Coming to you live from our Elliot Avenue studios of Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. This is Sounders Weekly with your host Jackson Felts.
Good even everybody, welcome into Sounders Weekly. Jackson Feltz here, good to be with you here on this rainy Wednesday night, ninety three point three KJRFM. For the next hour talking Sounders soccer, and we're talking about a playoff win. It was a penalty kick win at Lumenfield. The first time Sounders FC in the MLS era have won a penalty kick shootout at lumen Field. We said that on the
postgame show. It's amazing it took this long, but maybe they had to go to the north end of the stadium to do it, but it did happen there in the north end. Raul, Albert Reagan and then Christian rolled on with an incredible penalty take and al Schroldon with the winner. We thank Eric's Fiatchenko, the center back for Houston that missed his penalty. He was the lone miss as Seattle wins five to foreign penalties and they go
to Game two up one nothing. At Game two coming on Sunday, we will have a three o'clock pre match three point thirty kickoff over on nine to fifty KJR AM for Sunday's Game two down in Houston. Excited to be there too. We're taking the whole broadcast. I'm flying down to Houston on Saturday and hope to see a bunch of you fans out there in Houston at what is that Shell Energy Stadium down there in downtown Houston,
Texas there for Sunday's Game two. We're gonna be talking a lot about both Game one and Game two tonight. In a few minutes, you're gonna hear from head coach Brian Schpenzer. He gives his thoughts on Game one. He gives a very important health update to Jordan Morris. It is not good news. I shared it on my Twitter at Jackson on Radio earlier today. But you're gonna hear that from head coach Brian Schmenzer here in a matter
of moments. And listen, we're gonna get Jamie Watson who called the game for Fox Sports one, and Ari lienwhile Mlsoccer dot Com. Both of them are gonna share their thoughts on game one and Game two coming up. Because Game two is gonna be interesting. Houston, thanks to a red card to Coco Karaskia in the second half, will not have their star international Panamanian midfielder for Game two. That is a massive, massive absence and an absence that
I think changes the entire dynamic. I'm gonna ask Jamie and I'm gonna ask Brian. I asked him earlier today, and I'll ask Ari how that changes what Ben Olsen, the head coach of the Houston Dynamo, will want to do with his midfield not having what I think is their best player for Game two on Sunday, that is going to change a lot of things for their possession based team. But listen, going back to Game one, Callan Row had an amazing breakdown of each penalty kick during
the postgame show. Check that out wherever you get your podcast. Sounders Weekly we posted the postgame show and Callen did a great kick by kick breakdown. Really awesome to see Jackson Reagan taking that third kick and then Christian rolled on, as we mentioned, just a sensational strike for that fourth hit and then Al shrolled on winning it. So that was great to see there in the north end of
the stadium there to cap off the win. Yes, I understand the frustrations of not being able to score a goal in the I mean you add it all up with the added time in the first half and the added time in the second half, there was probably a toil of like one hundred and ten minutes of soccer being played across both halves. Sounders not able to get a goal in that, even being up a man for what almost forty of that one hundred and ten. But at the end of the day, I think we can
look back and say, Houston just understood their assignment. They knew coming to Seattle was gonna be tough. They understood we're gonna come in, we're gonna play defensive, we're gonna park the bus, especially going down a man, and we're just gonna play for PKS. And congratulations to the Houston Dynamo. You got to PKS. But you know, at the end of the day, it's always a risk coming in with that mentality, and Houston got burned for it in PKS.
So they accomplished their job. In the Sounders need to find a way to break down the Dynamo. If they're gonna play like that, I don't know if Houston can even go into game to playing like that, I think they have to play very differently, but we will see what that looks like on Sunday. As for a Monday's game, it was just great to see a PK shootout win. They're at Luminfield for the first time since since Danny Jackson was playing for the Sounders and he's now the
play by play voice. It has been a while, but you know, credit to all of them, and I loved again. We talked about this on the postgame show. Go listen to that for the full analysis, but I love Jackson Reagan stepping up as the third PK kicktaker and hitting it with a confident take too. That is something that you rarely see a center back stepping up and doing in a pe He can't shootout, but Reagan hit it very very well. Roll with the pananka. My whole thing
was just great. That was actually the first thing we talked about with Brian Schmitzer out at training today was the penalty kicks. But we get into a lot of things, including game two ahead, including the absence of Karaskia, including the health of Jordan Morris, who came off due to
a hamstring tightness. We'll get an update on him. But we start off from Brian Schmitzer here by hearing his thoughts on the penalty kicks, including of course with Christian Rolldon's a great hit there in the fourth round.
