Coming to you live from Marelliot Avenue Studios of Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. This is Sounders Weekly with your host Jackson Felts. Good Aim and everybody, Welcome into Sounders Weekly. Jackson Feltz here, it's good to have you with us on this Wednesday night, as we are looking ahead to a win or go home Game three of the first round of the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. Your Sounders were not able to take care of business in Dallas in
game two, and we face game three ahead. Busy show tonight as we talk a little bit about Game two and then look a lot ahead to game three. We're gonna be chatting with Albert Russnak, had a chance to catch up with him out at training at Starfire. Gonna chat once again with Brian Dunseeth, Apple TV MLS Season Pass broadcaster who's doing all of these games with Max brought us there for Apple TV. You've been hearing him on the call
if you've been watching these games. So Brian will join us again here in just about twenty minute or so, and then we're gonna be joined once again from ARILILLIANWALLMLS Soccer dot Com to talk about around the league. We're gonna go and talk about the other playoff series and Portland Timbers making a in my opinion, very strange and what won't be working out head coaching higher. They brought
Phil nevill In as their new head coach. As a Sounder fan, as a soccer person here in the United States, I don't think Phil nevill is gonna work out for them at all. But we'll talk to Ari about it here coming up later tonight, and we'll round out the show with some great news around the sound with Andrew Harvey because Ol Rain have made the NWSL Championship
that's on Saturday down in San Diego. Andrew Harvey will tell us details about the NWSL title game a little bit later on tonight after Ari so busy show ahead, let's quickly talk about broadcast details for this Friday, because I have very good news on that front. This Friday's match in Game three at Luminfield Sounders Dallas. Quickly, you can get your tickets today by visiting SOUNDERSFC dot
com slash tickets. It is going to be a seven o'clock kickoff six thirty Providence, Swedish prematch show and you can listen to that match right here Sports Radio ninety three point three KJR FM Sounders on the FM dial this coming Friday night for Game three with Dallas. You can also watch the match via MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app where Brian Dunseth is on the call. The man who is joining us here in just about twenty minutes, so big
game three ahead. You can listen to it right here on ninety three point three. But once again, if you're heading there and planning to go to game three, get your tickets today. Visit soundersfc dot com slash tickets to get yours now. Well before we head off, and here from Albert Russneck a couple quick notes. First up, Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Provident,
Swedish official healthcare partner of Sounders FC. But really should take a couple quick minutes and talk about the three to one loss there in Game two, a match where the Sounders gave up two goals in the first six teen minutes. The first was a glancing header from Paul Ariola there in the sixth minute that put Dallas up won nothing, and then a penalty a in my opinion, justified good call. Penalty there knew who and then you saw the goal
from Heesus Ferra in the sixteenth minute that put Dallas up to nothing. Sounders got one back by Jordan Morris, but then Dallas got a third late. There's a number of points here, just a couple quick ones. The first up is the fact that honestly, the Sounders I don't know whether it's mentally or just you know, emotionally, I don't know what it was, but they just weren't there in the first twenty minutes or so of that match.
It just was a team that I don't know what was exactly going on, but it was almost like a team that we haven't seen the last ten matches. I mean, they were unbeaten in the ten and it just looked like a completely different soccer team. For the first twenty minutes or so. They looked disinterested. It wasn't a lot of Dallas came out on the front foot.
I'm not sure if they had planned to kind of just sit back with stand pressure try to catch him on the counter, but Dallas just pretty much saw, you know, Sounders were right for the taking, and they took in the form of two goals in the first sixteen minutes really weird and unfortunate. The way the Sounders came out at the start of that match. Again, not sure what it was, but they just weren't there. And credit
to Dallas they took advantage and they got those two goals. But that's a mistake and that's a mentality that I just don't think the Sounders are going to have come this Friday in game three. I just think there's no way they play the same way out of the gates at lumen Field in a win or season over game rather than a you know, game two on the road that is not a must win facing a team who was facing a must win in their house in Dallas. So I don't think there's a chance that happens again.
