A few weeks ago, the Seattle Sounders hit rock bottom. They were one point from the Western Conference cellar. They were just embarrassed on national television by Sporting Kansas City and had no choice but to fire Sigi Schmid, the only coach they’d ever had in their MLS history.
All of a sudden, one of America’s great soccer cities found itself with a club that was more pretender than championship contender.
Enter Nicolas Lodeiro.
Nicolas Lodeiro breezes by Ashley Cole. Photo: @FOXSoccer | Twitter
As the legendary Schmid updated his resume at a local Starbucks, the Sounders sought an urgent fix for a stagnating attack that’d never really recovered from the preseason loss of Obafemi Martins. They decided to bring in Lodeiro, a 27-year-old Uruguayan international formerly of Boca Juniors and Ajax with an abundance of skill and creativity. As quickly as you can say “caramel mocha frappuccino”, the Sounders found new life in their season.
Seattle has taken 7 points from their first three matches with Lodeiro, who has registered three assists and added a beauty of his own in that time.
Nicolas Lodeiro is quickly becoming a fan favorite in Seattle. #SEAvRSL https://t.co/fWwmx6IyU4
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) August 14, 2016
Even better for Sounders fans is the fact that they are now only 5 points behind fierce rivals Portland for the last playoff spot in the West.
The two teams face off this Sunday in a nationally televised match with all the makings of a classic.
Unlike many Designated Players that come to MLS at the end of their careers, it seems like Nicolas Lodeiro has several great seasons ahead of him. But the present just got a lot more exciting, too. And that has Seattle smiling again.
