Sounders can build on Club World Cup effort in pursuit of Leagues Cup, MLS Cup | OneFootball

Thursday's 3-1 defeat at the hands of Spanish giants Atlético Madrid leaves Seattle Sounders winless after two games at this summer's FIFA Club World Cup, staring down the barrel of elimination from Group B.

Seattle faces a near-impossible path to progression in the group's final matchday. If Brian Schmetzer's men fail to defeat recent UEFA Champions League victors Paris Saint-Germain by at least three goals, and current group leader Botafogo does not beat Atlético, their tournament is over.

Regardless of the narrow defeats to Brazil's Botafogo and then Atéti, Seattle should remain proud of its displays. If Monday's meeting with PSG does spell the end of their Club World Cup campaign, the Sounders take a great deal from their participation in such an exclusive competition.

Such confience should enhance Seattle's chances of clinching hardware both in this summer's Leagues Cup and the MLS Cup Playoffs later this year.

Being tough to beat is paramount

Despite the major gulf in quality between Seattle and Atlético, Schmetzer's defense held firm well enough to restrict the Spanish giants to few clear-cut goalscoring opportunities.

Seattle kept itself in the game for the entirety of the encounter, and if Jesus Ferreira's late effort hadn't been ruled offside, the final few moments would've been very tense indeed.

There wasn't much Seattle's defense or 'keeper Stefan Frei could do about Pablo Barrios' spectacular early opener, either.

Atlético midfielder Conor Gallagher was quick to praise the Sounders' grit after full-time. “I thought they played really well, and it was a really tough game," the Englishman said.

After a slow start to the season, Seattle currently sits in sixth in the Western Conference. However, if these gritty, courageous Club World Cup performances can be replicated elsewhere, Seattle will soon find itself climbing these league standings.

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Tight games can turn on a dime

Despite Seattle's combative all-round performance, Schmetzer's side were often caught lacking in crucial moments of the game. While little could be done to avert Barrios' 11th-minute opener, Axel Witsel's early second-half strike and Barrios' second both came about through minor lapses in concentration.

After a 4-0 hammering at the hands of PSG, Atlético coach Diego Simeone would've demanded his players immediately put things right on Thursday. Barrios' early opener proved to be the perfect response, and from then on it was always going to be an uphill struggle for Seattle.

Schmetzer was keen to stress that "goals change games" in his post-match press conference. The American coach was also left disappointed at his team's failure to stop Atlético's attacks at source.

Teams like Atlético have the quality to punish even brief lapses. However, if Seattle can learn from switching off at critical moments, the quality of its individuals and the team's spirited all-around displays will surely see its MLS fortunes improve.

A loss, but not of confidence?

Whatever happens against PSG, Seattle has two gutsy performances against top-level opposition to serve as a blueprint for the rest of the season. This isn't something many MLS sides have ever been able to boast.

Indeed, Seattle's previous Club World Cup campaign in February 2023 marked the first occasion a team from the United States had competed on the global stage. LAFC's recent meeting with Chelsea also served as the first-ever competitive matchup between MLS and Premier League clubs.

Of course, many MLS sides have participated in pre-season friendlies against top European opposition, but these European opponents very rarely field a full-strength (or fully focused) team.

Botafogo, Atlético, and PSG are likely the strongest opponents Seattle will face for years to come. Its opening two performances have certainly proved the club can, at the very least, compete with the world's best.

Leagues Cup meetings with Cruz Azul, Santos Laguna, and Club Tijuana await in a month's time, of all whom should prove manageable compared to what Seattle has faced in the Club World Cup.

Domestically, Philadelphia Union and Vancouver Whitecaps are the current Supporters' Shield pacesetters, but Seattle's battling performances against Botafogo and Atlético certainly hint that hopes of a first MLS Cup since 2019 are not far-fetched at all.