Okay, we're going to talk about Christians for sure and alex Is because it was the winner and whatever. But Raoul might have just messed with the goalie's head in the very beginning. It just sent Clark like this because he was expecting to come up with some you know, is antics. So Raoul might have caught him off guard because when it came to Christians, he didn't even move. I mean he was just like, oh, I guess, yeah,
I guess went in. So yeah, it was. It was good the five, the five penalty kick takers did their jobs and you know, let's let's see what happens.
After watching the film. What did you think from your team there, specifically before going up.
A man, Yeah, I mean, look, it was a tight game. Neither team created like really any clear clear chances. I mean overall we might have been a smidge better in creating chances, but half chances, yeah, I don't I don't know if our set pieces were great. There's some things
obviously that will work on this week. I mean you could you could look at the first five minutes of the game and say they came out and held the ball for like two minutes and twenty seconds, got a corner kick, and then we had a really nice long extended possession ended with Christian's chance. So a couple of even match teams you.
Mentioned working on things this week. What are those things giving Ben Olsen any material?
I'm not so sure Benny is going to listen, but if he is, we will work on some set piece opportunities. Because this series is so close, it might come down to just something like that. We'll obviously, you know, continue to refine how we defend against the good possession team and then in our attacking movements depending on Jordan's outcome, you know, we'll just make sure that we're ready to go and we'll have a good technical offensive game plan.
How is Jordan Moreston.
We're waiting for the results of the MRI. We'll probably have more information tomorrow. But look, he's doubtful, so you know, unless he really, you know, has a change, we will just put roll in.
And that's what we'll go with.
You mentioned how good at Houston is possession them not having Keski in game two, how does that change, you know, the planning and.
The enough possession guys.
I mean the game here that we won one nothing, they're missing two guys and they still outpossessed us. So it's a team focus of theirs or that's just how they play and we'll just make adjustments.
How do you feel like your center backs on working on Ponce?
Yeah, I had a beast of a game. I think Jackson could have done better defensively. You know, it's again one of the most I don't want to say this the best combination of center backs, you know, just the differences, the way they match up pair together. I think it's a great parent.
It's good stuff from head coach Brian Schmitzer. And yeah, as he said there, Jordan Morris doubtful for Sunday's Game two in Houston. So that is unfortunate for Jordan. But again we will have more results and I'll make sure to share that information when Brian Schmitzer gives it about the MRI to Morris. So that is the latest news
there for Jordan. That's not great, but listen if it ends up being in game three, Hopefully that doubtful turns into a questionable or a probable and we'll have Jordan Morris then for hopefully if we can make it through the next round there against what may be LAFC, but Jordan Morris again hamstring doubtful for Sunday's Game two there in Houston. We are going to continue talking about game
two and continue talking about the game one win. We got Jamie Watson who called the game for Fox Sports one Game one, I should say he called the game. We'll have him coming on next segment ARILILLIANWALLMLS Soccer dot Com, as well as the podcast Lobbing Scorgers. He's coming up later on as well. Before we take a break and get to both of them, I'll tell you that twenty twenty five season memberships are on sale. Now join the Sounders FC Legacy and secure your spot with the best
fans in MLS. Becoming a member is the best way to gain access to the club World Cup next year. We are working closely with FIFA to get our season members access to tickets, including three Sounders matches. Members also have access to MLS season pass ticket flexibility, our new training facility and clubhouse, plus more. Learn more at soundersfc dot com, Backslash tickets, Backslash memberships. We'll take a break
here in Sounder's Weekly. Jamie Watson and Ari Lienwall. Still to come here on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM.
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for sunders FC cll's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Welcome back, Sounders Weekly. Good to be with you here on this Wednesday evening. Couple days rude from the Sounders Game one win there against the Houston Dynamo. Appreciate you joining us. Still coming up later tonight. We're shifting him around a little bit later on Ari e Leleenwall MLS soccer dot Com in the podcast Lobbing Scorches. We'll talk to him later on, but I wanted to carve out a large segment for our guest here coming up. So our old friend. We haven't had him on Sounders Weekly
in many years. It has been far too long. He called Sounders Dynamo Game one for Fox Sports one. It's our old friend, Jamie Watson. Jamie, good to have you back on Sounders Weekly. Man, how are you, yeah, Jackson?
I'm so happy to hear you know, it is so nice to get to hear your voice and interact back and forth with you, because in preparation for the game on Monday night for Fox Sports One, I had to go straight to the source, the man that has the pulse of the Sounders in the palm of his hand, that imparts his wisdom every week, and that's you, my friend.
I really enjoyed the segment that you had with Jesus Osivato Junior from Houston to preview and Look Sounders Weekly is where I go to get all my Sounders information throughout the course of the season. So you do a wonderful job. You got me prepared, you got me ready, and then ultimately Look Seattle was able to get it done and they were able to get a win in Game one.
