Facing the always-stingy Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Park on Saturday, the Union are looking to earn a much-needed result and cleanse themselves of the heartbreaking 2-1 home loss a week prior.
But in order to pull off that tall order against the 5-1-1 Sounders, who have allowed just three goals all season, the Union are going to need a spirited offensive effort from a group that hasnt performed up to par yet this year.
We talk about it all the time, we want numbers forward, said assistant coach John Hackworth, who will manage the bench while head coach Peter Nowak serves out the second of his two-game suspension. Its a numerical game where we want to gain opportunities or advantages.
However, the Unions unproductive attack, which has scored just five goals in seven games, isnt for lack of effort. According to Hackworth, its lacking the confidence and courage to take opportunities and make the most of them. The Union possessed that confidence late last season, when they defeated the host Sounders, 2-0, to secure a playoff berth.
When youre there, youre like a 10-year-old, the eyes get big and wide, you know its on, said Hackworth. But you need the courage to take it. There have been a couple times in the first part of this season where players have passed it and looked to the next guy. That happened on Saturday night. Were just reinforcing the point that when these guys get the chance, we want them to take it and know we need to create more of those opportunities. Thats a good recipe for long-term success and multiple goals in a game.
The numbers we had going forward were great on Saturday, we were there. Hopefully, we can take the things we didnt do well and turn it into positives against Seattle.
On a positive note, the 2-4-1 Union will field a full and healthy squad, as they get back the services of Keon Daniel, Gabe Farfan and Brian Carroll. Daniel and Farfan were both suspended last week because of red card penalties and Carroll was a late scratch because of an injury.
Everyone who had a strain or pull here is doing very well, said Hackworth. We should have full selection on Saturday.
This next week alone is going to be challenging. Its a tough stretch for us and you need a full compliment of players and have guys step up. It has to be something we take advantage of in the next month.
But who the Union suit up and what tactics they use in Seattle will depend on the Sounders. With a game on Wednesday -- a 2-0 win against the LA Galaxy -- a match-up with the Union on Saturday and a battle against FC Dallas on May 9, the Sounders are forced into three contests in seven days, which could drastically alter their starting lineup against the Union.
We just have to see what will work best against our opponent, said Hackworth, who has to deal with Sounders striker David Estrada, with four goals on the year. Thats what we chose the last three games. Were hopeful Brian Carroll will be back for us and that gives us choices for Saturday. Gabriel Gomez has done well up the field and Carroll and Amobi Okugo do well in a holding position. We think depending on who Seattle plays, it'll dictate what we do on Saturday.
Its a crucial stretch for Seattle and hard to manage three games in a short amount of time. Were ready either way.
Yet, regardless of who the Sounders start, the Union are seeking redemption from what they called an unjust result against the Earthquakes, who took them down in extra time just a week earlier. Embarrassed, the Union are eager to right a wrong and work to steal back three points from a West Coast team.
Traveling all the way to Seattle and playing in that environment on that surface against a very good team, its going to be a huge ask for us, said Hackworth. But we're ready and were kind of anxious to get out there again.
E-mail Ryan Bright at rbright13@gmail.com