March 11, 2025 • 45 mins
Tonight on Sounders Weekly, Jackson Felts catches up with Paul Rothrock in the locker room after the 5-2 win over LAFC last weeked, recaps the week of MLS action and Seattle's games with Ari Liljenwall, then looks ahead to the second leg of the series against Cruz Azul with Anders Hirst.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Coming to you live from Orelliot Avenue Studios of Sports
Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. This is Sounders Weekly
with your host Jackson Felts.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Good evening, everybody, Welcome into Sounders Weekly. Jackson Felts here
good be with you on this special Monday night edition
of Sounders Weekly. We got a lot of KGUR continent
coming up the rest of the week with kracking games
and everything else, so we are doing a Monday night
edition of Sounders Weekly, which additionally works out because the
(00:32):
Sounders play tomorrow night, Leg two against Cruise, Azeel and
Conker caaf Action down in Mexico City, so we'll be
able to preview that a bit tonight. Coming up on
the show this evening, you're gonna hear a nice long
conversation with Paul Rothrock in the locker room after Saturday's win.
We'll get into that in a moment. We will, I'm
(00:52):
very excited to do so. We're going to also talk
about Cruise a zool ahead and also maybe a little
bit on Saint Louis on Saturday. That will be with
our Lillianwaller from midjor League Soccer dot Com in the
podcast Loving Scorchers. He will come up in our next segment,
and also Anders Hurst, who is a new writer for
Emerald City Spectrum producer here at KJR.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
He will be joining.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Us for the final segment to talk about cruz Azuel
ahead and what he saw in the first leg at
Lobinfield last week. But let's spend the first few minutes,
especially before we get to the conversation with Paul Rothrock,
just celebrating that whoopan' five to two over LAFC. We
dropped a five on a team that considers themselves one of,
(01:38):
if not the best, in the Western Conference, and they
gave us five.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Not even they gave it.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
We took and put five on those guys, and I
consider them, you know, our very intense rival.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Now.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Albert Rusnak said it last week. For me, it's like
the Timbers and then it's LAFCED. Based on all of
the playoff games over the years and all of the
big matches and what happened in the West semi in
Los Angeles last year, I consider LAFC arrival. So seeing
us drop five on them was so damn sweet, and
(02:11):
it was also how we did it. Eleventh minute, the
kid from the University of Washington. Kilani Koza Rienzi, which
we all learned he is going to get a first
team contract after that performance. Scores his first Major League
Soccer goal. He scored in the US Open Cup, but
that's a whole different thing. He gets his first MLS
(02:31):
goal on Saturday in the eleventh minute where he puts
what was it, Smolyyakov, the Ukrainian fullback for the for
the LAFC. He just puts him on an island and says,
you know, shoo, I'm just going to get turn you
around and then stop on a dime hit it into
the far netting. Incredible goal from Kilani there in the
(02:51):
eleventh minute. Yes, we give up a goal in the
thirty seventh and listen Pedro de la Vega. Before we
go any further, he goes down in about the thirty third,
thirty fourth minute. We know that it is a right
quad injury. We don't have much more of an update,
but we hope Pedro de la Vega is not out
very long. That is the uh oh coming out of
(03:13):
this game. It's the only uh oh, but it's a
major uh oh based on how good he has been
to start twenty twenty five. He has been very, very
good and losing him for an extended period of time
would hurt. But hopefully that right quad injury is not serious.
Brian Schmischer said after the game that he felt tightness,
so hopefully he's okay. He's not on the trip to
(03:35):
face Cruise Azul tomorrow and we should have an update
hopefully later this week. On Pedro de la Vega. That's
the bad news, but let's get back to the good.
So he goes down in the thirty second, thirty third minute.
LAFC scored in the thirty seventh on a weird, wild
play that it's bouncing around in front of goal. I
don't really put anything any stock into that more than
(03:55):
it's just a weird play. And then comes the second half,
and what a second half it was. Jordan Morris comes
in from Danny Mazowski to start the second half and
everything is just lighting up. Paul Rothrock in the fifty
seventh minute with a twenty five yard dart. They are
into the left side of the net through two defenders.
(04:16):
What an incredible goal that was from Paul Rothrock, who
will be again you're hearing from him in just a
few minutes it's Jordan Morris in the seventy seventh minutes,
and for Jordan Morris, a major congratulations. We knew it
was coming and to get it at home. Number eighty
seven all time across all competitions. He is now the
(04:38):
number one goal leader in Seattle Sounders club history. A
major congrats to the kid from Mercer Island. And what
an awesome goal it was slipped in from Paul Rothrock.
I mean, you look at these goals Klawney from the
University of Washington, Paul Rothrock from Capitol Hill, Jordan Morris
from Mercer Island to make him the all time leading
(04:59):
goal scorer in club history, and then Christian rolled on
in the eighty fourth minute. University of Washington. Albert Rusnak
had the fifth in the ninety fourth as well. But
four of the five goals are from guys with local
ties Capitol Hill, you dub Mercer Island. The local pipeline
and talent on this team is just incredible. Nobody else
in MLS even comes close in this regard. That's one
(05:22):
thing that Paul Rothrock says that you're gonna hear in
a few minutes. But the local aspect of this team
is incredible, and you for Jordan Morris, the kid who
grew up going to Sounders games, who was in the
stands for the first game ever against New York Red Bulls,
and then he becomes your all time leading goal scorer
at number eighty seven.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
It's so freaking cool.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
The Sounders put out an awesome social media video of
his son, THEO, reacting to Jake Zivins call on the
MLS broadcast on Apple TV. That will make you feel
a lot of things. I mean, just watching that he's
clapping for his dad when Jake says his name is
just one of the most cute and beautiful things you'll
(06:05):
ever see. So check out the Sounders' social pages for
that video for Jordan's family reacting, including THEO. But I
just couldn't be happier for Jordan, And I know he
definitely feels not only the responsibility, but also just he
understands what it means to be in this spot and
he reflected on that in his postgame press conference, and
(06:28):
I just love that for Jordan Morris, so big congratulations
to him. But this entire team, I mean, you go
down the list. Jackson Reagan, shut down, Olivier Jerude, a
French national team legend. Jerud was nowhere to be found
the entire game. GAMRK John Bell had good games, Klanne
was very good. Alex Chuldon who came onto the field
(06:48):
completely erased, Denny Bowoga, Denny Bwanga, the great player for LAFC,
did nothing but Rothrock, Danny Leva and Jul Paulo another
great game in the midfield for the two of them.
