Seattle Sounders vs. FC Dallas: Key Issues That Will Shape MLS Game
The final spot in the MLS Conference finals will be decided Monday night under the bright lights at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
The Sounders and FC Dallas drew 1-1 at Toyota Stadium in the first leg Sunday. By scoring an away goal, Seattle has the upper hand in the Conference semifinal series.
That advantage could be taken away if FC Dallas nets an away goal of their own in the Emerald City.
Here is a look at the six key issues that will decide the second leg of this Western Conference semifinal clash.
The Impact of Mauro Diaz
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FC Dallas were dealt a big blow before the first leg, when Mauro Diaz was suspended one game after leaving the bench during the knockout-round clash with Vancouver.
The Hoops missed the abilities of Diaz a ton in the match at Toyota Stadium, as they could not keep a constant attacking threat through the middle. With him absent, they relied way too much on the wing play of Fabian Castillo.
Regardless of where the game is being played and the surface it is being played on, Diaz is a difference-maker in the FC Dallas attack.
With him on the pitch, Seattle will be forced to pay more attention to the middle of the pitch. The man responsible for that will be Osvaldo Alonso, who is the midfield bulldog on the Sounders roster.
If Diaz can use his speed to get around Alonso to create a few chances in the first half, the confidence will grow in the FC Dallas camp.
Efficient Crosses from FC Dallas Wingers
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The one-dimensional approach down the wing by the FC Dallas attack was far from efficient in the 1-1 draw Sunday night.
Of the 24 crosses they attempted, Oscar Pareja's side completed 13 percent of them. No matter which way you put it, that is a horrible number for a professional soccer team to put up.
Nine of the attempted crosses came from Michel, who was forced to surge forward with Diaz absent from the match. The Brazilian converted just one of them, while Castillo was 0-for-6 on his attempts to spring the attack.
Part of the reason why FC Dallas were so bad in the crossing department was the play of Chad Marshall and Zach Scott at center-back. The Seattle duo combined for 27 clearances in the draw.
If much of the same occurs in the second leg, Seattle will most likely cruise to victory behind its powerful defense.
Will Sigi Schmid Trust Marco Pappa?
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After earning his spot in the starting XI with two stellar showings off the bench to end the regular season, Marco Pappa turned into a liability in the first leg.
Pappa clumsily took down Andres Escobar in the box, which led to Michel's 34th-minute goal from the spot. Luckily, the Guatemalan winger made up for his error with an assist on Osvaldo Alonso's equalizer in the 54th minute.
With Pappa on the field, Seattle manager Sigi Schmid hands his team a better opportunity to fly forward in attack on the wing. But if he moves Brad Evans back to the right, more stability will be brought to the team on defense.
It is a tough selection decision for the Seattle boss, but leaving Pappa on the bench would be ideal so that he is full of energy if he needs to make an impact off the bench. That will allow Schmid to put either Gonzalo Pineda or Michael Azira in the middle with Evans on the right.
Who Will Shut Down Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins?
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It has to be expected that Clint Dempsey and Obafemi Martins will be at their best in the Sounders' biggest game of the season so far.
In the first leg, all three of Dempsey's shots were on target. Martins took three shots as well, two of which were on goal. They may not have scored, but both of the forwards made a meaningful impact on the road.
Now, with the home crowd behind them and everything to play for, the duo will be looking to combine early and often to slam the door shut on any chance of FC Dallas advancing.
Containing the duo is not easy, but if the visitors want to keep their season alive, Matt Hedges needs to disrupt every single move the Seattle pair put together in the box. Further up on the pitch, Michel needs to limit the number of passes the duo use to link up in the attacking third.
Completing this task will not be easy for Oscar Pareja's side, but it is not impossible if Hedges and Michel play smart and aggressive.
DeAndre Yedlin's Opportunistic Moments in Attack
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We all know what DeAndre Yedlin is capable of moving forward on the right wing, but we haven't seen many explosive plays from the right-back recently.
Despite his lack of thunderous runs in attack, Yedlin has done well on the defensive side of the ball, which is where he needs to improve ahead of his move to Tottenham.
There is nothing wrong with staying back to defend in key games. But at some point, Yedlin needs to bomb forward and become an extra weapon in the dangerous Seattle attack.
If Schmid opts to go with Evans on the right wing, we could see more of Yedlin in the final third, since Evans is a better defender than Pappa or Lamar Neagle.
If that is the case, look for Yedlin to take a few chances to provide Seattle with an early lead and put the pressure squarely on the shoulders of the visitors.
Chemistry Between the FC Dallas Forwards
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One major concern about the FC Dallas attack is the chemistry between Blas Perez and Tesho Akindele. The two players have had trouble linking up at times this season, and if they aren't on the same page Monday, it will destroy the team's playoff hopes.
Perez is an experienced veteran who has led the line on countless occasions; the young Akindele has shone in spurts during his first season as a professional.
To be fair, a forward partnership is not built overnight. Just look at Dempsey and Martins, who have turned it up a notch in their second year as a pairing.
The problem Pareja faces is Akindele's replacement would be David Texeira, who has scored just four goals in 19 games this season. However, three of the goals were scored against the Sounders, which may persuade Pareja to start the Uruguayan in the second leg.
Regardless of who starts up front with Perez, that player will need to work some magic with the Panamanian over the span of 90 minutes for FC Dallas to leave CenturyLink Field with a massive upset.
Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.
All statistics obtained from MLSSoccer.com and WhoScored.com.