Jamie is your Venmo still at Jamie Underscore Washington because or the checks in the mail. Either way, much appreciated. You're the one listener. How about that? All of the cliches, no, but really, thank you, thank you. I loved having Hayes who's on and obviously you know this is a series. We're going down to Houston this weekend and I needed those food recommendations, so it would be good to see
hayesus there this coming weekend ahead of Game two. I want to ask you about to Game two, obviously in the interesting dynamics after what we saw a couple of nights ago, but let's dig into that game on Monday night, because what we saw out at Lumenfield was I think we can all be honest, and I said it a few minutes ago in the opening segment, it was kind of an ugly game. For one hundred and five minutes. It was really, you know, just you know, a lot
of you know, little half chances here and there. But Jamie, it wasn't necessarily an attractive soccer game. But maybe we knew that going in, considering these are statistically the two best defensive teams in the Western Conference.
And I think heading into Jackson, you're absolutely right. I think this would equate to a baseball terminology. I'm sure there's a lot of Mariners fans here of a pitcher's duel. Right, you can appreciate how Van Elsen with the Houston Dynamo and Brian Sins with the Seattle Sounders go about wanting to play in the right way, wanting to have proper build ups. It's not this route one ugly soccer that's just hit it and hope and get lucky. You know, they want to they when proper build ups, they do
it the right way. They're tough to break down. And for Houston, look, they they understood how difficult it is to play in Seattle. They did it a month ago and Seattle were able to get a results one zero win, you know, sort of address rehearsal for it, and to be in this round one series and in match one a couple of nights ago. But I think Houston realized they were like, look, we we can't take chances. We can't expose ourselves and go running around. We have to
be compacted. We have to be organized. So that's a backhand of compliment in a way to the Sounders. You wouldn't get into the ring with Mike Tyson just start throwing punches, right, and you would you would probably play a little bit more defense. And look, I think that
Houston did a good job of stifling it. I actually think that, you know, it was surprising at half just how much possession Seattle had, because that's you since they were second best in the league coming into the match, but Seattle, fully in control, had much better the chances in the first half, and I think it was it was probably a fair result in in the first half
to go into the halftime all level. But then in the second half, obviously the game completely changed when Coco Kataskia gets an ill advised, inexplicable red card, and then from then on out it was it was clear as day. It was just Houston hoping to get to penalties because they knew it was not a matter of if, but more of a matter of when Seattle was going to score.
And they held on. But ultimately it was a game that had razor thin margins to it, and so much so that the only margin was one missed penalty kick. And that's the difference of having the advantage in the series and having the advantage going into game two, And that just tells you how how little separates these two teams in the series.
A big thank you to Er. We're going to keep saying his name tonight and just thanking him for that miss wide left that allowed us to win five to four in penalties. But you know, I think you mentioned it.
If there is one frustration for the Sounders, it's that we didn't get a goal after going up a man, and I want to know from you if that if that was more of the inability of the Sounders or more of the good defensive execution and organization of Houston, because I mean, listen, Houston should probably be, you know, thankful that this game didn't have the two fifteen minute periods because that's an extra thirty that the Sounders could have found that winner, and it did give him a
shot in penalties. But it really was just, you know, forty ish minutes of being up a man that the Sounders couldn't find a goal. And what did you see in those forty minutes? Is it more on Seattle or is it more on Houston for what they did defensively?
I think probably a fair reflection would say maybe a little bit of both. And instead of just straddling the fence and sitting on the fence with that answer and not giving you reason why, I'll say I think it was Houston understood that when the red card happened, you know, midway through the sixtieth minute, right so about the what sixty sixth minute? You just have to get to the end of the game with twenty minutes plus some stoppage
time to be able to get to penalties. If this was a game that had the two fifteen minutes of extra time before penalties, I don't think Houston would have approached the match of the way that they did. But they understood that just getting to the end of ninety minutes would give them the opportunity via penalty kicks to advance. So they understood the assignment with the playoff format. But also for Seattle, the thing that they really truly lacked
was the final ball. I thought the substitution of Georgie Manonga was a really really good one from Schmitzer to bring him on. Obviously, there was a little bit of discrepancy about Pedro de la Vega coming off, and it didn't seem like he was best to pleased with it. But without a doubt, Manonga was phenomenal when he came on. He caused all sorts of problems, so much so that Lessing He even got subbed off after being subbed on for Daniel Stairis, so Stairis could go over and just
give a second player to go and Mark Manongu. I haven't seen that in quite some time. He was that dangerous. But Seattle's inability to play a really good quality final ball was the reason that they were unable to score in regulation time. So that is something that does need to improve. But anybody who watched that game will tell you the circumstances dictated it. Yes, but Seattle were in the driver's seat. Houston were going to get their chances here and there, a few part far in between. They
had to be efficient. They didn't have that efficiency. They lack a real true goal scorer. And keep this in mind, this is an stat that we dropped on the FS one broadcast. No team has won MLS Cup since two thousand and nine without a ten goal scorer. Houston the most they have Egreeny MALEYU had six goals on the season. So they're lacking that killer final third that most of the teams that go on and lift MLS Cup have
and it really was on display in Seattle. I think will be more efficient in Game two with the final balls, because I was a bit uncharacteristic for them to be that wasteful with the final ball.