Every sounder I feel like had a plus in this game.
It was a thing of beauty five to two over LAFC.
Now the man of the match, Paul Rothrock goal and assist.
(07:12):
I told him when we sat down at a couple
of lockers there in the locker room, I said, man,
that felt like an ass kicking. How would you describe it? So,
Paul Rothrock, how would you describe that awesome five to
two win over LAFC. Let's just be real here, it's
an ass kicking. I mean, that's how That's how I
describe it. How do you describe that thing?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Just a party.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
And man, just you know, some some long long waited,
long do retribution. It's just, you know, it's fun to
get a win like that against those guys.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
I mean it's been since May of twenty one, since
it's a regular season win against those guys. I mean,
like it's been a while, right, and like, I know
you got the playoff win, but clearly you just mentioned
the retribution, So like it's way on you guys that
you haven't knocked them out.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
In the regular season.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
And I think too. You know, we beat them in
the playoffs last year. That was a great feeling. But
you know, we played a different game then we played.
You know, we we had we weren't playing in our
normal shape and we switched to a back five and
you know, played a really good defensive performance that game
and kind of got the what's the word, like the
bunny off or back or whatever.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
But you know, this game was like.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
We played who like who we were, and you know
a lot of guys came up and showed out Kilanie, Christian,
Albert Jordan, and.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
That was like a it's party, Yeah, it's party party.
What's crazy about it is like four of the five
guys who scored, including you, all local.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
You dubbed for Klana, you dubbed for Christian, you capitol Hill,
Jordan meurs around.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
I mean like that's.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Pretty cool to have this team put up a five
spot and four of the goals come from local kids.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Dude, It's awesome. And you know, it's just amazing how
many guys we have from the local area that.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Are representing Seattle here.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
And for sure, for sure we talked about it a lot.
I think it helps all of us too, right, Like
I remember growing up in the academy and knowing Christian
and you know, Jordan was obviously someone who I really
looked up to. I saw Jordan make the path, you know,
make the path from going to college, going to a
(09:29):
good program and then finding his way to Seattle homegrown player,
And obviously my path was a little bit different. It
took some took a few more turns before I got yeah,
but yeah, and then you know, Jackson's helped me along
the way, and I can do the same for Kilane now.
And so I think it provides like a really cool
(09:53):
you know, yeah, just like mentorship and friendship with each
other and and you know, I mean, we did the
numbers last year. I can't remember how many we have
this year now, but at least like a third of
the team's local, which I don't know. Another MLS team.
Who can say that.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
I mean, it just shows that the talent we have here.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Yeah crazy. Yeah, Like you mentioned, like.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
You know, watching Jordan looking up to him, did seeing
him go to college with Stanford? Did that kind of
allow you the confidence and the freedom for yourself to
go to college rather than kind of going through a
different system.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
For sure? I think.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
Yeah, he set he showed me that that was a
viable option. And you know, with my parents and my family,
that was like, without question what I was going to do.
So if I wanted to keep playing soccer, I had
to find a way to do it in university as well.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
I was.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
I never really had the thought of my mind that
I was going to be going pro before I got
my degree. And to have guys in front of me
who were doing that like Lordan and you know, Christian
and who else came out of college, Aaron Covar, number
of guys that was like that was a Yeah, that
(11:13):
was a pathway that I saw that was viable and
and yeah, I was, I'm super lucky to have those
guys in front of me.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
I can see you kind of reflecting in the moment.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Yeah, it's cool.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
And then let's just.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Kind of bring up full circle.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Dude, you assisted on Jordan Morris's record to be number one.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
You assisted on the How cool?
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Is that?
Speaker 3 (11:35):
So cool?
Speaker 4 (11:36):
I'm you know, he said to me after that, He's
always going to remember that one and I will too.
I will too. But and what a special achievement for him.
I just like, I'm just still fathoming eighty seven goals.
That's a lot of goals.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
For one club.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
And the fact that he's done it for Seattle is
just so cool. And you know, his dad's been their
team doctor here and yeah, special special moment. I'm pretty
typical Jordan Gold too. Write a little slipping behind and
uh composed finish through the legs.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
I've had a lot of those today. Yeah, yeah for
your banger. Well we'll talk about that and continue.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
Yeah, but really honored to be, you know, a part
of a couple of those goals with him, and hopefully
we can he breaks one hundred this season at least. Yeah,
that'd be real cool.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
All right, let's not talk about you. This has been
kind of a tough season so far. The first couple
of times bros talked about it, so.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
To like, dude, you come out and get a game
like this and to break through like this, Like how
much does this just feel like the damn totally breaking monkey.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Off the back of you? Literally I just watched the movie.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
From Off your Back.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Yeah, it feels really good.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
I you know, I I knew that. I you know,
eventually the things are gonna fall my way. And I've
got a I've got a guy who I see about
like mental performance side of things. And you know, he
was really helpful because he was he was cautioning me
not to get in that thinking of you know, I
(13:10):
just need things to fall my way. He's like, no, like,
go and make things fall your way, right, And that
was a really helpful reminder of like, you know, just
continuing to consistently bring that enthusiasm and that like positive
energy towards this and like you know, staying in my
lane of like who I am as a player and
(13:33):
and trusting that that's going to bring success and you know,
almost acting like I'm already successful, right, and it's already happened,
even though even though this this season has you know,
this season's.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Been hard to get sharpness. Why do you think that is?
