“It was kind of spontaneous, I didn’t expect it going into the game or even during the game. When Flaco came in, I was like ‘who’s playing right back?’”
That was what was going through Seattle Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan’s mind around the 65th minute of his team’s match against the New York Red Bulls last Sunday. Oniel Fisher, who started at right back, had to be substituted off due to a hamstring injury. Most people, including Roldan, assumed that the only natural defender on the bench, Tony Alfaro, would be the one to replace Fisher and send Gustav Svensson to right back.