began on the bench for rest.