Seattle Sounders are once again the class of MLS
2211
Seattle Sounders are the benchmark for Major League Soccer clubs. Now, in their 13th season of MLS play, Seattle Sounders have consistently won silverware since debuting in 2009 as an expansion team.
Under the management of Brian Schmetzer, just the club’s second-ever manager as an MLS team, Seattle Sounders are once again proving themselves as the class of the league.
The Sounders lead MLS with 25 points from 33 available to begin the 2021 campaign. It is the best overall total, but as MLS onlookers know, the league is split into two conferences. Still, Seattle Sounders are showing they are the team to defeat.
Schmetzer’s team have posted the lowest goals against total in the Western Conference with a mere seven goals allowed. Goalkeepers Stefan Frei and Stefan Cleveland have split time in goal with the latter playing six times posting two clean sheets and five goals allowed.
Cleveland has made the most of an opportunity to play following a sprained knee suffered by Frei. The veteran goalkeeper was due to miss four to six weeks, but Cleveland’s play at the back could see Frei’s place in the starting XI under threat going forward.
Following Sunday’s 2-2 draw with Vancouver Whitecaps, Seattle Sounders are still unbeaten in 2021 MLS play. The club have posted a record of 7W-4D-0L with the attack matching the output of opponents when the defence has struggled to keep goals out.
Peruvian forward Raul Ruidiaz has scored nine goals in 11 games for the Sounders. The 30-year-old found the back of the net once more against Vancouver Whitecaps and has scored in three straight games.
Now, in his third full season at Seattle Sounders, Ruidiaz is another example of the club’s ability to locate and sign quality players from Central and South American clubs. Ruidiaz has scored the lion’s share of goals for the club as the next highest scorer is defender Brad Smith with three.
In 12 previous MLS seasons, Seattle Sounders have lifted seven trophies. From 2009 to 2014, the Sounders were the kings of the US Open Cup, winning the tournament four times in six years.
In 2014, the achieved the best points total in the regular season to obtain the Supporters’ Shield. In 2016 and 2019, the club lifted the MLS Cup at the end of the playoffs.
Last season, they finished as MLS Cup runners-up against Columbus Crew following a shortened season due to COVID-19.
Seattle Sounders are once again leading the way in MLS. After 11 games, leading sportsbooks have Seattle Sounders as odds leaders to win the MLS Cup once more. Schmetzer’s team are at odds of 9/2 to claim the trophy.
Although the MLS Cup Playoffs are a different animal to the marathon regular season, the Sounders have positioned themselves as early favourites and as it stands, look good value to lift the MLS Cup on December 11.
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