Speaker 4 (13:53):
I think, you know, I was I've been a couple
of weeks behind the team with the way preseason went,
you know, played in one preseason game, and so I
felt a couple of games back just in terms of sharpness.
And and then I think with our the way our
schedule started, A nice thing about it is that you know,
(14:14):
we're we're all getting games right now. But I also
think you don't get a whole lot of training, yeah,
because it's you know, it's basically train or play recover days.
Speaker 5 (14:24):
Man.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Yeah, but I'm you know, I'm super grateful that throughout
that I've stayed healthy. I haven't had any hiccups coming
back because my injury was serious and you know, I
completely tore my quad tended, so it had to reattach
and luckily it's done that it scarred down and now
(14:45):
it's stronger than it was before.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
But yeah, it was it was.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
Hard mentally watching the team in the final game against Galaxy,
and you know, I just I've just got to sit
there and watch that. But yeah, I mean I think
you just got to stay You got to stay with it,
you got to keep going, you got to continue to
maintain that enthusiasm. And and you know, today, today was
(15:16):
a good day.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Today was a good day.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
So what I love about this, Like we're not in
a press commerce we're just like literally sitting at two
walkers right now, and you talk about kind of the
mental aspects of this, and you know, it's it wasn't
long ago that pro athletes, you know, didn't want to
focus on the importance of mental health in this game.
And clearly it's something that you definitely are are aware
of and have an intentional thought of, Like mental health
(15:39):
matters as a pro athlete one hundred.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
I think, you know, obviously being in good shape helps,
but if you're in if I'm in the right mental
space going into.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
A game, nothing else matters. I think it's.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Nine mental and it's challenging going through the ups and
downs of a year. And I think, you know, if
if I've learned anything from being in this world and
being in this realm, and it's a good life lesson too.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
It's like, you know, you have to your.
Speaker 4 (16:16):
Mindset has to be consistent, and you know, when when
other things are failing you, you fall to the level
of your systems, right, and if your systems are good,
then you're only going to fall to a certain level
each time. And and by keeping positive mindset keeping keeping
(16:37):
that enthusiasm. You know, the hardest thing for an athlete
too is maintaining confidence when you know you're not getting
the nod or you're you know, I think about this week.
Last week, you know, I came off at halftime in
our cell and then I played five minutes against.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Chris Tool and.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
That's difficult, right, Like it's no one likes coming off
at halftime.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
And but then for Brian to give you the nod
today and start your debate, Yeah, it gives you.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
That confidence, I imagine for sure.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
For sure.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
And I also you know, flipped into my head of
like I'm gonna be fresher than everybody else, Like I'm
gonna be fresher than the guy plenty, I'm going against,
fresher than the LFC guys they played.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Three days ago.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
Like there's there's always a way you can flip the
situation in your head to suit to suit.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
To suit.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
You getting in a good mindset. And and you know this,
the half started off pretty well. I didn't. I thought
it like I was doing my defensive responsibility as well,
and Connie's goal really helped.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
But then you know, we have a set back.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
They get that goal away and it kind of takes
our fire out and we need to spark in the
second half, and then you know, the flood gates really
opened and it was just fun after that. It was
very fun.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Indeed, sitting here by all these Sailor Secrets, What do
you think of the new Sailor Secret or your home
debut five?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
I actually really like the new Kid.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
I think it's really cool that we're honoring some of
you know, our indigenous heritage here. I'm living over west Yawle,
so I've gotten really interested in like the Duwamish River
lately and stuff. And you know, there's this book I've
been reading on the It's called The River That Changed Seattle.
It's a cool book about the Duwamish. But hearing all
that like history is really cool too, and like the
(18:31):
fact that we're tapping into that is is awesome. I
think Seattle and I don't think Seattles has had the
best history with.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
That, so it's cool.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Then we're we're honoring that as a club, and I
hope we can do more to this year than just
you know, ripping the jersey and and you know, get
back to that community as well. And so we'll see
I love that.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Let's be off with your goal twenty five yards out.
Kind of a square ball there from Albert up in
the short corner took us through what that play you
saw what kind of the aim was with with with
was it always going to be a shot at goal?
Kind of took us through that play to wrap it up.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
That go kind of reminded me of the you know,
the goal I had last year and.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Puma swere it just kind of it just kind of
like things just developed in in a funny way, and
I had a feeling in my gut I like where
to be, and you know, credit to Albert, he's always
got his eyes up and he's got really good vision.
And so when the corner starts, Danny's kind of talking
(19:41):
to me like you sure you want to be over there,
and I'm like, yeah, I feel good over here, like
I don't really know why, yeah, why? And then yeah,
then you know, the ball comes to me obviously, and
at that point, like things just kind of went dark
and it's like have a go, have a go.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Paul zone out in those moments a little.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
I mean, you know, how many times do we practice
in you know, that basic shot where we do just
two touches and it's just get the ball out of
your feet, set up and hit. And for me, it
was just kind of a muscle memory flow, like right place,
right time Albert played it to me, I had, you know,
I didn't have a whole lot of pressure coming at me.
(20:22):
And then.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Yeah, let the rest of the work, dude.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Congratulations, Thanks man, I can see how much this feels.
