Caden Clark backs Seattle Sounders culture to end 13-game MLS winless run

Clark embraces Seattle culture as Sounders fight to end historic slump

Caden Clark has described the Seattle Sounders’ locker room as the best team environment he has experienced, even as the club approaches Wednesday’s meeting with Real Salt Lake on a 13-game MLS winless run.

Seattle lost eight consecutive matches before drawing its last five. The Sounders have come from behind in three of those draws, including Saturday’s 3-3 comeback against the Colorado Rapids, when Clark scored a stoppage-time equaliser on his debut after joining from D.C. United earlier this month.

The result left Seattle 13th in the Western Conference, three points below the playoff positions. Clark, however, said the club’s established standards and close-knit squad had made his arrival a positive experience.

“It’s been probably the best experience I’ve had so far being a part of a team,” Clark told the club’s website.

“The way they go about things, the culture they have, they’ve been successful in the past for a reason. There’s no secret to that. They have such a bond and have played together for so long and have high standards.”

Real Salt Lake arrive in a similar crisis

Real Salt Lake are enduring a 12-game winless streak of their own, dating back to a May victory over the Rapids. They sit just above Seattle on goal difference, making the fixture pivotal in the Western Conference playoff race.

RSL will at least retain Saba Lobjanidze, Morgan Guilavogui and Kobi Henry during the international break after the trio opted to remain with the club rather than join their national teams. Head coach Pablo Mastroeni said their decision offered evidence that the team’s culture remained intact.

“We’ve got to be dogs. We’ve got to be disciplined. We’ve got to work so hard for the guy next to us,” Mastroeni said.

Rusnak and Solans key to the outcome

Albert Rusnak created two of Seattle’s three goals against Colorado, including Clark’s late equaliser, and has supplied five of the Sounders’ last eight goals through assists to five different players.

Real Salt Lake have lost their last two matches without scoring and risk going three consecutive MLS games without a goal for the first time since May 2023. Sergi Solans, who leads the team with nine goals and 11.4 expected goals this year, is expected to carry much of the attacking responsibility.

Seattle favoured to snap the streak

Real Salt Lake have lost only two of their last 12 meetings with Seattle in all competitions, winning seven and drawing three. RSL also won the teams’ earlier meeting 2-1 on February 28 and are seeking only the third season sweep in the fixture’s history, following successes in 2018 and 2022.

Despite that record, home advantage gives Seattle an opportunity to end the longest winless run in the Sounders’ regular-season history. The Opta win probability model gives Seattle a 52.7% chance of victory, compared with 24.9% for Real Salt Lake and 22.4% for a draw.