Brunell Says Seattle Sounders Have Timed MLS Revival to Perfection Ahead of New England Test
Sounders Turning the Corner at the Perfect Moment
Snyder Brunell believes the Seattle Sounders have timed their remarkable MLS revival to perfection as they prepare to stretch their unbeaten run to nine games against the New England Revolution on Sunday.
Seattle sit seventh in the Western Conference — occupying the final automatic playoff spot with just seven regular-season games remaining — ahead of their trip to Foxborough, and it is a position few would have predicted during a brutal mid-season slump.
It has been an extraordinary turnaround for Brian Schmetzer's side, who went 13 MLS games without winning — including losing the last eight of that sequence — before beating Real Salt Lake 2-0 in early September. From that victory onwards, the Sounders are unbeaten in eight (W3 D5), and Brunell feels they have found their rhythm at exactly the right time as the playoff battle intensifies.
"I feel like now we're just finally hitting our stride, which is perfect timing," Brunell said. "The team is really, really motivated, the vibes are high, so everything is good."
A Tough Test in Foxborough
Standing in their way is a formidable New England side coached by Marko Mitrovic. The Revs sit second in the Eastern Conference, above Lionel Messi's Inter Miami on goal difference, making Sunday's clash a genuine measuring stick for Seattle's resurgence.
Schmetzer was fulsome in his praise for the opposition — and mindful of the road ahead.
"Marko has done a good job. [Carles] Gil is like fine wine – he just keeps getting better," Schmetzer said. "New England have got some exciting young players, and then we've got to go to a conference foe like Dallas. It's not going to be an easy two games.
"But they [Seattle's players] are not going to rest on their laurels. They understand the predicament that we're in, the place in the standings, the tight race in the West. There's not going to be any complacency."
Players to Watch
New England Revolution – Carles Gil
Since the start of the 2021 MLS season, no player has created more chances than New England's Carles Gil, who has teed up 608 chances resulting in 48 primary assists. The next-best creator in the league over that span is Nashville SC's Cristian Espinoza, with 489 chances created.
Seattle Sounders – Cristian Roldan
Cristian Roldan was involved in both goals for Seattle as they beat Sporting Kansas City 2-1 on October 1, assisting their first and scoring their second. When Roldan features for the Sounders since the start of the 2016 season, they score an average of 1.5 goals per match, compared to just 1.2 per match without him.
That victory over Sporting KC — sealed by Roldan's 90th-minute winner after Sebastian Gomez had drawn Seattle level following the restart — extended the Sounders' winning streak and underlined the momentum they now carry into the weekend.
Match Prediction – New England Revolution Win
The New England Revolution and Seattle Sounders have split the first 15 all-time meetings between the sides, with each team winning five (and five draws). In the history of this series, the away team has only won twice — one victory for the Revolution in Seattle in 2009 and one for the Sounders at New England in 2011.
The Revs went into the international break with a 3-0 loss to Real Salt Lake, despite holding a 66% possession share in that game, which ended a run of three straight wins. It was only the fifth game this MLS season where the Revs lost and failed to score, but they will fancy their chances of returning to winning ways on home soil.
Opta Win Probability
- New England Revolution – 43.1%
- Seattle Sounders – 30.2%
- Draw – 26.7%