Well, I want to ask you about Game two in a minute. Jamie Watson's our guest. He called sounders Dynamo game one for Fox Sports one there on the television before we move on and talk game two and the interesting dynamics of Obed Vargas returning for Seattle and Coco Karaskia a massive loss for the Houston Dynamo there as he got the red card. I want to talk to you about the pens because, as we mentioned, five to four Sounders get it after the one loss by Siatchenko.
Thank you again, and specifically the interesting thing of Seattle. Jackson Reagan, a center back, comes up third and nails it, and then Christian roll don it comes up fourth and gives the Sounders that four to three lead with one of the best penalty kicks maybe I've ever seen live and in person. I don't know if a goalkeeper in any universe saves that. What did you see from Seattle going five for five even that penalty kick shootout?
Well, the quick answer with roldan penalty, Christian Roldan's penalty is no. No goalkeeper on planet Earth is saying that. I even said in the broadcast, Christian could have told Steve Clark where he was going, and Steve Clark would not have been able with the head start and the knowledge of, Hey, you're going to go top Bourn or been able to say that it was one of the most beautiful penalties I've seen in quite some time. I want to ask you this before we sort of even
go any deep. I'm going to turn the roles here on you and ask you some questions to Jackson. I know you're very capable of giving analysis as well as some great breakdown of the play as it's happening. Did you think, and you've seen the complete career of Raoul Ruediez in Seattle, and he's seen him take penny of plenty of penalty kicks, did you see foreshadowing him stepping up in the first round and doing a pinanka? Because I was blown away? What did you see in that moment?
Yes? Yes, only because he's taken I want to say he's taken four penalties this year and three of them have been panankas. And watching him in training and just watching how he practices penalty kicks. The dude has cahones the size of Idaho. I mean, it's unreal just how in the absolute biggest of moments it doesn't phase him. It's like he's on a practice field and he's just messing around with friends. It was almost just kind of looking at a man. He kind of just said, Yeah,
he's doing this again, isn't he? Because it just comes back and feels like this moment where it's the first penalty kick. He you know, Houston obviously stepped up and hit their first, so you got to match him in the first round or you're at a massive disadvantage. And it was sort of just like, no, he this, this moment doesn't phase him. He's gonna do what he always does and just you know, chip it right right down
the middle. And that's why it was sort of just like after it happened, we went, Yep, what else would you expect from roll freaking Rudyes.
Hey, by the way, he sold it too, because he gave the big fast rule up like he's gonna smash it, and then the last second to go from one hundred to zero real quick and just take all the momentum out and to be able to have that depth touch when he did it, It's just like I had to remind myself we were on television. I couldn't say what I wanted to say because it was like one of those moments where you turned your buddy, go are you kidding? And it was it was incredible. You're right, he is,
gonas are the size of ioh. I'm absolutely stealing that one from you.
From that one that was it was.
It was pretty awesome. But to be fair, it was it was really good penalties for both teams up until you know the Svietenko as you've alluded to earlier and often throughout this conversation. Yeah, that was. That was gonna show you. I think it was a perfect microcosm of the night that there was not a ton that separates
these two teams going into the match. I actually said, you know, opening segment, we talked about, you know, the playoff bracket, and I said, I think this matchup, out of all of the playoff matchups on the East and Conference and the Western Conference, I think this was the one that was the tightest with the least amount separating
the two. So, now bringing up your point about Obed bargains being back in in Cobo Katskia, I think with Obed being out, Christian erald On having to come inside, you lose his playmaking capability and essentially his true ability to get inside the box when he has to play in a deeper lying position. I thought Houston had the advantage in the middle of the field because their trio of Artura, Herrera and Karskia are as good of a
trio in the league. I thought Houston had that advantage maybe in the series, especially in Game one, without Obed and Christian having to be back. There's no slide on Christian. That's just how good the Houston guys are. I think now it completely flip flops because you take Kearskia out of the middle and you get Obed Vargas back in for Seattle. Now, I think what was an advantage for Houston now shifts to Seattle, and that's super important in this series because I think the Game two will be
won or lost in the middle of the park. And I think that's why Houston stayed in the match for as long as they did before the red card, because they were doing a good job of battling in the middle of the park and doing enough to keep Seattle from having control of the match. So that will be a big nuance. And when Karskia did it, I know my reaction and I'll ask you what yours is. And just a second, Jackson, I think that he's too good of a player. He's the Cockycaft Men's Player of the
Year for this year, just announced this week. You cannot make this mistake. But also he did it in Copa America as well, so you're starting to see maybe a trend in the big moments. He's letting emotions get the best of them. And I mean, I don't know, maybe maybe Paul Rothwark said something before, you know, the way by to Karski on the way out, maybe he was already a little bit frustrated with things. But you just
simply can't make that mistake. And now I think his team is at the detriment in game too, and I would put the advantage in the way of Seattle. But your opinion upout Karskia and the whole fiasco. You know, do you did you see it in real time? You know? Did you think it was going to be a red card? You think it was just going to be a yellow? How did you kind of break down the whole scenario.
