SEATTLE — Job done. That was the feeling around the Sounders locker room after a 4-3 win over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday afternoon. It was just what the team needed as they embark on a two-week break from MLS play.
Two consecutive come-from-behind victories have punctuated Seattle’s nine-match unbeaten streak in MLS regular season play (6-0-3). The latest win pulled Seattle to within a point of league-leading LA Galaxy.
WATCH HIGHLIGHTS: Seattle 4, Colorado 3
Even after falling behind twice in the first half, Seattle managed to escape with a victory on the strength of three second-half goals. In that regard, this match was eerily similar to the Portland game last Sunday, when Seattle also came from behind twice to earn three points.
“Obviously, the character we showed again coming back after being down twice was superb,” head coach Sigi Schmid said after the match. “My hat’s off to the team in that regard.”
While the increased production of Fredy Montero caught most of the headlines this week, Schmid complimented his entire attacking unit. All four of Seattle’s starting strikers and outside midfielders found the net today against Colorado’s back line.
“I was very pleased with our front four – [Roger] Levesque, Montero, [Alvaro] Fernandez, and Mauro Rosales,” Schmid said. “I think they were creative and they put a lot of things together and a lot of combinations.”
Montero, especially, finds himself in a rich vein of form. The Colombian picked up four goals this week, including two against Portland last Sunday and another in a midweek U.S. Open Cup victory.
Twenty-two games into the season, Montero now has six goals and five assists in league play. His goal against Colorado was reminiscent of a goal he scored in the 2010 season opener versus the Philadelphia Union, also on a header inside the same post.
“Not to say that it was a perfect week, but I definitely feel very good, especially because the team accomplished the objectives set before going into this MLS break,” Montero said through a translator.
While both goalkeeper Kasey Keller and Schmid were disappointed in giving up three goals defensively, achieving victory in this closely-contested match sat well with the team. Schmid gave the team Sunday off before they begin preparations for a Wednesday night friendly against Manchester United.
After the friendly, Seattle return to competitive action with a CONCACAF Champions League qualifier against Panamanian club San Francisco FC on July 26, followed by a road match at Houston July 30.
“We’re going into two places that are going to be very hot and very humid, so we have to make sure that we’re ready,” Schmid said.
Andrew Winner covers the Seattle Sounders for MLSsoccer.com. Follow him on Twitter @AndrewWinnerMLS