The second point I'll bring up is the fact that in the second half this team fought like hell and they looked very, very good. Really, from you know, minute twenty on, they had the ball, they really had a lot of possession, they were dictating Temple, they were creating chances. In the second half, you had you know, offside on Jordan Morris. I think it was barely a good call, but nonetheless a good call on Jordan being off side on his goal the second goal, which would have
been but then also you look at the penalty that was not called. So Roul ruy Diez he's running into the box after he subs on. The sounders are then playing kind of a four to four to two with Jordan Morris and Rolridiez up at the top, and Raul's running into the box on a cross and as he's running in the box, he is defended by Dallas Ford. Heyesus Ferrara and in the box Hey sus Ferira grabs the back of Ral's jersey and pulls Rouel back. The cross lands right in the keeper's arms and probably
wasn't going to be an issue, but you don't know these things. What if the keeper was to drop the ball and you know, suddenly Raul has a chance on it. I think I think that. Well, ultimately what happens is he goes to var they take a look via video review and they rule no penalty. So first up, make it make sense, MLS. Because he is grabbed by the back of his jersey in the box. That
is a text book foul in the box. Now you're gonna hear Albert Russknack in a moment, and you're also Brian Schmitzer spoke at training yesterday and the explanation from the referee was ral Rudiez would not have had a chance to impact the play. But you don't freaking know that, because if the keeper drops the ball, then suddenly Raul has a chance on it. So, yes, it's a gray area. As Brian said yesterday, I think that's well taken, but you just don't know these things. You don't know if the
role is going to be able. Maybe he does get a step closer and poss suddenly thinks, oh gosh, I hear footsteps and he drops the ball accidentally. You don't know these things. So it's a foul in the box. And then not to call it, and that's been called a penalty nine out of ten times around the world, so embarrassingly bad officiating to not call
that a foul and not call that a penalty kick. That would have made the game two too, And suddenly you're looking at the Sounders having all the momentum, two second half goals, a chance to be able to win it right there in Dallas, or at least get the penalty kicks. That was egregious and embarrassing and terrible refereeing and a horrible no call on the no penalty of Raoul. I'm fired up and I want to hopefully try to move on from that to Game three. But that just pissed me off so much last
weekend, not having that penalty called when it was just so obvious. Why don't we talk to Albert Russnak. We obviously talked to him about that play, but calming down right here, but we also talked to him about moving forward to game three, the mentality of the team back out at training, getting the heads right, fixing the mistakes from game two. Had a good conversation out here with Albert Russnak started the chat by talking about simbodly the mentality
heading towards game three and training that day. We kind of have to move past the last game. It's done. All we can do is watch film and learn from the things that we didn't do well, look at the things that we did well, and we can improve on the next game. But you know, it's all eyes on Friday. It's like the old playoffs.
You know, one game and you win or go home. That's that's where we're at right now, and we play at home, you know, and we know we're strong here and we know we can play better than we did last game, and you know, that's that's what we're practicing on. And you know, it's just a little bit of details that we're trying to fix.
At this stage of a season. We played so many games, trained so much that there isn't something new but that we're trying to come up with, right for sure, Let's just start with you mentioned, you know, watching film from that game and fixing the errors. What did you see that happened in game two that did work for you guys that you do got to fix. I think it's the first fifteen minutes. You know, we came
out kind of flat, and we were on the back foot. We were sloppy with the ball, you know, gave away a a PK and also the first goal that was preventable, you know, So really it's the start, you know, it's the first fifteen minutes. I think for the next seventy five we dominated and we created chances and maybe with a bit of luck, shall I say, you know, we could have we could have tied
that game for sure, or even win it. So there's a lot of good stuff that happened outside of the first fifteen minutes, and I think that's what the most, uh, you know, most of our concern for the game three will be you know, coming out already, you know, all fired up, getting the fence behind us, and yeah, I'm taking advantage
of playing at home. Well, you said the word luck. I'll be the one to say that the no call on the penalty on Raoul was when you watch that back and when and even in the moment when when Raul has his jersey pulled on the ball in the box, I mean, what do you see? And I mean this is why I love talking to you, because you're so up and honest. So what do you rethink about that?