I didn't see the kick in the moment. I saw the face slap on Albert Rusnak first, and I saw his left hand come across and hit Rusnak in the face, and I think you're absolutely right for a player of his stature, just what are you doing? I mean, this is a game one of a playoffs. You're in it. It's zero zero in that moment, and you have a great chance it coming away with a road win, whether
it's in regulation or penalties. You're probably the team's best player, and you lose your cool to that extent of doing probably two separate incidents that weren't violent conduct, like what are you doing? Man? And now in game two? I think you're absolutely right. The advantage is so much on Seattle's side, but on top of which, Houston is such
a possession based team. Without Karriskia and getting obed back, I wonder if if Houston's gonna be able to play any semblance of their possession style game that Ben Olsen wants to play without him in there, this might look like a completely different Houston team on Sunday.
It was that big of a decision and that significant of a reaction that will have a triple down effect. Karskia is red card in that moment, and man, I hate that for Houston because they are an attractive team to watch play soccer when he's on the field. But my goodness, like, it's hard to have sympathy for a player who put his fate in this match game one the other night, and in game two in the refereence hands.
And I have no problem with this because if the same as guys from Houston, and I know pat onn said, I know a lot of their technical stuff have been nothing but great to me and my time throughout the league and stuff. But I'd look at him and I would say the same thing. If the roles have been reversed and Rusknack does that to Karaskia, are they saying the same thing, most likely. So it's that's where it evens out. That's where it is. You know, the if the shoes on the other foot, you look at it
completely different. You just they're looking through it orange tinted glasses in that moment, And you know, I think that if it was anybody else, you'd go, yeah, you put his hands to his face and you kicked out. You pick your red card here. So that's a big talking point for game two. And man, I'm interested to see just how you mentioned what Houston does to adapt to that red card decision. And now the absence of Karski in Game two.
It'll be interesting there on Sunday, for sure. We're gonna hit the air for everybody out there three point thirty, sorry, three o'clock, Providence, Swedish premat show Sports Radio nine to fifty KJR AM kickoff at three thirty Pacific time out in Houston. We're taking the whole broadcast. Folks can also listen in Spanish. Let go John L Ray thirteen sixty
and watch at MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. But the man who called game one for Sounders Houston, Jamie Watson, with us right now here on Sounders Weekly, Jamien, before I'll let you go, I know you're calling other games, and you were down calling Orlando Charlotte game one. Our old friend Nico Ludero down there with Orlando before you go. Gotta get your thought on on what you're seeing in that series and maybe get a thought on the rest
of the playoffs. So we'll start with the Orlando Charlotte first.
I know, sorry, we've just taken up your whole time of your show here because I have had so much fun talking here about about all things Seattle. But I will say first and foremost, I love the commitment to bring down you and everybody associated with the program to be able to broadcast that to your listeners, and that shows incredible commitment. I know you probably feel the same way. So I'll go a little bit off script here and
you know say that that's an incredible commitment. And I love that they pour the resources to be able to send you there, because the Sounders fans are lucky to have you call one of my best friends in the entire world, the best man my wedding. Brad Ero lives in Seattle and he's he's a fan. He listens all the time and everything. So I made sure to tell him that I was going to be on the show. And so you do a great job. There we go. So I love I love that that you'll be there
for the game. Look, Nico Ladero, I do think I said in the broadcast. I think the fact that he played all thirty four games maybe surprise a few people in the Pacific Northwest that he's still had so much to give at thirty five years old. You know, I would have loved to see him finish his career in Rave Green. I think that's fitting. I think it's still feel odd seeing him in Purple, and then, like I played for Orlando, I have a fondness towards Orlando City,
but Nico Ladero is his sounder through and through. He wouldn't ever expect to see Roger Levek in a different jersey, which you know, it'd be blasphemous, wouldn't it. So you know, and look, I think that he's done a wonderful job finding a niche there, and I think he's proven that he still has a lot to give in his role
and he's bought into it. So much of it is just not really fighting father time, but understanding the cards that you're being dealt in Nicol l'dero, understanding his role within the club and how he can be most efficient, and being just a wonderful servant to the club. That's like he was in Seattle. He's doing it in Orlando. If it's for a season, if it's two, three, May may long continue. You know. I think Orlando will get through with Charlotte, and then I think they have into
Miami waiting. And look, we can't talk about the playoffs without talking about into Miami. I I do think that when it's all said and done, I think that December seventh. I think we'll be down and taking our talents to South Florida to go watch MLS Cup because I do think Miami run through the Eastern Conference side of things. I think that they get there. And you know, Jackson, I won't say who. I think l a f C, the or dilcoholicies. Well, I just said it. I was saying.