I know it's going to be a quick turnaround for
you guys, so safe travel. Can't wait to see you
back out there and kicking ass again.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Thanks, brother, appreciate it. Good to see you.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
That's great stuff there from Paul Rothrock. Really not an interview,
even just that sit down and we sat two lockers
and you could hear. I mean, I love those kind
of conversations where it just doesn't feel like an interview.
It feels like you're just sitting at a bar shooting
and you know what, And I love that from Paul Rothrock,
one of my absolute favorite people that I've ever talked
to here doing this radio show and doing this you know,
(21:01):
interview thing. So that was an awesome conversation and I
hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
There once again.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Paul Rothrock goal assists Man of the match there in
the locker room. He called that five to two in
over Lafc a party. But all parties must end and
all things must move forward, and the Sounders move forward
to a very very busy week. We have two matches
Tomorrow night, Sounders Leg two against Cruise a Zool down
(21:28):
in Mexico City. It's zero zero right now. They can
even go through on away goals one to one or
two to two would put them through to the quarterfinals
in concer CAF Champions Cup, or simply just win. So
that's Leg two tomorrow night, five thirty kickoff tomorrow Sounders
at Cruise Zool. You can watch it on FS one,
on TUDN, and on VIX. That's vix. Those are the
(21:51):
three places you can watch the Sounders game. I'll be
tuning in there on FS one at five thirty tomorrow.
Then we have Saint Louis City coming up on Saturday.
That will be on a road game there at what
I forget what their stadiums called there in Saint Louis,
But that will be in Saint Louis coming up on Saturday,
five o'clock. Providence we just premat show five thirty kickoff.
(22:14):
You can listen to that over on our sister station
of Sports Radio nine to fifty kjr AM. You can
also watch it on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
We'll get a thought from Ari lillianwall on what Saint
Louis City did to the LA Galaxy this last weekend.
We'll also get a thought from Ari on cruz Azuel
coming up tomorrow, and anders Hurst will be coming up
(22:35):
later on tonight. Lot still to get to here on
Sounders Weekly, celebrating a five to two Sounders win over
lafc Ari lillienwall is next on Sports Radio ninety three
point three KJRFM.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for sunders
FC Clle's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
Welcome back, Sounders Weekly.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Jackson, felt good to have you here on this busy
sports day here on ninety three point three kjr FM.
Thanks to Paul Rothrock for taking the time in the
locker room. You heard that conversation. It wasn't even it
didn't really feel like an interview that we did. Kind
of just to sit down on the two guys just
shooting the you know, what and it was awesome to
sit down with Paul Rothrock there and you heard that
(23:18):
that last segment. Still have anders Hurst coming up next segment.
Want to ask him about Leg two against Cruise a
zool tomorrow night down in Mexico City for your sounders.
But joining us right now here on the show is
our good friend from Major League Soccer at dot com,
where he is a writer and editor. Also the podcast
Lobbing Scorches, which has live shows on Monday mornings and
(23:39):
Thursday nights. It's our good friend Ari, Lillianwall Ari. Good
to have you back on the show, My friend, how
are you?
Speaker 3 (23:45):
I'm doing well?
Speaker 5 (23:46):
Jackson, how are you?
Speaker 2 (23:47):
I'm good, I'm good. Before we go any further, do
we have the clip ready? Let's play this?
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Hey, Brian, congratulations on the win. Paul Rothrock.
Speaker 6 (23:56):
Did this feel kind of like a little bit of
a comeback game for him?
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Off visit and you know, kind of moving forward and
can add that to your podcast. I'm sure you'll talk
about it.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Thanks for listening well, Brian Schmenzer said, thanks for listening.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
Ari.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Why don't you tell us whose voice that was asking
that question? And uh how that all plays into the
uh to you being with us right now.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
Yeah, that was my co host and producer, Noah Rice
asking that question. And uh, that was verbal confirmation from
Brian Schmetzer that he listens to the podcast. You know,
we theorized for a long time that he might. Uh,
but I think that that settles it right there, does
it not.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
It absolutely confirms that Brian Schmitzer is a listener to
Lobbing Scorchers. I doubt he listens to this kakam Amy show.
So congratulations on having the head coach be the podcast
listener for you. But listen, man, no all joking aside,
that's pretty cool, and uh, and for Noah to be there,
and then obviously Paul had a good game, and and uh, listen,
(24:57):
maybe we just start there the fact that you know,
you and Noah have had this kind of you know,
pro Paul Rothrock agenda for a very long time. Now
goes back a couple of years, and the kids had
a rough start of the year. But what a game
he had in that just five to crushing of LAFC.
Speaker 5 (25:14):
Yeah, he really did. You know, it was a slow
start to the year for him, but I think that's
kind of understandable. He did have a pretty big injury
at the end of last season, and I think he
even talked about the rust that factors into that. But
I really think that I've been saying, I think that
might have been his best. That might have been the
best Rothrock game. There was like a ten to fifteen
(25:35):
minute period of that game in the second half where
he took over the game, which is not something that
I've seen him do to that level for as long
as he did it. In that game, he was absolutely
destroying Ryan hollings Head. He scored a great goal. So
that is the Paul Rothrock that we got used to
seeing last year, and so it was it was great
(25:57):
to see him along with the rest of the depth
pieces that performed so well in that game.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Yeah, and I think we keep talking this season before
this game about the depth of the team, the depth
of this team, how good the depth on this team is.
