The Sounders (3-1-1) can enjoy their mark until the next match, April 28 at Chicago.
“You’d rather go into the break with a win underneath you as your last game, because you don’t want to stew on your last result,” coach Sigi Schmid said.
Five games into the 34-game regular season, the Sounders stand third in the Western Conference, behind Real Salt Lake and San Jose.
However, the Sounders rank near the middle of the 19-team league with an average of 1.2 goals per game.
Seattle’s attack has been slowed by the limited availability of key players including midfielder Mauro Rosales (one appearance) and forward Eddie Johnson, who made his first start Saturday. Midfielder Alvaro Fernandez missed the Rapids game with a quad injury suffered last week.
“We had chances,” Schmid said of the Saturday match won on defender Zach Scott’s goal. “Sammy Ochoa had … two good looks in the second half. Fredy Montero had a couple of good looks.”
He also noted Brad Evans’ header that nearly scored.
“Eventually (set pieces) will start going in for us,” he said.
Montero, who scored a team-high 34 goals froom 2009-11, has been healthy and has started every match this season. But he hasn’t scored.
While it’s on his mind, Montero said, “Right now I’m happy how the team is winning.”
Schmid, who thinks Montero has been affected by changes around him, sees Montero as a streaky scorer.
Once the first goal comes, several might follow, he said.
“He’s ending up dropping deep a little bit for us, and part of that is because Mauro is not on the field, so he’s taking a little more of that playmaking onto his shoulders,” Schmid said.
ADDED TIME
The Sounders went through a light session Sunday morning at Starfire Sports Complex. In the afternoon, some players flew to Los Angeles for an MLS Reserve League match today against the Galaxy. … The next drills are scheduled for Thursday. … Sounders U-23 beat Gonzaga, 3-2, Sunday in a friendly in Sumner. Facundo Dipasquale scored all three goals for the Sounders.
Don Ruiz: 253-597-8808 don.ruiz@thenewstribune.com blog.thenewstribune.com/soccer Twitter: @donruiztnt