I mean, listen, we all understand what it's there. We all understand like the the collision course the Sounders may be on. We were eliminated in the last year. We were eliminated in the Open Cup. We were eliminated in the League's Cup. LAFC is the bogaboo. We get it here in Seattle. We understand, all right.
I was trying to keep all your your faithful listeners not cussing me out, but it is where they turned. I just turned heel on them. I do think the I'll get there. I think eliots to get through, and then ultimately I do think that LAFC right now on the western side, I think they're gonna have enough to get through. And I think it could be and most likely will be into Miami versus l a f C. With the Miami holding court. I think they're just they're
just the best team. They proved over the course of the season, and they've got this really good number ten there, this Argentinian guy that's pretty good and a couple of his friends. Yeah, they're they're incredible, and I think that they will be listening trophy. But nonetheless, I do think that the future is pretty bright for Seattle for the future and tying up Schmeetz genius guy's incredible. You got
Greg Wible there. I mean, you've got a great, great leadership group there, and I think that you know, the club is in they're doing everything right and with the training facility that the fifty year celebration, the city adores the Sounders, and you're a big reason for that. You helpe tell the story week in and week out. So I'm a big fan of from afar what Seattle's done for very long time, and I think that even better
days are ahead. And that's not to knock where things are, because the Sounders have one of the best histories in Major League Soccer. But I think they've got a good core nucleus going forward that I think, you know, this time next year, I think the conversation is completely different playoff time, and I think there could be a deeper run even next year.
Right because we all understand LAFC. They're they're right now the big dogs, and you know, we got to knock them down before we can say anything. And you know, really if we'd end up facing them again here the next round, we understand the stakes. We understand the concept that we just know it's a one off and we're the best defensive tea off. So you know, if we if we can pull a Houston and get this thing to penalties and have another great penalty performance like we
did last night, anything can happen. But yeah, I mean, LAFC are the big dogs, and you know, I listen, I completely agree with you. I think whoever gets out of the West, whether it be Seattle, LAFC, Galaxy, we're all just playing to lose to Miami if Miami stays healthy. I completely agree with that. So it's just it's just a matter of time as long as Messi is running the show down there, because they look damn unbeatable. They are sustem sane. Listen, Jamie, this has been amazing.
Man.
It's great to get you on. Glad you could share the wonderful thoughts. We thank you. I thank you for the time. A great call there for Sounders Houston in game one. We'll hope to hear you again on FS one here soon and call on another Sounders game, and next time you do, we'll have you on again.
Thank you, my friend. Always enjoy the show. Keep up the fantastic work man. Thank you so much for for having me on.
Jackson Jamie Watson, great stuff there, wonderful kind of comments from him. He called Sounders Houston game one for Fox Sports one. Well, we'll take a break and we'll talk more about game two ahead this coming Sunday with Ari Lillionwall of MLS Soccer dot com and his podcast Loving Scorchers. Before we take a break and get Ari on one quick note and that's that. Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Providence Swedish, the official healthcare partner of Sounders FC.
Ari Lillionwall to preview Game two That's next on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJR.
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Sounders FC cll's Sports Radio ninety three point three KJR FM.
Welcome back, Sounders Weekly. Good to have you with us here. Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. Jackson felts thanks to Jamie Watson for carving out twenty minutes there to talk Sounders Dynamo in that previous segment. Check out the podcast in case you missed him, or any of tonight's show, Sounders Weekly wherever you get your podcasts, and while you are checking out Sounders Weekly, also check out Lobbing Scorchers. The host of Lobbing Scorches is our good friend Ari Lillienwall,
who is also a writer and editor for mlssoccer dot com. Ari, good to have you back on the show, my friend, How are you?
I'm good, Jackson. It's good to have the playoffs going.
Oh, it is good to have the playoffs going. I gotta get your thoughts on what we've seen throughout this ongoing first round. That feels like the first round is taken about a month so far. It's been such a long first round. Before we do dig into the rest of the playoffs. Quick thought on what we saw in Game one between the Sounders and Dynamo, the five to four penalty kick shootout for Seattle.
