The Sounders accomplished a feat they haven't achieved all season | OneFootball

On an afternoon that celebrated Stefan Frei's 400th appearance and Albert Rusnak being the second player in MLS history to score 25 goals and 25 assists for 2 different teams, the Sounders got themselves back on track as far as progressing as a team.

The loss to LAFC and the tie to Portland left the progress of the team up in the air. They came to play on Saturday. They were able to sustain pressure and move the ball from defense to offense. That isn't to say that there weren't lapses, and the Sounders have Stefan Frei to thank for once again making some saves that remind you that he is, as Brian Schmetzer called it, the best goal tender in MLS since he arrived at the Sounders.

Sounders accomplished a feat they haven't achieved all season

From a progress standpoint, the Sounders are where they need to be at this part of the season. Their defense is solid as always, assuming Jackson Ragan can take up the minutes that Yeimar will be missing due to his right hamstring issue that he aggravated in the first half.

They have been able to work the ball through midfield. In Saturday's game, what they were lacking until the penalty kick in the 86th minute was the ability to finish. There were a ton of miscues in the attacking third as the players are learning to play with each other and where and when to make runs.

That takes time for any team to build, and approaching halfway through the season, if the Sounders can lock that down, they will be in good shape to make a run in the playoffs and potentially in the Club World Cup. Of course, the caliber of play in the Club World Cup will be at a completely different level.

The standouts for the recent string of games have been Albert Rusnak, who has 5 goals in the last 5 games, Stephan Frei, who has been standing on his head as a keeper, and Christian Roldan, who has been defending all over the pitch and making some brilliant passes which may make him the MVP of the Sounders this year (not the award, but actual most valuable player).

As for this season, the Sounders have worked their way up in the standings from 12th place to tied for 5th. Their next two games against San Diego (ranked 2nd but just 4 points ahead of the Rave Green) and Minnesota (ranked 3rd and only 3 points ahead of Seattle) are significant because the are both at home, where the Sounders have yet to lose this season (5 wins, 3 draws) and it is a good measuring stick for how good they are right now.

One looming concern is what the rosters will look like for these games. The Sounders rotating roster let them down against LAFC, a midweek game, and in Portland, where they regressed as a team. So what will be the strategy going into this week' games?

Against LAFC, the rotating roster seems to have been anyone who hasn't been playing much, and that didn't go well. However, with Musovski sitting out last game, perhaps they will but out a more balanced mix of regulars and fresh players for these games.