And listen, I don't know if I should be reading
as much into the game as I should. I mean,
five to two is just a slaughter of you know
what was a team in the Western semi final last
year and we had to get in one hundred and
(26:21):
ninth minute winner against I'm kind of looking at this
LAFC team, looking at how much they rotated on Saturday,
I don't know how much should we read into just
the destruction of that team in the second half on Saturday.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
I mean, that's the thing, Like, yes, that was a
rotated LAFC side, and that's what they have their They're
in Concorcap Champions Cup two, so that's what all their
fans are pointing out. Guess what that was a rotated
Seattle side too. That was depth on depth. One team's
depth was up for it and one team's was not
at all. And honestly, I'm not going to sound alarm
(26:57):
bells on LAFC every time I think that they might
have a downfall. They never do, so I'm not gonna
get my hopes super high on that. But I will
tell you, Jackson, I watched Steve Trarundelo's presser after the game,
and uh, he was understandably not happy. But what I
thought was interesting is that he said that he mentioned
his subs specifically, and he said our subs were not
(27:18):
up for the game today in terms of effort and mentality,
which are pretty strong works. You know who one of
the players who subbed on in the second half.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
For LAFCN Denny Bolonga.
Speaker 5 (27:28):
So like if Steve Tarundelo is uh is talking about
that regarding Denny Bolonga, that's that's not good. You know,
I don't know how bad it is, but it's definitely
not good for them.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
No, I mean that was embarrassing. I mean, frankly, Jackson
Reagan owned Oliviersia route. I said it in the first segment,
like you can kind of go along the Sounders roster
starters and backups and kind of say, like, boy, everybody
had a plus somewhere in this game because so many
of LAFC you know, big stars were completely a limited
(28:00):
from various Sounder players. I mean their new Ukrainian fullback,
I mean Klanie Coza Rienzi just owned him and sent
him on a ride on that goal in the eleventh minute,
So you know, up and down. I just look at
pluses everywhere and then minuses for LAFC. Ari Luino was
our guest MLS Soccer dot Com and the podcast Lobbing Scorches,
which we have confirmed Brian Schmitzer listens to UH and
(28:24):
Ari Uh.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
Let's jump around first.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Let's start with the other team in Los Angeles, La
Galaxy Sounders crushed LAFC and LA Galaxy also got crushed
Saint Louis three nothing in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
How down bad are the Galaxy right now?
Speaker 5 (28:43):
Down?
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Horrendously bad?
Speaker 5 (28:45):
Jackson. I mean, I'm not calling the demise of LAFC yet,
and I'm not going to call the demise of the
LA Galaxy quite yet, but that is a lot closer
to getting called, I think, than the LAFC downfall. They
just it's it just feels like they lost too much
of the offseason. They had to shed a bunch of
salary to get compliant.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
They lost guys.
Speaker 5 (29:05):
Like Mark Delgado and Dean Jobilic, Jalen Neil. I'm even
I'm missing a couple in there. They had to shed
so much salary, and then they have the long term
injury to Ricky Pooge. They have Joey Painzill still out
right now, so it just seems.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Like their fall off. The writing is on the wall
a little bit.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
They couldn't keep that team together and they're dealing with
some really tough injuries and they I mean, they look
like one of the worst teams in the league right now.
I don't know if that's gonna hold true. But they
definitely don't look like a team that's about to defend
their MLS Cup title, and that is for sure.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
I feel like I'm the Jerry Seinfeld Giff was it
Jeff Giff saying shame? It's just a shame, real, real
darn shame that LA teams are down so bad. Ari,
let's go to the good and on the good side
for MLS this year, it's the two undefeated teams still,
the two teams that are three and defeated, but the
(30:01):
two teams that have won all their games three oh
to oh. One is the Philadelphia Union they picked up
a two nothing win over New England over the weekend,
and the other is just a little bit north, the
Vancouver white Caps, also with a two to nothing win
over the weekend over Montreal. Maybe they're both legit, but
if you can only have one, which of those two
(30:21):
three O and O teams are more legit? And you know,
a team that you believe could make a run, you know,
less than ten percent in the season, but you think
could make a run as we move forward.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
Yeah, I gotta say I'm I'm surprised and intrigued at
what we've seen from the Philly Union so far. You know,
they were a team that had a really down year
last year compared to the president they had set in
a few years before that. They fired their coach, who
was kind of a club legend. Yeah, it was a
club legend, I think, and Jim Curtin, the Bradley Carnell
hired to replace him, didn't draw any kind of widespread plaudits.
(30:55):
I think that was kind of viewed by the pundits
as a lateral move, not that exciting. So I didn't
really see much of a reason to think that much
would be different with the Philly Union this year. But
to answer your question, they look for real to me.
And with the Ryan Gold injury that got announced today
for the Vancouver White Cats, he's going to be out
(31:15):
a few weeks, so I think in the short term
that's we're gonna learn a lot about them because in
the past couple of years that they haven't been able
to play really without Ryan Gold. But Philly just looks
really good right now. Their attack looks as good as
it ever did during the Jim Curtin years, and Tyberribo
looks like one of the best number nines in the
league to start the year. So yeah, no, I'll take
(31:38):
the Philly Union.
Speaker 4 (31:38):
There.
Speaker 5 (31:39):
They look a lot better than I thought.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
Okay, well we'll stay on that and we'll talk to
you about Philly down the road. Wrapping up with Ari
Lillion Wall once again Major League Soccer dot Com and
the podcast Lobbing Scorches, which again we have confirmed Brian
Scheitzer listens to Ari. Let's wrap it with looking at
the week ahead for the Sounders. It's Cruise Azuel in
the second leg in Mexico City to and then you
(32:01):
mentioned a few thoughts on Saint Louis in terms of
the galaxy and how down bad they are.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
But let's let's hit two questions here.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
A Cruise Azool, what you may have taken from the
first leg that you think that you may give the
hope or not give hope for the Sounders tomorrow down
in Mexico City and then Saint Louis on Saturday after
the very quick turnaround again, so thoughts on both these
week's games for the Sounders as we wrap this.