Playing the no call for the penalty. So, to be honest, I didn't see it happening, you know, as the cross is coming in, I'm kind of looking, you know, at the ball, you know, all eyes on the ball, and I wasn't looking at what happened on back post. The reason that we got from the referee was that he couldn't have affected the play. You know. Our point is kind of if if the goalkeeper drops the ball, or if the goalkeeper doesn't come out, then it is a PK. So is it really he can affect the ball or is
it actually foul? You know, I see, you know, we watch a lot of a lot of games from around the world and it happens mostly on corner kicks and there's a corner swung in and there is a you know, a pull at the front post, but ball flies over everybody and goes to back post. If there is a pull at the front post, although the guy is not getting there, then you shouldn't follow him, right If I feel like the Dallas player didn't need to pull Rouls shirt if the ball
wasn't getting there. But once you do it, I think it's a foul, you know. But as I said, you know, that's that's our opinion. You know, obviously the referee had a different one, and you know, everybody can have their own opinion. But you know, just seeing the days after the game, you know, more and more videos and pictures coming out, it seems pretty clear. But as I said, we passed that. We can't change that. And you know it's it's a new game
on Friday that will start. In terms of the new game on Friday, you know, the strategy for this game Dallas, I would expect, you know, they obviously came out on the front foot. They came out firing. Do you expect to see a similar Dallas team? How do you game plan for a Dallas team? And you could see a different kind of play style. I think same same as we played them the first game of the
series. You know, I think, uh, you know, we we need to have the ball, We need to be good with the ball, you know, and then we need to put them on the back foot and make sure that they're defending in their you know, inside of their own half, and and yeah, just be dominant with the ball. I feel like that's that's the that's the thing. I feel like we did well in the first game and that's why we had, you know, success, and then
limit the turnovers. You know, even at our place in the first game, they had a couple of breakaways after our giveaways, and I think that's what we will have to limit. And you know, uh, that's you know, that's one way or that's part of part of winning the game three, and part of succeeding in this round will be will be what we do with the ball. So much of this season, there's been the change of whether you're on the right, you're on the left, you're holding, you're
at the number tens. But there's been just back and forth, you and Nico and guys, and it's just been interchanging in and out. We've now kindly feel like we've reached a point where we have the eleven, we have you sitting at that at that number tens. But how comfortable do you feel? Is it the most comfortable you've been all year, you know, now that we have some stability. Probably, uh, I would agree. I think it's you know, it's my favorite position. I feel like I'm involved
in the attack a lot more than from a deeper position. But I always say, you know, every position requires you to do something else. You can play the same way in every position and h And now that we have you know, everybody fit, I feel like the changes and the changes of positions game when you know, we had guys out, we had guys injured, and you know, Christian was a big mess for us, and we try to see what's the best for the team, you know, and that's
where we started to change personnel in different positions. But you know, like you said, right now, we have everyone healthy, and you know, I thought that the group's doing well. Even you know, the guys who come off the bench, they they help us win games, that they help us close out games, you know, And I feel like everybody's doing, you know, what they need to do in order for the team to be successful. So we need more than eleven guys to win any game. And
you know we'll need more than eleven guys to on a Friday. Yeah, not every team in the league is able to bring two designated players off the bench and me go and roll as a luxury for sure. One more here for you, Albert. With Albert Rusnak training. So last night we saw Houston RSL penalties, We're seeing LAFC advance. Are you watching these other games? Taking them in as a fan or as a kind of you know, looking ahead to his potential competition. Are you watching them? And how are
you watching them? Yeah? I mean if I have the time, if you know, if the kids are playing nice and I can have a lot of time to myself and the game is on, then yeah I'll put it on. I don't think I've seen another game for the full ninety minutes, but I saw the second half of the Salt Lake Houston game yesterday. I watched a bit of the second half from the LFC Vancouver game as well, So yeah, I mean, when there is time for me, then I
will I will watch. And you know, of course, when I'm watching LFC Vancouver knowing that that could be our next opponent, although it's you know, it's it's so far down the line, you know, we still have they had to win that game. We still have to win Friday, so it's kind of far away. But yeah, I mean we've played everyone, I feel like twice at least this year, so we know what to expect. And as I said, you know, we're not changing much in terms
of how we want to play at this stage of the season. I'm sure that other teams are doing the same. So yeah, it's kind of watching it just I don't know, said as a fan. No, really, it's just I'm watching it, you know how we watch the sports. Because speaking of that, you said you're a Damian Lillard fan, right, So Damian Lillard now Milwaukee. I can finally I can finally wear his jersey and I can finally put it on and I have to worry about you know,
it's gonna come. So yeah, I'm happy, I mean, all right, thanks, thank you. It's good stuff there from Albert Russknack, Sounders FC midfielder the number ten there. We'll see in d if he is there today or Brian Schmitzer makes a change, perhaps it has been the same lineup for two consecutive games. We will see what happens here. Coming up on Friday night, Well, Sounders FC and Boeing are teaming up to support the
Washington Youth Soccer Community Corner on match days this season. Join us in stadium as a welcome washingt youth soccer players and coaches to cheer on the Rave Green courtesy of Boeing. We'll take a break and next on Sounders Weekly, we'll talk to the guy who is calling the match and this entire series for Apple TV. Brian Dunseeth joins us once again here to preview Game three Sounders Dallas.
