Over the first few years of Sigi Schmid’s reign as Seattle Sounders coach, the team was dominant on the road. It was one of the rare MLS teams that played a similar style away from home as it did in their local confines. And they won quite a bit of those matches. But things changed in Sigi’s last few years. A more conservative tactic took over, one that mirrored his system in two-leg playoff series.
Brian Schmetzer went old school, Sounders style, in his approach to road games. The team plays with possession, intent and fury. Entering away matches the approach is not one of safety and hope for a low scoring draw.