Schmetzer says Seattle’s attack showed belief despite defeat

Brian Schmetzer has rejected the suggestion that Seattle Sounders lacked attacking conviction in their 1-0 loss to FC Dallas, a midweek result that ended the club’s run without an MLS defeat since August.

Seattle generated chances worth 2.0 expected goals and recorded 17 shots, seven on target, but could not find an equaliser. Schmetzer said the Dallas goalkeeper made crucial stops and credited the opposition with blocking efforts.

“It wasn't a lack of conviction at all; our guys like to score goals,” Schmetzer said. “Their goalkeeper made a couple of critical saves.”

He also acknowledged that Seattle might have chosen to shoot when an extra pass was the better option. Schmetzer said the team had created several first-half opportunities that could have changed the match, while describing Dallas’s chances as largely stemming from Seattle’s sloppy play.

Montreal visit next

The Sounders return home to face CF Montreal as they look to strengthen their position in the playoffs. Montreal enter the game after consecutive losses: 3-0 to Atlanta United and 2-1 to Toronto FC.

Seattle’s Dejan Joveljic, the club’s leading MLS scorer this year with 12 goals, had seven attempts against Dallas—the most by a Sounders player in an MLS match this season, according to the report. Montreal’s Prince Owusu has scored 15 league goals and recorded six assists in 2026.

Montreal have lost 17 matches this season, the report notes, and are guaranteed to lose at least half of their regular-season games. Despite Montreal’s strong historical record in the fixture—six wins in 10 meetings, with one draw and three losses—Seattle are favoured by Opta’s forecast, which gives the Sounders a 63.4% chance of winning, compared with 19.5% for a draw and 17.1% for a Montreal victory.