That comes up next on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Sunders FC, Seattle's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM. Welcome back, Sounders Weekly. Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. Good to have you with us and thanks for staying around tonight. Good to hear from Albert Russnack there in the first segment,
but joining us right now for the third consecutive week talking Sounders Dallas. The man who's calling the match for MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, which you can watch for free all of the first round games for free on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. The man calling the match with Max brettis it is Brian dun Seth. Back with us again. Brian, I gotta get your Venmo and pay you for these hits. Thanks for doing this again, man, Ah good man, I appreciate the time. Again. Well, it's
so fun to talk about a series. I'm almost sad the fact that we have to talk to you again because I wish the Sounders had closed it out into games which they could have still even despite going down to to nothing. Let's just start with your opening thoughts on what we saw this last weekend in Dallas. The Sounders three to one loss there on the road. I think we saw, in an odd way, continuation of the chances that S Dallas
had created in the first match. I think what it really came down to was moments of clinical finishing, and that's exactly what they got in the second leg, something that again we referenced a couple occasions says this Fedida has missed opportunity in the first leg, really dooming them, and that was after the injury, the ACL injury suffered by Alan Velasko. So heading into the second game, I was wondering how Niko Stevez was going to set up his team
without Velasco. He did so by bringing Liam Frazier in the holding six. He put Yatta Mendi as well as Backston palmacall a little bit higher, so almost two in the same space that one had occupied in the Yatta Inndy and pal McCall versus just Velasco. And then I think Bernard Komungo coming back was a huge, huge asset, and we saw obviously the blender that he put nu Hu in in that first forty five minutes. So I really don't think
a lot changed. I think what it really came down to was pivotal moments where FC Dallas was able to find the back of the net versus the first leg where they had pivotal moments and they ended up see those two chances, Yeah, I think that's absolutely right. And click you brought up Knew. How weird it was that Knew who has one of his best games of his career in game one and one of the worst games of his career in game
two. Just so weird how it just flips. So definitely. But Brian, you know, you talked about how Dallas set up there in game two, and and I'm wondering as we look ahead to game three, how they plan to and how Nico plans to set up in game three, because now, you know, do you do you go back to a game one style? You know, from Brian Schmitzer's side, I wonder how he's trying to
game plan for you know, a big question mark from Dallas's side. Now, yeah, it's it's odd, Jackson, because I feel like you almost have to just worry about yourself, if that makes sense, while at the same time, you know, being cognizant of what the opponent's gonna throw at you, because even with the perfect preparation that you're you're also going to come up against the substitution pattern that could cause a lot of havoc. You know,
that could cause a lot of problems. So I'm intrigued to see exactly what this looks like. Because hey, by the way, let's remind everybody this format, you know, best of three with no aggregate score line coming into play. We've never seen this before. So FC Dallas or excuse me, Shattle Sounders FC Dallas Game three is going to be the very first game of the three game series. So we literally do not have any type of litmus test, for example, of how a team would potentially set themselves up
to this Game three. So but let's tackle it from the Seattle side. Brian Smester has two options. It is Nikola Daron rawul Udias, two players that make a massive impact on the way the team could potentially play in the
second half. So do you want to lose that ability to bring in impact players that can change the game for you even though they came up short on the road in Dallas, because you want to utilize them from the opening whistle, or do you want to maintain what is it going to be the fourth consecutive match in a row where you can kind of like just play well, I guess not for us because you're starting new who instead of Reebaker, but
effectively starting the same you know, midfield and front four. It's it's an intriguing prospect for the other side. We don't know for Nico Stevas where Kamungo is. Remember Comungo missed the first leg. I think he only played thirteen minutes in the first leg because of that ankle injury, and there were concerns about the turf you don't have Alasco. It seemed as if haste that came
off with some type of fatigue type of injury. But I had done a game earlier in the season where he came off and he was grabbing for like his hip flexor his kind of growing area, and then we found out he was just totally fine. It was a fatigue issue, not like an injury issue, and he started the next week. And then you kind of go through that midfield and they've they've been really protective of Paxton pommecoll in his minutes.
As you know, he's rounded himself back into full fitness after that hip
issue really curtailed the last three seasons of his career. And then going with Junka instead of Marco Farfan at left back was a change to deal with not only Christian but also deal with Jordan kind of flaring into that off the left shoulder to far eye, but in off off the right shoulder of anybody coming through because Farfhan is more of a get forward and knowing that the as Max Berritos called it, the row Donna Paluza down that right hand side between Christian
and Alex was causing far Fan so many issues in that first half, so for that first leg. So man, this is the ultimate chess match. I'm super excited about it. I love MLS after Dark. I love all of these these different tweaks and nuances too. I can't wait for the teams to enter the field and the clap to start. There's just something special about
playoff atmosphere in Seattle. Something. Over the years, I've been super fortunate to be a part of so many different broadcasts and it just creates those goosebumps, that kind of a moment, and you know goosebump if the stadium starts to roar with a second half goal that gives you a lead. As many other big games have produced those moments in Sounder history. So we'll see if
this one gets another one. Brian dunsas our guest MLS Unseasoned Pass broadcaster doing all of the Sounders Dallas games you can watch for free on MLS Season Pass coming up this Friday night, seven pm kickoff. Brian, I really quickly want to go back to Game two. I in my first segment tonight absolutely lit into the officiating for the no penalty call after var stepped in on roller Rey Diz, who was pulled back in the box by Hey, who's Ferreira.
