Talking Points: Soft goals sink Sounders again

Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports Through 70 minutes, the Sounders had accomplished exactly what Brian Schmezter had outlined as a winning strategy ahead of the match. They’d stayed defensively compact, allowed only one shot on target, and utilized their superior quality in the attacking phase to create a goal out of limited opportunities. The team even looked destined to add a second as Montreal opened themselves up to the counter and Joevin Jones found himself in increasing space as the match wore on. In the end though, Seattle’s lack of killer instinct in the final third became Montreal’s lifeline, and Saphir Taider grabbed that lifeline with both hands, winning a penalty, scoring a penalty and then scoring the game winner only four minutes later.

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