Speaker 5 (32:27):
Yeah, I mean it's all about Cruise Azool right now.
I honestly forgot about this Saint Louis game. I really
haven't been thinking about that. Yeah, I think it's all
hands on decks for this game against Cruise Azul and uh,
I think you know it's going to be a hard game.
I don't want to have any illusions about that it
go These road trips to Mexico and CCC are extremely difficult,
(32:50):
and I think there is an extent to which the
odds are stacked against Seattle in the sense that to
put themselves in really good position, they need to score
in that first leg. But I will say not giving
up that road goal was pretty important. That doesn't give
them the advantage going into leg two, but it does
if they can score the first goal. So that was
(33:13):
why this kind of surprised me that cruizes Will played
for the zero zero because now going back home, they
put themselves in a position where road goals can come
back to hurt them. So I think Crusos Will is
still the favorite in this scenario, probably the comfortable favorite
playing at home. But my feeling on it is that
the result that Seattle needs to go through is it's attainable,
(33:35):
Like this is not an impossible task or an unthinkable
result for them to get.
Speaker 3 (33:40):
They can do this.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
Yes, sign me up for one to one. I would
love that in an instant, But we'll see what happens
there Tomorrow night, five point thirty kickoff in Mexico City,
and I would tell folks it's not available a lot
of places to watch, but it is available on TUDN,
VIX and twob no radio broadcast by the way for that.
But Saint Louis, so they are one of the undefeated
squads in MLS. They got a zero zero against Colorado
(34:03):
zero zero in San Diego and then three nothing went
over the Galaxy. So that is a game coming up
there on Saturday for a team that the Sounders have
done very very well against in recent history, Saint Louis City.
So we'll see what happens on Saturday as well. But
I agree with you, it's all focus and all hands
on deck for Cruise Azuel in Mexico City tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (34:23):
Ari.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
We will talk to you next week where hopefully we're
talking about some more concer calf action and we'll be
pre or re reacting to whatever happens against Saint Louis
this weekend. Appreciate it. Put out a very very good
show on Thursday night for Brian Schmitzer.
Speaker 5 (34:37):
Will you cond good, Jack, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
It's good stuff there from Ari lill you once again
MLS Soccer dot com and that podcast Lobbing Scorches. They'll
have a live show on Thursday night. We'll see if
the head coach tunes in for that. But very very
cool stuff and congrats there for Ari. All right, we'll
take a break. Let's continue talking Cruise a Zool. The
man behind the window there, Anders Hurst here from KGr.
(35:01):
He has a new place that he is reacting to Sounders,
a place that he is writing for. We'll talk to
him about that and preview Cruise a Zool tomorrow night.
That comes up next on Sounders Weekly Sports Radio ninety
three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Now back to.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
Sounders Weekly on your home for Sounders FC, Seattle's Sports
Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
Welcome back Sounders Weekly, Jackson Feltz, you're talking all things
Sounders soccer. What a day here on KJR such news
and wrapping up here the live and local here tonight
with some soccer talk here from eight to nine pm.
With this last segment tonight, we want to thank both
of our guests so far tonight. Paul Rothrock in the
locker room after the Sounders Big Gigantic just onslought over
(35:47):
LAFC five to two on Saturday, and also Ari Lillian
while they're in that previous segment. Check out the podcast
Sounders Weekly in case you missed either of them. Somebody
who knows Ari and then played with Paul Rothrock I
just learned in the locker room. It's our good friend
here on kJ R anders Hurst andres As I understand it.
(36:09):
I mean we were Paul was finishing his press conference
coming to sit down with me. You were getting ready
to talk to Jordan Morris, and you guys had an
embrace and I was like, excuse me, what's what's going
on here?
Speaker 3 (36:20):
Well, you and Paul were tired apparently. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (36:22):
Well I don't know if you were there for the
actual press conference, but I asked a question and he said, oh, hey, Anders,
I remember playing with literally in front of everyone.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
I didn't hear that. Yeah, that's great. What you should
watch the video. It's really great. It's a proud moment
for me.
Speaker 6 (36:34):
I did not think Paul would recognize me because me
only played together for like a summer. But he's a
great dude. I heard you guys conversation earlier. It's he
is such good perspective on being an athlete in today's world.
He's a super smart guy. I think he has a
great head on his shoulders. He's so fun to talk to,
and he's had a really good year last year. It's
so fun to root for those local guys. So yeah,
(36:56):
it was great. Great to hear from Paul Rothrock there.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Yeah, and his comments, I think you nailed it right
there of being a professional athlete in twenty twenty five,
the emphasis on mental health that he talked about earlier.
Awesome conversation to check out in case you missed it.
But you know, after Paul left, you hung around for
the Jordan Morris press conference, and I was over talking
to Paul, and I was kind of wondering, you know,
(37:19):
how was Jordan coming off of eighty seventh goal most
in club history. I imagine he was a bit reflective
in that.
Speaker 6 (37:26):
Press or yes, kind of similar situation where you expect
someone who just broke the record for most goals in
club history to be pretty like upbeat and like super
excited smile on his face. And while you could definitely
see that come out every couple of moments. For Jordan Morris,
he was very like I think that's a perfect word, reflective,
because he's kind of just is very thankful about where
(37:49):
he is, for his family, for the situation that put
him here to play for the club that is his
hometown team and now is the top goal scorer in
their history, a very storied history, even though it's not
maybe as long as some other teams in MLSH. He
thanked his family. He does it for his two year
(38:09):
old son. I don't know if you saw the video.
