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Before getting into the calamity that was the start of the second half of the season for the Sounders, there were some positives. Before the eagerly anticipated game was started, some honors were given out.
Jackson Ragen was announced as being an all-star selection, which he deserved.
The Circle of Legends welcomed Kasey Keller, Sigi Schmid, and Jimmy Gabriel into its membership. Each of them helped establish the Sounders as an eventual MLS dynasty.
Keller was the goalkeeper when the Sounders broke into the MLS and started the tradition of defensive competency.
Sigi Schmid was the initial MLS coach and one of the top coaches the US has produced.
Gabriel was the team's first captain, before MLS that started the Sounders off toward where they are today.
With all that said, to honor them on a night where the Sounders showed no sign of their tradition and attention to defense that made them who they are. They were playing at home, against a rival after a substantial break in play as the World Cup winds down. Much like with the USMNT, Christian Roldan had to sit by, nursing injuries, as he watched his teams flop, and flop hard.
In their defense the national team had played well leading up to the game and would have run into Spain in the following match where their chances were close to nil at coming away with the win considering Belgium and France had no answer for them.
For the first time in their MLS era, the Sounders conceded 5 goals. They did it at home, against their rivals. For the first half of the season, the Sounders were tied for the best defensive team with just 11 goals allowed in 13 games.
All that was swept away rashly by the Timbers. The absence of the Roldans, as well as Yeimar in the back left the sounders defense in shambles in what Snyder Brunell termed as "embarrassing." Paul Rothrock added that they "didn't show up tonight in the way they needed to. Both Brunell and Dopson struggled the entire game, as did Kalani Kossa-Rienzi and Nouhou and Ragen were unable to cover up their mistakes.
Brian Schmetzer claimed that "it was the worst loss to the timbers ever" and that the players "lacked conviction, intensity, smarts and desire." This was the Sounders' third loss in a row, and can be assumed that there will be some adjustments to the line-up with players who can show that they will not fall lacking in those areas again.
Jordan Morris left the match at half time with tightness in his quad and Christian Roldan reaggravated his quad injury in an attempt to return too quickly to the USMNT. Unfortunately, he saw no time on the pitch during the tournament.
The wait for the return of Yeimar and De la Vega still looms over the squad as it appears they could really use their talents to form a more cohesive unit.
While the fall out over this disaster is just beginning, the Sounders have the weekend off to regroup before traveling to Austin for Wednesday's match. The will play the Timbers in Portland in a couple of weeks. Losing out of the gates is disappointing, but the next couple of weeks will provide them with the opportunity for redemption.
Right now, they only really have 2 problems. Their offense can't deliver on goal-scoring opportunities, and their defense can be reduced to rubble with 1 or 2 decent passes. One has to wonder if they need to invest in a number 9 that can deliver consistently.
This article was originally published on soundersnation.com as The Sounders follow the USMNT with a flop of their own.