Yeah, I think there's two ways to look at it. Jackson on one hand, I think a win is a win, especially in the playoffs. You never really question how they how they how a playoff victory comes by. You accept
it no matter what. Standing up. However, I think getting shut out at home by that Houston team, not scoring any goals in your first playoff game, and then just also generally not looking that dangerous an attack and having the Jordan Morris injury, those are things that I think ken and are causing a little consternation ahead of Game two, And I just think kind of the reality is that if you're going to contend with an LAFC or LA Galaxy later in the playoffs, you're going to need to
be more productive offensively.
Certainly. I think that Listen, Jamie and I talked about it there in the previous segment that LA see is the big dog and you will need a much better performance against LAFC in order to make him West Final. And obviously LAFC, you know, having the one to zer lead on the Vancouver Why Caps in that other you know, part of the bracket, I should say, in our side,
So yeah, I completely agree there. But first things first, and that's game two and our as we kind of talk about our sharp vision upon at alec here ahead of Game two, looking ahead to this Sunday's broadcast, this is a game that's so going to be infinitely affected by the lack of Coco Karaskia. Maybe the Dynamo best player is he is out after that red card? How will that fundamentally change what Houston will try to do in Game two.
Yeah, it's definitely a big absence. I can tell you that he is a very important player for them. I think Hector Herrera is still their best player, but I mean, this guy was a CONCACAFF Player of the Year. He's a Panamanian international, so he definitely a lot of what the Dynamo do runs through Coco Karskia. So that's definitely not an insignificant loss for them. I think, you know, Hector Herrera is still going to be out there, Egil pont is still going to be out there, and they've
still been a very good defensive team this year. But they're definitely gonna be shorthanded, and I think it definitely gives Seattle a better chance to close out this series than it would be if he was still playing.
With him out and with Obed Vargas returning from his own red card suspension. He was out for Game one. I'm wondering for a team in Houston that was kind of the top possession team in Major League Soccer this year without Karaskia with obed back, is Houston even going to be able to play their typical possession style soccer or are they going to have to? You know, Ben Olsen, is he gonna have to change the way Houston plays with having the shifting lineup? Uh?
I mean, I still think they have guys who can execute their usual game model even without Karaskia. I think players like Hector Herrera and our Tour and some of the other guys they have in midfield. They might not be like for like, but I think they're similar and that they can maintain their usual style. I just think the question is can you execute it at as high a level with Keraskia not in there. I tend to think they probably would have a hard time because he's pretty unique and essential to.
What they do.
It certainly is that's going to change a lot of things there. Once again, for folks, we are going to have a three o'clock Providence Swedish pre match show three point thirty kickoff the whole broadcast will be down there in Houston. We're taking our talents on the road to Houston, Texas, so once again three o'clock pre three thirty kickoff. We will also be able to watch that match MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app also FS one and if folks can listen in Spanish language on l Ray
thirteen sixty. And that really kind of you know, I think we're going to do a lot more preview of that game on the pre match show on Sunday. Ari I want to kind of pick your brain more about the rest of the playoffs going on. So I'll tell folks that tonight's opponent, ALEC was presented by Sharp Vision Modern Lasik and Lends, the official Lasik provider of Sounders FC. So first thing I want to talk about, and I know Vancouver has already played against LAFC, but I want
to go back to one week ago. We were kind of previewing a little bit of the game between the Portland Timbers and the Vancouver Whitecaps. The play in game, the fact that it was happening in Portland after Vancouver couldn't even have a game, and that ended up being a five nothing Whitecaps demolition of the Timbers. Who the hell saw that coming?
Yeah, no, I think that was.
One of the craziest results of the early rounds of the playoff here. And really it wasn't just the result and the fact that they gave up five goals at home in the game that they weren't even supposed to
be hosting. I mean, it wasn't all around beltdown. I don't know if you saw vanders tweets after the game, but yeah, pretty much immediately after the game, he sent off like a six or seven tweet Twitter thread basically going after the higher ups in the organization, and then Phil Nevill and their general manager Ned grab A Boy gave a press conference like a day or two after that where they were basically blasting Xander and calling himselfish.
That's their star player, that's an MVT candidate in the league. I think his future with the organization now is very much in flux. So really, not only was it a playoff defeat by five goals at their home field, but it really it was an organizational wide meltdown in Portland, which is definitely you know, it's funny from our perspective, but it is definitely unexpected. I didn't think they were going to go that far in the playoff. I did not expect to full on meltdown.
Oh wow, organizational meltdown for the Portland Timbers. I could not be more happy right now. Just couldn't be happening to better people down there in Portland. So wow, what a situation where they're going at each other best player and the management. Things aren't going as badly for various other teams around MLS playoffs, as you know, certainly LAFC beating Vancouver. Let's go over your winners and we can
kind of go team by team here. Maybe let's start with the Western Conference and what you've seen in this first round so far, and who's gotten off the hart starts well.
