Seattle Sounders aim to hit refresh button, get back to basics

The Seattle Sounders lost 1-0 at home to the San Jose Earthquakes for the second straight week on Saturday. The loss was a rare loss for a club that had previously been unbeaten in 17 straight games at Lumen Field since September last year.

Having started the season with an unbeaten run of 13 games, the longest to open a campaign in MLS history, the Sounders have now lost three out of four and want to roll back as the games continue to come fast in a compressed season .

“The teams come here and want to beat us,” said striker Will Bruin, who missed the last five games on Saturday after suffering a knee injury. “This is your MLS Cup. This is the second week [in a row] I’ve heard teams sing [in their locker room], and frankly it kind of annoys me.

“We have to get back to the basics that are difficult to play against,” he continued. “We had the sharpest defense. Nobody could score with us. We have to be hard to play again, persistent, and hit the refresh button … We have to fix that, and this group is probably one of the best groups that can do that. “

The Sounders are still the first in the MLS defensively this season after conceding just 13 goals in 17 games. However, four of those came at home in the last two games and all of them were issues head coach Brian Schmetzer is keen to correct.