The streak lives.
The Seattle Sounders’ 1-1 tie with Chivas USA on Saturday at The Home Depot Center certainly wasn’t the most satisfying road point they’ve earned, but it was enough to run their road unbeaten streak to 10 games (7-0-3).
For the most part, the Sounders had the run of play, and outshot Chivas 11-5. But they still needed a David Estrada equalizing goal in the 61st minute to pull out the tie.
OPTA Chalkboard: Sounders have the run of it against Chivas
“We feel very confident on the road, we feel we’re going to do well,” Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid said. “It’s something we always try, we don’t change how we play all that much.”
On the equalizer, Estrada took the throw-in from Fredy Montero, played it back and then went straight for the box. Montero laid it off to Alex Caskey, whose cross hit Estrada perfectly in stride just at the edge of the six-yard box.
“It’s always good to equalize it sooner than later,” Estrada said about scoring just four minutes after Juan Agudelo had given Chivas USA a 1-0 lead. “Alex Caskey came in and he made a difference, played a good ball. I think it was a bad clearance from the defender, but I’m just trying to get myself in a good spot, luckily it went in.”
The goal was Estrada’s fifth of the season, but his first since March 23. During his 10-match goalless drought, he’d been used primarily as a wide midfielder. With Eddie Johnson having played 90 minutes in each of the Sounders’ past four games and being given some time to rest, Estrada was back at forward.
He responded with a strong game in which he not only had the goal, but was inches away from also including an assist. In the 55th minute, Estrada found some space down the left flank. He hit Montero with a pass at the top of the penalty area, and the Colombian took one touch but fired a shot that went just inches wide.
The Sounders had entered the match hoping to regain some of the momentum they’ve lost since their five-match winning streak ended. After Saturday’s tie, they’re still looking – their winless streak now stands at four games heading into the international break, which will keep them out of action until the June 16 game at the Montreal Impact.
Unlike those previous three results, though, the Sounders can at least look back at this one and find some real positives. Although Chivas had their chances, the Sounders had at least as many.
“It’s kind of tough to go down and then we actually created a few chances after we equalized, so I thought we easily could have taken one after the 65th minute,” Caskey said. “At least we got the tie; it was tough game on the road.”
Jeremiah Oshan covers the Seattle Sounders for MLSsoccer.com and SB Nation.
HIGHLIGHTS: CHV vs SEA
