It's Too Early to say, "We're Back!" but it's a Start

Twas a rainy Saturday in Seattle as the Sounders welcomed CF Montreal to Lumen Field. The odds were not in the Sounders’ favor, as they entered the game without a win and had not beaten Montreal since 2016.

Despite all that, the Sounders did the unthinkable and decimated Montreal 5-0, with Raul Ruidíaz leading the line with a brace. This win took the Sounders from last in the West to third from last with five points. They still have a long way to go, but this was a step in the right direction.

Here are my takeaways from the match:

Where does Jordan fit?

I know that I have talked my talk about Jordan Morris and how frustrating he has been since the tail end of last year. Schmetz has tried to force him as the #9, but he’s proved that he’s nowhere near good enough to play that role. However, since he’s played on the wing the last couple of matches, he’s looked more lively, more willing to take on his man, and he’s even scored a goal. The Sounders are getting Leo Chu and Pedro de la Vega back soon, and both can play on the left, with Pepo preferring the right. I’m in the minority in thinking that Leo Chu should be the starting left winger. He’s more dynamic and can beat nearly any fullback in the league with his speed and on the dribble. And as crucial as Cristian is to this team, Pepo should be starting from the right.

Jordan can still contribute as a super sub and easily notch a few goals off the bench against tired-out defenses.

Rusnak is the Key

Sounders fans are very divided on Albert Rusnak. In his first couple of seasons, he did not play up to expectations and not up to what he was earning. What literally everyone seems to forget is that he was being played out of position from day one. Rusnak is a classic #10 and wants to be higher up the pitch and create chances. However, Brian Schmetzer and the coaching staff played him as a #8 with João Paulo or on the wings, where he was not able to show his quality.

On Saturday night, we finally saw why Rusnak has to be a locked-in starter in the #10 spot. His play creates more space in the attacking third, and his ability to work even when the space is confined makes the job of opposing defenders that much more difficult. He doesn’t just create chances for his teammates; he makes it easier for them to create chances and broadly makes their jobs significantly easier. He played like he knew that this is his team now. The Slovenian notched two assists, created five chances, and had 87% passing accuracy, 88 touches, and a 100% successful dribbling rate. If it weren’t for Raul scoring a brace, Rusnak would have been MOTM.

Holy Goals

If you had told me that the Sounders would score any goals against Montréal, I would have laughed in your face. All season, the Sounders have struggled to get the ball in the back of the net, having only scored four in five matches.  On Saturday, they scored more in one night than they had all season!

Raul opened the scoring with a sensational left-footed volley with enough topspin that even tennis players could appreciate. Everyone keeps saying it was deflected, but I don’t see it. The Peruvian also got the second with a well-hit penalty after Rusnak was brought down.

The third goal came from none other than Jordan Morris (yes, I was upset) after a fantastic run of possession, and his finish was absolutely filthy. I didn’t think he had that in him, to be honest. I’m still not convinced he’s a lock-in starter, though. The fourth came from Alex Roldan after another beautiful passing sequence between Raul and Rusnak, who played the ball in for Alex Roldan to tap it in. The last goal came in the last minute as Danny Musovski crossed the ball into a running Dylan Teves, who finished off the game to make it 5-0 in favor of the boys in green.

I don’t expect the Sounders to score this many goals again this season, but I’ll be happy I got to witness this one.

Winning one game does not mean we’re back yet. Calm down

I’ve seen fans all over Twitter, Reddit, and anywhere you can read Sounders news say that the Seattle Sounders are back. I’m here to put out the fire. Yes, the Sounders scored lots of goals against Montreal and looked damn good doing it; Yes, they looked better in the loss against the Galaxy.

BUT REMEMBER,

They were one of the worst-performing teams in MLS in the opening five games, only scored four goals (two of which were penalties), continued their poor form from last season, and looked like a shell of themselves during that time. The Sounders have a single win so far this season. Let's not lose our heads.

I’m not saying that fans shouldn’t celebrate it. As a fan, I’m thrilled we finally got a win. However, until we see consistent results with a fully healthy team, there is no reason to say that the Sounders are back.

Coffee and Football

It’s the second edition of Coffee and Football! I have a deep love for coffee and football, so I figured I would combine the two! I made the long drive from Portland a little earlier than usual so I could try the Pike St. Coffee Shop right below the Pike St. Market. Initially, I was going to go to Ghost Alley Coffee, but Tacoma traffic sucks, so I could not get there in time.

After riding a Lime scooter from Lumen Field, I made my way to Pike St. Coffee. I only discovered the place existed when I walked up the stairs to the market and decided to pop in. First off, the vibes in the place were very laid-back. They had various coffee art up; plants spread throughout, soft music playing, and their in-house merch spread around the bar-style tables. One of the things I liked most about this place was they source everything locally. You don’t see that much anymore.

The coffee itself was, honestly, fantastic. I got their Salted Caramel Latte with almond milk, and the barista made it. It took their time with the foam to ensure they got the perfect microfoam and made their little latte art. Pike St. Coffee does things a little differently than most coffee shops (Starbucks) and mixes the espresso and sauce in a separate cup before adding the milk. It gave it a more refined taste, and I really got that perfect espresso and caramel taste. The sea salt on top was the perfect touch to elevate that sweetness.

The last thing that stood out to me about the place was their merch. It was not extravagant by any means, but the simplicity is what stood out to me. I would definitely buy one of their beanies for the hell of it. They also print EVERYTHING in-house. From the lobby, you can see how they get their logo on their shirts, sweatshirts, and, I’m assuming, beanies. Overall, I would say this was one of the better coffee shops I’ve been to in the area, and I can safely say I’d go back.

Photo Creds:

Matchday: Leroy Freeman

Coffee Shop: Me!