They looked at it and they made the call that Rudiez wouldn't have affected the play and therefore not a penalty. How did you see that play? Yeah? I mean, this is a this is a really difficult bitter pill to swallow if you're a Seattle fan because the reality is that that's a foul in any other phase of play. And what we're trying to figure out, and this is it's going to be an interesting one pro I think is going
to have to acknowledge at some point is what is the interpretation? Because for me, the interpretation of reading the laws of the game in a situation like that is it's absolutely a penalty. But what we're doing is we're judging, we're twisting the interpretation just a bit to judge if Ruy Diaz would have gotten to that ball before Martin paused. And I think that's where Rosindo Mendoza, even though I think it was I believe it was Kevin Scott sent Mendoza over.
He's not judging if it's a foul because, by the way, there's no reason whatsoever for Hazes Fada in the train of thought that says Martin pause is getting to the ball no matter what. And that's even more so the stupidity of the foul from Hazes veededa pulled the jersey in the first place.
So you're kind of like there's a double negative in that conversation, right, So I just think the if for Rosindo Mendoza, he is judging that the foul isn't worthy of a penalty, shout because Ruiz isn't going to get there. But in that same argument, I would ark the narrative that that's even more so why it's a penalty, because of the stupidity of the foul in the first place. So I think I'm just kind of waiting to hear exactly
what the hierarchy of pro has to say. And I'll just remind everybody I remember being a part of a conversation where a referee told me, will put a play like an example like this, We'll put a Ruid's play up like this in front of all of our referees, and we'll say penalty are no penalty, And you'd be shocked to see the gulf of difference between those who argue vociferously that it is a penalty versus those who argue the same that it's
not a penalty, And it really is up for the figureheads and the hierarchy
at pro to. I think at some point make kind of this final destination phone call to everybody and say it, in a situation like this, it does matter or does not matter, you know, a definitive yes or no. Are we taking to account the idea of a player getting to the ball before the other player can, or are we saying one hundred percent clear cut, if there's a foul inside the penalty area, that is one hundred percent a penalty, regardless of where you know the defensive player or where the attacking
player is with reference to the ball. So for me, I think it's a penalty, But it doesn't matter what I think. But I would say that if that was judge the penalty. I don't think for a split second var intervenes and says will sendiment those that you've made a clear and obvious mistake. So I think it's it kind of falls into this gray area category,
which I think we're seeing more and more. Is it the judgment we have to we have to figure out the verbiage of clear and obvious mistake because I still think that's subjective in moments like this where if you say penalty, he's not going to overturn it. But if he says no penalty, we're still looking at and say, yeah, but it is a penalty, but you're saying it's not a penalty, But you know, it's still a subjective moment.
I know that's long winded, but for me, I would have felt more comfortable with it being a penalty than not being a penalty, especially because Poz was going to get to the ball first and there's just no reason for Hazes Saday to pull the jersey anyway. Just non for sure, Brian, I agree with pretty much all that, and certainly I think, you know, looking ahead to Friday, I think I would feel very comfortable as long
as there's no big controversy coming out of the game. That would be nice because yeah, enraged coming out of that sole situation out of game too. But we'll see how Friday shakes up. Safe travels up here to Seattle. We'll see on Friday and have a great call. I appreciate it as always, man, I'll see at the game. Well, that doesn't make me feel any better. Comments there on the potential penalty there for roll redias,
but such as life. And we are on to Game three once again, thanks so much to Brian Dunseeth. MLS Season Pass on Apple TV broadcast or where you can watch the match for free this coming Friday. But if you're heading to the match, make sure you get your tickets at soundersfc dot com, slash tickets Friday six thirty Provident Swedish premat show right here Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM kickoff seven o'clock Sounders and Dallas win or season over.