Oh yeah, Oh my god, that was one of the
cutest video.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
I think that's the best video to ever hit the internet,
where THEO is reacting to the jig zivin the announcer
on mlsc's in the past actually like saying number one
all time eighty seven, and THEO is like, that's my dad,
or do you say that's my dad? But he's clapping
for like as if like that's my dad. One of
the cutest things you'll ever seen in your life.
Speaker 6 (38:32):
Yeah, and then it goes to show you like how
much that means to Jordan too. And I think it
came out in his press conference and it was really
cool to see He's such an easy gotta root for
as well. It's another reason why I just love this
team is there's a lot of really good guys on it.
So yeah, Jordan, congratulations to him. It absolutely deserved and uh,
I'm glad he did it at home because he got
to celebrate in front of the home fans he did.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
That was the best part of the fact that it
didn't come like you know at Cruise as right somewhere
else well and is joining us here of course he
is a soccer reporter or at KJAR. It produces Ian
ferness in the afternoons right before Softy and dictate the hair.
And in addition to all that, Anders, before we go
any further, you now have a new thing going on
(39:18):
that the people can follow at Anders hearst and and
follow your new I guess soccer writing coverage.
Speaker 3 (39:24):
Tell us what you're doing.
Speaker 6 (39:25):
Yeah, well, I normally kind of for KJR here I
do a lot of stuff with the shows. I don't
have an opportunity to necessarily write on a daily beat
basis for us as often as I would like to.
So I got the opportunity from our good friend Corbyn Smith,
who covers the Seahawks on a daily basis. He started
this website called Emerald City Spectrum, which covers all of
(39:47):
Seattle sports, has daily writers, reporters in journalists for every
single Seattle sports and he needed someone to cover the
Sounders and Rain and he reached out to me and
it was something I wasn't expecting, but I think was
welcomed by myself and I'm really enjoying it so far.
(40:08):
It's only been one week, but I love being able
to go to the games now talk to players. It's
a great opportunity. If you want more coverage for any
Seattle sports, but specifically for me, you're looking for Sounders
rain in the future World Cup, you can go to
Emerald City Spectrum. It's six bucks a month, or you
can sixty dollars for the year. See a little bit
of a discount if you pay for the four year.
Speaker 2 (40:29):
Oh yeah, definitely twelve dollars discount. It's enough of a
discount for me. Emerald City Spectrum. Check it out at
Andershurst on Socials and then at Emerald Spectrum as well.
So follow check out all the stories as anders will
be covering the Sounders and Rain for Emerald City Spectrum.
Let's put some of that knowledge to the test. Alrighty,
here we are because we saw LFC. But LFC is
(40:51):
now in the rearview mirar. The attention turns to twenty
four hours from right now we will know the result
of the second leg. It's a five thirty kick off
tomorrow for Sounders at Cruise Azool.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
First leg was zero zero. We watched it last week.
Speaker 2 (41:06):
And you know there were chances and bars and posts
and annoyances. What do you make of the zero zero
game last week between the Sounders and Cruise Azool missed opportunity.
Speaker 6 (41:17):
I think the Sounders will feel like they should have
gone into the leg, the away leg in Mexico City,
with a lead. They definitely I think in the first
few twenty to thirty minutes it was kind of both
teams feeling each other out.
Speaker 3 (41:29):
You could see the quality of Cruise Usoul for sure.
Speaker 6 (41:32):
But the Sounders grew into the match in the last
kind of five to ten minutes of the first half
and then really got some chances in the second half,
including a post from Jordan Morris, a crossbar header from
Knew Who, and I'm forgetting one more. I think oh
the off sides goal, yea, that there is some question
whether that was offsides.
Speaker 3 (41:51):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (41:52):
In Brian's post match press conference, he mentioned that Conka
caff may not have had all of the cameras available
to them that they should have, and that there's a
real question whether Pedro was nos Paulo Riola was off
side on Pedro's goals. So there there is a little bit,
I don't want to say controversy because it wasn't like
a huge deal where they were complaining that it definitely
(42:14):
wasn't off sides, but it's it's hard to tell sometimes
in those moments. So I think Sounders will go in
needing a result in Mexico City. Uh, and it's gonna
be a tough one for sure, especially after the quick
turnaround from Saturday to Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
Yeah really, I mean they flew down on Sunday afternoon,
just you know, hours after the LAFC win, training there
today and then playing there tomorrow night, and then it's
Saint Louis coming up on the weekend. But going back
to Cruise a zool, I mean, that's a team that
did rotate quite a lot of their starting lineup. They
didn't bring seven of their normal starters to Seattle mostly attackers.
Ye see if they end up playing. But we still
(42:49):
have Mateyoush Bagoosh from LAFC last year who's on their team.
And you can see, and you mentioned it right there,
the quality of Cruise of Zool. This is a very
very very good squad. Yeah, and you are playing at
their house in Mexico City, or I should say at
their you know, temporary house in Mexico City, where this
will take an enormous effort to come away with a
(43:10):
series win. And listen, you can get away on away goals.
One to one will send the found Sounders through. Two
two will send the Sounders through, So you can slip
through with a draw if you score a goal. But
it's still going to be an enormous test to even
do that against this team.
Speaker 3 (43:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (43:24):
And obviously if you looked at the lineup from the
LFC game, Brian Schmitzer had this game in mind, heavily
rotating that team. We're fortunate to still come out with
a win with the MLS. This is what having a
deep squad gives you the opportunity to do.
