Since our last update, the Sounders have picked up their first win on the young season. The good news about that victory is that there was an offensive outburst in route to a 3-1 victory for Seattle; the bad news that one match is 60% of their scored goals and the offense has regularly failed to create opportunities.
In their 3-1 win over the Minnesota, Seattle had seven shots on goal — which is 23.3% of the team’s shots on goal this season. It was the kind of offensive performance that was expected of this roster coming into the season…and that had allowed Seattle to go to back-to-back MLS Cup matches. Their victory was the second match in a row that the Sounders had scored points in the table, following a 2-2 draw with Kansas City; unfortunately for the Sounders, the offense struggled mightily against Los Angeles FC in its home opener at its new stadium.
One match after seven shots on goal, the offense only managed four shots in Los Angeles. Despite the lack of offensive production against LAFC, the Sounders managed to control possession of the ball for 51% of the game. Unfortunately for Seattle, goalkeeper Stefan Frei was unable to stop one of the final shots and it squeaked by to give LAFC its first home win at Banc of California Stadium. But the real problem was Clint Dempsey as he lost control of the ball 10 times on Sunday afternoon.
It’s not just Dempsey that’s been a problem for the offense throughout the season as everyone has struggled on the offensive side of the pitch. There has consistently been poor decision making on shots and passes have led to inopportune turnovers that have cost Seattle throughout its first six games. For the Sounders to have a shot at getting back into the playoff race, the offense is going to need to be more efficient with its decision making process when their near the opponent’s goal.
MLS Standings update
We’re now six matches into the season and the Sounders are 1-4-1 with only four points on the board; which is good for dead last in the Western Conference and tied for worst in the league. It’s interesting to note that last year’s MLS Cup champion — the team that beat Seattle — is also sitting at only four points this season with a similar 1-4-1 record.
Western Conference
| Rank | Team | Record | Points |
| 1) | Sporting Kansas City | 5-2-2 | 17 |
| 2) | Los Angeles FC | 5-2-0 | 15 |
| 3) | Vancouver Whitecaps FC | 4-4-1 | 13 |
| 4) | FC Dallas | 3-1-3 | 12 |
| 5) | Los Angeles Galaxy | 3-4-1 | 10 |
| 6) | Real Salt Lake | 3-4-1 | 10 |
| 7) | Minnesota United FC | 3-5-0 | 9 |
| 8) | Houston Dynamo | 2-3-2 | 8 |
| 9) | Colorado Rapids | 2-3-2 | 8 |
| 10) | Portland Timbers | 2-3-2 | 8 |
| 11) | San Jose Earthquakes | 1-4-2 | 5 |
| 12) | Seattle Sounders FC | 1-4-1 | 4 |
Eastern Conference
| Rank | Team | Record | Points |
| 1) | New York City FC | 6-1-2 | 20 |
| 2) | Atlanta United FC | 6-1-1 | 19 |
| 3) | Orlando City SC | 5-2-1 | 16 |
| 4) | New England Revolution | 4-2-2 | 14 |
| 5) | Columbus Crew SC | 4-3-2 | 14 |
| 6) | New York Red Bulls | 4-3-0 | 12 |
| 7) | Chicago Fire | 2-3-2 | 8 |
| 8) | Philadelphia Union | 2-3-2 | 8 |
| 9) | Montreal Impact | 2-6-0 | 6 |
| 10) | DC United | 1-4-2 | 5 |
| 11) | Toronto FC | 1-4-1 | 4 |
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