We'll continue talking about that, plus talk about the MLS playoffs with Ari Llinoal of MLS Soccer dot com, plus talk about ol Rain being in the NWSL Championship game. All of that comes up next on Sounders Weekly on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for Sounders FC Seattle's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM. Welcome back Sounders Weekly, Jackson Feltz here. Good have you with us on this Wednesday
evening. Before we welcome on here our next guest, I'll tell you Sounder fans, bud Light was brewed to be a delicious and easy to drink beer. Bud Light, easy to drink, easy to enjoy. Pick up bud Light at your local retailer today, please and Joe responsibly well joining us now to continue talking about what happened there in Game two between the Sounders and Dallas. Game three ahead, but a lot of around the league content is our
man from MLS Soccer dot com, host of the podcast Lobbing Scorcheres. It is Ari Lillian Wall back on the show. Ari, good to have you back, my friend. How are you? I'm good, Jackson, how are you doing? I'm all right, man, I'm all right. Frustrated that the Sounders couldn't get the sweep like LAFC did, like Cincinnati did, like Kansas City did, and we have a game three on Friday. But
I'll see a lumin coming up in the next couple days. Ari, Let's start with what we saw in Game two, the three to one Dallas win that could have very easily been to two. I've expressed my frustrations I'm trying to call down, but what did you see overall in that loss back on the weekend, Yeah, Jackson, I mean that game was always going to come down to how Seattle could withstand and absorb the pressure that FC Dallas was
going to be thrown at them in those first ten to twenty minutes. If they could weather the storm and make it out of that, then I think that would have been anyone's game, and I think that's kind of how it panned out in the second half. But if you can see a couple goals in that window when you know you're going to be under it, then you
just put yourself way behind the eight ball, and that's what happened. So I think the disappointing thing looking back on it is that you know they knew that was going to be the situation, and that playing at home in desperate circumstances, with their season on the line, FC Dallas was going to come out firing and they're going to come out hot. That's exactly what they did, and Seattle just wasn't able to make it through that without a couple of
defensive errors that led to a couple of goals. So it was definitely frustrating how it panned out in the second half with the penalty kick non call on Ridiaz. You know, I think we both agreed that that probably could have and should have been a penalty kick. Yep. But when you come out as flat as they did in those circumstances, then you put yourself in a situation where a fifty to fifty non call like that can kind of that can
kind of steal your fate. And that's what happened. That's exactly right, and I think you've expressed it perfectly right there. They came out flat, I said earlier, that just didn't look like they mentally had showed up for the first twenty minutes of that game, which is, you know, discouraging. But looking ahead to game three, Ari, you can't expect that's gonna
happen and back to back games, especially at home. In game three, Illumini, I would expect a Sounders team that is very engaged and very driven to right the wrongs from game two, and that'll come out on the front foot I would imagine here in the first twenty minutes of this coming Friday. Yeah, I would be surprised if it's a repeat of that of that game script that we saw in Dallas. I mean, Seattle has got this match at home. They know how to play on the front foot at the start
of matches like that when they're at home. So I think, really this game is all about just executing your game plan how you normally do on your home field, with both teams now playing under the same desperate circumstances. All right, before we jump on and you know, talk about the rest of the league, one more question here about game three ahead, and this is
a part of our Sharp Vision Opponent Alocus. Tonight's opponent alex is presented by Sharp Vision Modern lesa can lens, the official Lasik provider of Sounders FC, and looking ahead to what the Sounders may try to do. I don't think that Brian Schmetzer is inclined to make a change, but I would say that if there would be a change, I think it would be laudero for for
Leo Chew. I guess We'll see what him and the coaching staff come to, you know, the understanding over here in the next you know, forty eight hours. But where are you at right now with with the sound lineup? Do you roll out the same lineup for a third straight game or do you make that change with Nico in there? There's definitely an argument for giving
with Darrow the start in this game. Me personally, I'm a little bit hesitant to throw a starting lineup out there that doesn't have Leo Chwo in it, just because I just think he's been one of the most consistent, creative and dangerous players for Seattle pretty much all season. There was a long stretch of the season where he was the only one who was consistently making things happen in attack. He hasn't had the impact that he had at times this season
in this particular series. So I wouldn't hate it if you gave with Darrow a start in this match, especially with all his big game experience, and you know just how many times he's come through in these situations before. But I don't know. For me, I'm a little hesitant to not start Leo two just given the impact that he's had on this attack throughout the season. I think I'm in the exact same mentality as you wouldn't mind Nico. I mean, the guy, you know, it could be his final game as
a Sounder. Theoretically hopefully it's not, but it could be final game as a Sounder, so you know, to give him that nod of a start, wouldn't mind it at all. But I completely agree. I mean, the speed of Leo Chu can change a game, and just having him on the field for however many, you know, sixty some odd minutes before Nico comes in. I really like the idea that. So we'll see what Schenzer in the in the staff aside here coming up in just a couple of nights.