I think the LA Galaxy made the biggest statement of Game one with their five zero win over Colorado. I mean, I think LA the Galaxy were a heavy favorite there, but they were even more dominant than I think most people expected expected beating a Colorado team that's been up and down but pretty improved this year, and they just looked like no match for the Galaxy. I think LAFC
and also adding Inner Miami. I know that's the East, but I think both of them had similar performances in the sense that they got two to one victories, but they were both I would say more comfortable than that score line indicates Inner Miami was all over Atlanta United and would have had one of their typical Inner Miami four to five goal games if Brad Guzanne hadn't stood on his head and had one of the games of his life in between the prosts to the seasons. So
and then LAFC. They were up to zero and in control on Vancouver before Vancouver scored right at the very end to make that to one.
But I didn't think LAFC was a all that.
Threatened in that game. So I think those two teams, there's no reason to think they're anything other than the front runners that we thought they would. Still we thought they were. I still think Inner Miami is the odds on favorite, but certainly the Galaxy looked very, very good and feel good about their chances.
We talked about Miami there in the East and I think we both agree and Jamie did too. I mean, as long as they're healthy, Miami is absolutely winning the Cup this year. They're just miles better than the next team. Maybe LAFC makes it a game in a one off if they do the right things. But I just can't see really anybody else making that a game an MLS Cup, you know, knowing also that it will be in Miami
at their home stadium. But we then look at the rest of the Eastern Conference and New York Red Bulls getting a one nothing win in Columbus there. I mean, we talked about the Eastern Conference being Miami, Columbus, you know, Cincinnati wasn't even on our necessarily big radar, and Cincinnati beating City in game one. But Columbus dropping that game
one to the New York Red Bulls, I'm wondering. I know it's one game, but like you know, it is one game, and for me, just immediately jumping to conclusions makes me wonder if it really is just Miami and the rest and even Columbus isn't gonna be there.
Well, that's certainly a huge result for the Red Bulls to go in there and take down Columbus, who you know, they're the number two favorite, I would say in the East behind Inner Miami, and for them to drop that game is definitely surprising. They're heavily favored in that series. We'll see if they actually end up losing the series, but losing game one at home, they're on the precipice of what would be a pretty big upset. So I still think I'm gonna wait to judge that until they
actually lose the series. I'm still pretty skeptical, and I don't see all of that game today, but I would imagine that the Red Bulls probably got a little bit fortunate. But either way, it definitely I think that I asked a little bit of early doubt here on Columbus's status because, like you said, they were considered easily the number two team in the East, that probably one of the only
other teams that could give Inner Miami a game. They crashed out to the Red Bulls, and that eliminates them as a possibility to even be in that conversation exactly.
And then it becomes the question of Cincinnati. And you know, Cincinnati looked decent enough in the win over New York City, but yeah, I don't even know, because at this point it's sort of becoming the question of can anybody even touch him? Or is this gonna be, you know, the easiest run to an MLS Cup title? We've ever seen for Inner Miami, and it might be that either way,
so we'll see what happens there. Ari, You Lillian Waller check out his podcast Lobbing Scorches wherever you get your podcasts, including the iHeartRadio app, and he also writes and edits for MLS Soccer dot Com. Great stuff. We'll talk to you hopefully after the Sounders wrap this thing up Sunday, and we don't need to talk about a Game three next Wednesday, but we appreciate the time.
My friend sounds good looking forward to it, Jackson.
It's good stuff there, Ari, lillianwall check out his podcast and great stuff as always every single week talking both Sounders and good insight there on the rest of the league. Round one is done for these first round or I should say not round one, but the match day one. Every team's first game in the first round is done. Friday has game twos between Charlotte and Orlando City, Colorado and the LA Galaxy. Saturday we have a few games
as well. Miami plays Atlanta again they can end that series, Cincinnati can end the series over New York and then also on Sunday, we of course have Sounders Dynamo and folks can once again hear that sports radio nine to fifty km. We'll be on the air at three o'clock down from Houston, Texas for Sounders in Dynamo Game two where Seattle can move on to face likely LAFC in the next round. Quickly before we take a break, one final news for those who didn't see. We always talk
about around the sound with our local soccer. We talk about how Ballard FC is one of our local clubs. There is a new team to our region and that's Salmon BAYFC. Salmon Bay is a women's team that is a right alongside there are one kind of a partner club alongside Ballard FC, Salmon Bay obviously being in the inter Bay Ballard area right there, so they named it after another one of the icon landmarks here in this area. So we welcome Salmon BAYFC. They have a great logo.
I think the brand rollout was tremendous, So we welcome Salmon BAYFC to the local soccer scene. That will do it for our show tonight. I want to thank all of our guests tonight. If you missed anything again, check out the podcast Sounders Weekly wherever you get your podcasts. Have a very good rest of your week. Well tatya on Sunday from Houston, but from right here and right now. Fox Sports Radio is coming up next