Sounders end 2022 season with draw against Earthquakes
By Charles Hamaker
Seattle, WA – To end a disappointing 2022 MLS regular season, the Seattle Sounders played to a middling result against the San Jose Earthquakes. A brace by veteran midfielder Nico Lodeiro had Seattle ahead twice, but defensive mistakes accounted for two San Jose goals. These defensive issues that we have seen all season from the Sounders were apparent yet again in the finale of the 2022 campaign, resulting in a draw at Lumen Field. Seattle ends the season with a 12-17-5 record.
Midfielder Nico Lodeiro’s brace gave Seattle the lead twice, leads they could not keep (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Nico saves best for last, records brace in regular season finale
For the first time since August 3rd, Nicolas Lodeiro found the back of the net for the rave green. And for the first time since the first few months of the season, the goals did not come off via penalty kick. Interestingly enough, while it seems like Lodeiro has scored nearly every one of his goals from the spot, his open play to penalty goal ratio is three to four, respectively.
Lodeiro started the game off hot, and in quick fashion. In the very first minute of the match, Lodeiro was left relatively wide open in the middle of the box. Seattle’s captain took a cross from Alex Roldan in stride, and hammered it home on the volley. San Jose keeper James Marcinkowski never had a chance, and Seattle was up in just a minute. To record his brace, Lodeiro fired home a golazo in the 49th minute. Off of an Albert Rusnak corner, the initial cross was headed out, with the ball landing right at Lodeiro’s feet. At the top of the box, another volley left Lodeiro’s foot and found the top of the net for a brilliant goal that put Seattle back on top.
Nouhou looks for a cross (Photo by Liv Lyons)
Seattle sees defensive mistakes linger
One of the primary reasons for so many losses that the Sounders suffered and times that the team split points, was the defensive miscues, lapses, mistakes, whatever you may call it. The Sounders simply could not seem to get into a defensive rhythm, and that was true yet again in the final match of the season.
In the fourth minute, the Earthquakes started a breakaway and barreled up the field. An initial shot by Cristian Espinoza was saved by Stefan Cleveland, only for the deflection to bounce right towards Jeremy Ebobisse, who uncorked a screamer of a shot past Cleveland to equalize. Later, in the 75th minute, it seemed as though the Sounders were closing out the Earthquakes. 18-year-old Cade Cowell took a pass near the corner of the box, ran adjacent to it, and fired away a careening shot that took one bounce out of the reach of a diving Cleveland. Lack of hustle on the first goal, and poor coverage on the second resulted in Seattle ending the year on a middling note instead of a bang.
What could have been
The finishing by Nicolas Lodeiro and most of the play defensively in this match showed what the Sounders were missing this season following the Concacaf Champions League victory. Seattle could not purchase finishing such as that throughout the season, often times looking as if they had been cursed to be just barely off target each shot. The poor defensively play looked like the Sounders backline had been mind washed after being one of the best units during the 2021 season. Whether it was the loss of Joao Paulo, hitting a peak when winning Concacaf Champions League, or some curse, things went horribly wrong for Seattle. A long look in the mirror, perhaps some new personnel, and a refocused mindset can help the Sounders return to the prowess that many MLS fans have grown sick of.
What’s next?
For the first time ever in the MLS era, the Sounders are not gearing up for a playoff run. A season in review on our Sounders 2022 campaign will come shortly. Per Brian Schmetzer, Seattle will begin their preseason on January 4th. The Sounders still have the Club World Cup to look forward to, an event for the ages.