Ari Lillono was our guest host of the podcast Lobbing Scorges, and Ari will have an episode after this series ends, whether it's the end of the Sounders season or whether it's looking ahead to the Conference semifinals against LAFC. Ari will have that out there with Noah before the next round, which should be I think November twenty fifth, twenty six, That would be that next game
if the Sounders move on. But big if Ari, let's talk about LAFC because they go up to Vancouver the in Game two, they get the one nothing win, and specifically they get it with a late assist from the referee who gets in the way of a shot from about twenty yards out coming off of a corner kick. L EFC go down and they score, but of course, you know, offside, et cetera. But overall LFC get the win. Move on, But an interesting situation there at the end on a
wild sequence. Yeah, that was a crazy game and at least a crazy sequence, and that was not necessarily how I expected that game to go. After Game one, when LFC hung five goals on him, I thought it was probably done and dusted. But I think the white Caps showed why they've become the competitive side and upper tier side in the Western Conference this year. And they played LAFC straight up for long stretches of that series, say for
Game one when it kind of got away from them. But I mean, I think I've been saying that I pretty much can cositter Las the favorite in the West right now, in the front runners, and ultimately that series didn't really change how I think of it. After the game, Ari Vanny Sartini, head coach of the Vancouver why Caps started off his press conference and he
asked the reporters, are you rolling? Are you recording? And then at the start of his press conference, so let me actually pull up the exact quote before move any further, because I want to make sure I get this right because it is something very I guess I would use the word concerning,
but very discussing it makes me feel very icky inside. Vanny Sartini started the press conference by saying, if referee Tim Ford, who did the game between LAFC and Vancouver game two, So he said, if referee Tim Ford ends up floating face down in False Creek tonight, the cops might come looking for me, Which is obviously a joke first off by Vanny Sartini, but it's
a very disgusting joke as he jokes about the death of a referee. Our next guest Andrew Harvey, certainly something he feels passionate about, and no doubt why and Ari It's just one of those things that that if you're Vannye Sartini, what the hell are you thinking making a joke about a referee death. Yeah, I mean he shouldn't have said that. You can't say that. It's one thing to express your disagreement with a particular call, or say that
you think that a referee missed a call or had a bad game. You know, you'll probably get fined for that anyway. But I know, I know he would probably say he was joking. But it's just a joke that you can't make. The problem is that referees are subject to a lot of this hostility and it's a huge problem like youth sports and all the way up to the pro levels. So I mean, yeah, you can't say that, And I think looking back on it, Vandy Startini himself would probably tell
you that he can't say that. You shouldn't said that, Yeah, because you look at global soccer. I mean, referees have been killed for certain calls. This is not a joke. This is something that legitimately happens around the globe. You know, what do you think Vanny Sartini gets out of it? If a normal you know, made the wrong call gets a fine, I would think one a fine is going to happen to Sartini. But how many games do you think he gets suspended for to start twenty twenty four?
I think, I mean, he's definitely obviously going to get fined. I wouldn't be surprised if there's a one to two match suspension, and I mean, I think that's probably warranted. And I think that he if he hasn't already, he's definitely going to put out like an apology statement where he acknowledges that that's something that can't be said and shouldn't have been said. Yeah, I think the suspension must happen, and it must happen for multiple games.
In my opinion, you can't joke about the death of a referee. That's just inexcusable. Moving on ari, you know, to a different subject. It's hard to move on from that. But look around the Western Conference and I think we only have time to get to this game. But Saint Louis, which we came into the playoffs still questioning if they were I mean, I was questioning if they were really really legit coming off of that decision. They loss to Seattle and they do exactly what we thought they would do,
which was get beat by Kansas City. And it's a Kansas City sweep of them, the eight seed sweeping the one seed. Your reaction to the two to one Kansas City win that puts them through to the semifinals of the conference and just the disappointment that is throughout Saint Louis City right now. Yeah, I mean I think we saw exactly what a few of us predicted we might see, which is that the kind of luck that Saint Louis had been
the beneficiaries from throughout the season at times it evened out on them. But I do think a lot of what happened in that series is down to Sporting Kansas City being in really good form. I mean, they've been towards the top of the West during conference in terms of points per game since May,
so it doesn't exact exactly surprised me to see them advancing. And I was a little bit surprised at how much Saint Louis capitulated in that first game at home, you know, as I picked Sport in Kansas City to win the
series, but I didn't foresee game one going like that. But then I think you have to give Sporting Kansas City credit for taking care of business at home in match two, and they're kind of suddenly looking like a team in the West that is capable of making a pretty deep run, which no one would have thought that if you looked at their forum over the first ten games of the season. Yeah, for sure, Kansas City is certainly looking good. Since may well Ari Lulin one more here for you, buddy. We
won't be able to hit Houston Real Salt Lake. We know that that is heading to a game three. So we'll talk about that series later on in what Kansas City has ahead in terms of one of those two teams. Before you go, gotta get a quick thought on what's going down in Portland, because they have hired a new coach, Phil Neville. And maybe it's the other colored green tinted glasses that I'm wearing, but this siding of the head coach, Phil Neville, it just doesn't make sense to me. Man,
I don't think it's gonna work out very well at all. But again that's coming from a Sounder fan. What do you think of Phil Nevill heading to the Timbers? Yeah, you know, far be it from me to tell the Portland Timbers how to do their business. It's not necessarily the higher that I would have made. I think when you're talking about the Portland Timbers, there's just other factors at play then simply on field success and Phil Neville.
