TUKWILA — Saturday marks not only a new day for the Seattle Sounders, but a new month.
At the end of a dreadful July that saw Seattle go 1-3, score one goal and tumble unnervingly near the MLS playoff red line, the Sounders seemed eager to turn the calendar to what they believe will be a better August, starting Saturday night with the Vancouver Whitecaps’ visit to CenturyLink Field.
“It’s a big game for us because obviously July wasn’t a good month,” coach Sigi Schmid said. “So we can’t wait for Aug. 1 to come around and for us to get into a new month. We’re happy to be at home, we’re happy to be in front of a big stadium. We know that prior to this run that we were the highest-scoring team in this league and we were the team that had the best possession as well in the league, and we want to get back to being that team as soon as we can.”
Some of the Sounders’ reason for optimism was on display Friday at Starfire Sports Complex, as Clint Dempsey returned to training after spending most of July with the United States national team and then All-Star duty.
“I think we have some new blood that’s come in,” Dempsey said. “Also we have (Obafemi Martins) getting close to fitness. I just think getting everybody together, having that competition for spots is just going to make the team be a little bit more sharp.”
Martins remains questionable with a leg injury. However, indications point to availability for central defender Brad Evans, who returned this week from national team duty; goalkeeper Stefan Frei, who has been out with a shoulder injury; and central defender Chad Marshall, also back from the All-Star Game.
“It was fun,” Marshall said. “It’s obviously nice to get on the field with some of those players, to play 5-v-2 with David Villa and Kaka is something you’ll always remember. … I kind of just treat (my 45 minutes in the All-Star Game) as a practice session, and it’s not too bad of a flight — two hour flight — so I feel good.”
Several Sounders noted added energy Friday, when they trained as close to full strength as they have since June, when they reigned atop the MLS standings.
“It’s good to have Dempsey back and to have Marshall back,” Schmid said. “It just lifts the mood of the whole group. … Obviously, there’s a confidence in those guys. (Friday was) a light practice, and we were pretty sharp in what we were going and hopefully that carries over.”
The Sounders’ 1-6 slump has dropped them six points behind Supporters’ Shield co-leaders D.C. United and FC Dallas, and just three points ahead of Real Salt Lake, which is seventh in the Western Conference – the first spot that doesn’t qualify for the playoffs.
Yet, as Schmid assembles his roster he must also weight the Sounders-Whitecaps rematch Wednesday at BC Place in the CONCACAF Champions League opener for both clubs.
“At the end of the day our big goal is still MLS Cup,” Schmid said. “Champions League is not unimportant. It’s a very big goal for us, and we’ll shuffle the lineup as we see fit. We got a Champions League game between the Vancouver and the L.A. game (Aug. 9), so we’ll have to adjust for that.”
This game also figures in — and could resolve — the 2015 Cascadia Cup. The Sounders (2-1) come in one point ahead of Vancouver (1-1-2) and Portland (1-2-2) and would clinch the competition with a win on Saturday.
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