SEATTLE — Through their first few months of the season, the Seattle Sounders have convincingly shown that they are as good as just about anyone when they’ve got something like a full-strength squad. In 16 games across competitions with at least nine first-choice starters, the Sounders have gone 9-3-5 — a pace that would put them in contention for the Supporters’ Shield.
The main problem, so far, has been with the games where they’ve had six or fewer of those ideal starters. In their first five such games, the Sounders had gone 0-3-2 — a pace that would virtually ensure them last place in the standings.