I mean, let's just be honest. There's baggage there that's been well documented, and their own fans and supporters groups have been very vocal about how they feel about all that. So I don't even think I need to say anything about that. It is what it is. But you know, I'll tell you who I would have hired if I were them, Robin Fraser. Robin Fraser was right there. I think he got a raw deal in Colorado.
I think he's a proven good coach and he has just as much, if not more of on field track record of on field success as an MLS coach than philt Neville does. So don't I don't understand why they didn't know that route. To be honest with you, that's such a great call, really really really good call. You didn't bring it up, but to round it out for people wondering what that checkered past is. He made very misogynistic comments on social media a number of years ago. He apologized for them, but
nonetheless very misogynistic comments. He also outwardly rudy for the Portland Timbers while as a neutral commentator in the September second game Sounders Timbers. Maybe he already knew he had the job, but I found that very odd, So I don't know Portland all right, you got film Nevel. You aren't happy with it, but maybe you enjoyed the tweet of him stepping into the stadium. That
was hilarious. Ari, good stuff man. I'm not sure the next circumstances will be talking to you about, whether it's the Sounders moving on or the season ending, but we will talk to you soon. My friend, have a good one. Sounds good. Thank you. It's good stuff there from Ari Lillenwall, MLS soccer dot com and the podcast Lobbing Scorchers. Yeah, we will see what happens on Friday. The match is presented by Region's Blue Shield, where connection is at the heart of a healthy life. Regions Blue
Shield together we health from around the league. We now turn our attention to around the sound We've been talking to you about it earlier tonight because sure the Sounders have a massive game coming up, you know, do or Die on Friday night, but the day after Saturday down in San Diego there is a
championship in the NWSL. Here to talk about what team that includes it is our good friend, our Puget sound soccer expert Andrew Harvey, Well, Ol Rain will be hoping that the third time is the charm this weekend, Jackson, that's right. Oil Rain are back in the Nbasel Championship match for the third time in club history. After a dramatic one he'll win over San Diego
WAVEFC on Sunday thanks to an absurd goal from Veronica Latskal. The Rain, who have won three NWSL shields for their regular season play, came up short against FC Kansas City back in twenty fourteen and twenty fifteen in the league's championship match. They're now looking to send Megan Repino off with pretty much one of the only trophies that she hasn't yet won in her career. They'll face off against Gotham FC, who had never done better than reaching the semi finals back
in the league's inaugural twenty thirteen season. They haven't progressed further than that until this year. They were known as Sky BLUEFC back in those days. The match we played at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego, California, this Saturday. It'll kick off at five pm and will air nationally on CBS. I'm Andrew Harvey, and this has been around the Sound Andrew Harvey, they're a Puget Sound soccer experts. And yes, Meghan Rapino's final game as she is calling
it a career, and this is it. The championship of the NWSL Saturdays. Andrew mentioned five pm there in San Diego. I've seen a bunch of Sounder fans who were choosing to fly down and Rain fans flying down for this should be an awesome atmosphere down there in beautiful San Diego for the NWSL title. Ali Krieger versus Megan or Pino. I mean the Rain who've had so
many chances. Andrew mentioned it right there, hopefully third times. The charm Gotham eighth place in the league, you know, overall our sixth place, excuse me, overall. I like what the Rain have looking at this situation right now. I like the matchup. I think that the Rain have a great shot to bring home the championship here coming up on Saturday. But we will see what happens. We'll see what happens on Saturday, and we'll see
what happens on Friday. Once again, broadcast details we will tak to you right here on Sports Radio ninety three point three KJR FM this Friday night, Providence, Swedish premat show it six point thirty, kickoff right around seven o'clock. Danny Jackson will be on the call all host pregame. Gonna have a loaded crew for the biggest game of the Sounders season. It's Game three.
It is win or season over as Dallas Force the Game three and they are here for this final one here of the first round of the Audi twenty twenty three MLS Cup Playoffs. You can also watch the match via MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app. Friday's Matches presented by Regent's Blue Shield, where connection is at the heart of a healthy life. Regions Blue Shield Together we Health. So there you go. We'll talk to you on Friday right here
ninety three point three KJRFM at six thirty. But for right now, Fox Sports Radio is coming up next