The Sounders returned to their standard Schmetzer-era offensive tactical identity over the last two matches. In both, the team out-possessed their opponents and scored their goals either from set pieces or by creating overloads in wide areas with fullbacks pushing forward. They even got Victor Rodriguez to provide some of the direct wing play from the left that’s been missing since Joevin Jones’ departure — albeit with Rodriguez’s final product more often coming as a right-footed shot than a left-footed cross. And though the defense has gone soft, averaging 2.1 expected goals against over the last four matches, the team looks closer to the ideas that got them to back-to-back MLS Cup finals than they have during any other stretch of this season.
Tactics and Trends: The curious case of Wolff and Shipp
