Austin FC faces a troublesome problem defending unbeaten house data in opposition to the Seattle Sounders
Austin FC head coach Josh Wolff has no illusions about how troublesome it is going to be to carry on to his staff’s unbeaten house file in opposition to the Seattle Sounders.
Although they misplaced away in Portland final week, Verde and Black have taken six factors from their first two MLS video games at Q2 Stadium this season with a mixed rating of 10-1.
Detectives have been fast to indicate that these wins, nonetheless spectacular, have come in opposition to struggling groups in FC Cincinnati and Inter Miami.
After an uneven begin, the Sounders have gained their final three matches in all competitions – together with beating Club Leon 4-1 general to achieve the Concacaf Champions League semi-finals. They may have excessive self-confidence and a step up within the opposition.
“I mentioned Portland and Seattle are the best in the West. It’s not something I say lightly,” Wolff mentioned (through MLSsoccer.com).
“They are a team that knows how to gate, they are a team that knows how to win. When they do not perform well, they find ways to get results.
“There’s a motive Seattle play within the Champions League and carry out effectively. There’s a motive they’re within the MLS Cup play-offs. They are deep, they’re well-coached they usually are a aggressive staff. We may have our fingers full right here, however we might be ready, we may have our technique.
“They might play with five at the back, which would not surprise me, as they did last year, or maybe they will come in a 4-2-3-1. We will have some ideas for one of them, but no matter when we are at home, we want to increase the pace, we want to be aggressive and we want to score goals and put ourselves in a space to win the match. “
Although the Sounders will undoubtedly characterize Austin’s hardest house recreation this younger season to date, they’re heading to Texas after the testing CCL journey to Mexico in opposition to Leon.
Austin midfielder Daniel Pereira hopes to reap the benefits of any fatigue in Brian Schmetzer’s line to proceed defending the membership’s “castle”.
“Seattle will be a good match,” mentioned Pereira. “Of course they have Concacaf going on in the middle of the week, so I do not know what they can do to us on Sunday, they may have five at the back, but I know they will be tired of us, so we have to take advantage of that.
“They are one other good staff, so we’re additionally at house. We talked about it earlier than the season, we’ve got to remain sturdy at house. It is our fortress, our citadel, we simply need to defend and rating factors at house.”