Speaker 2 (43:38):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (43:38):
You have no pairode la Vega because of his injury
on Saturday. Uh, but you have basically the rest of
your squad available. Uh and I think probably one of
the biggest games at this point early in the year
since the twenty twenty two CONCA CAF Champions League. It's
it's going to be a big test to see, you know,
where this team is at at this point. I think
(43:59):
we've had a little mixed bag of results for the
first couple games, both in MLS and CONCA CAFF. But
you're right, Who's Asol definitely has the quality. I think
you're going to see a much different team than we
saw last Wednesday.
Speaker 3 (44:09):
Five thirty.
Speaker 2 (44:10):
Kickoff tomorrow Sounders at cruises Ol. You can watch it
on FS one, on TUDN and on VIX. That's vix.
Those are the three places you can watch the Sounders game.
I'll be tuning in there on FS one at five
thirty tomorrow. Leg two again wait gets them through, draw
where you score a goal gets them through and if
(44:30):
it's zero zero, I guess we go to Penn's yep,
so that'll be wild. And then Saint Louis coming up
on Saturday, and we haven't done too much of that
tonight other than our's comments on Saint Louis. But listen,
let's just focus on tomorrow week then we can focus
on moving forward.
Speaker 3 (44:44):
And thanks for joining us. Appreciate you. Thanks, Thanks Jackson.
That'll do it for the show tonight.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
I want to thank all of our guests, Anders right here,
Ari Lillenwall and Paul Rothrock from the locker room. Check
out the podcast Sounders Weekly everywhere you get your podcasts
in case you missed it.
Speaker 3 (44:58):
A couple more notes.
Speaker 2 (44:59):
Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Providence Swedish, the official
healthcare partner of Sounders FC. Also michelob Ultra ninety five
calories and two point six grams of carbs. It's only
worth it if you enjoy it. Five thirty tomorrow night
for the Cruise a Zool game, and then the attention
turns to Saint Louis coming up on Saturday really quickly
to give you broadcast details one more time on that.
(45:20):
It'll be a five o'clock Providence Swedish premat show five
point thirty kickoff. You can watch at MLS Season Pass
on Apple TV. You can also listen over on our
sister station of Sports Radio nine fifty kr AM this
Saturday for Sounders at Saint Louis City.
Speaker 3 (45:35):
Have a very good rest of your week.
Speaker 2 (45:37):
We will all be watching tomorrow night at five thirty
for Sounders Cruise a zool, enjoy the game and go Sounders.
Coming to you live from Orelliot Avenue Studios of Sports
Radio ninety three point three KJRFM. This is Sounders Weekly
with your host Jackson Felts.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Good evening, everybody, Welcome into Sounders Weekly. Jackson Felts here
good be with you on this special Monday night edition
of Sounders Weekly. We got a lot of KGUR continent
coming up the rest of the week with kracking games
and everything else, so we are doing a Monday night
edition of Sounders Weekly, which additionally works out because the
(00:32):
Sounders play tomorrow night, Leg two against Cruise, Azeel and
Conker caaf Action down in Mexico City, so we'll be
able to preview that a bit tonight. Coming up on
the show this evening, you're gonna hear a nice long
conversation with Paul Rothrock in the locker room after Saturday's win.
We'll get into that in a moment. We will, I'm
(00:52):
very excited to do so. We're going to also talk
about Cruise a zool ahead and also maybe a little
bit on Saint Louis on Saturday. That will be with
our Lillianwaller from midjor League Soccer dot Com in the
podcast Loving Scorchers. He will come up in our next segment,
and also Anders Hurst, who is a new writer for
Emerald City Spectrum producer here at KJR.
Speaker 3 (01:13):
He will be joining.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Us for the final segment to talk about cruz Azuel
ahead and what he saw in the first leg at
Lobinfield last week. But let's spend the first few minutes,
especially before we get to the conversation with Paul Rothrock,
just celebrating that whoopan' five to two over LAFC. We
dropped a five on a team that considers themselves one of,
(01:38):
if not the best, in the Western Conference, and they
gave us five.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
Not even they gave it.
Speaker 2 (01:43):
We took and put five on those guys, and I
consider them, you know, our very intense rival.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Now.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Albert Rusnak said it last week. For me, it's like
the Timbers and then it's LAFCED. Based on all of
the playoff games over the years and all of the
big matches and what happened in the West semi in
Los Angeles last year, I consider LAFC arrival. So seeing
us drop five on them was so damn sweet, and
(02:11):
it was also how we did it. Eleventh minute, the
kid from the University of Washington. Kilani Koza Rienzi, which
we all learned he is going to get a first
team contract after that performance. Scores his first Major League
Soccer goal. He scored in the US Open Cup, but
that's a whole different thing. He gets his first MLS
(02:31):
goal on Saturday in the eleventh minute where he puts
what was it, Smolyyakov, the Ukrainian fullback for the for
the LAFC. He just puts him on an island and says,
you know, shoo, I'm just going to get turn you
around and then stop on a dime hit it into
the far netting. Incredible goal from Kilani there in the
(02:51):
eleventh minute. Yes, we give up a goal in the
thirty seventh and listen Pedro de la Vega. Before we
go any further, he goes down in about the thirty third,
thirty fourth minute. We know that it is a right
quad injury. We don't have much more of an update,
but we hope Pedro de la Vega is not out
very long. That is the uh oh coming out of
(03:13):
this game. It's the only uh oh, but it's a
major uh oh based on how good he has been
to start twenty twenty five. He has been very, very
good and losing him for an extended period of time
would hurt. But hopefully that right quad injury is not serious.
Brian Schmischer said after the game that he felt tightness,
so hopefully he's okay. He's not on the trip to
(03:35):
face Cruise Azul tomorrow and we should have an update
hopefully later this week. On Pedro de la Vega. That's
the bad news, but let's get back to the good.
So he goes down in the thirty second, thirty third minute.
LAFC scored in the thirty seventh on a weird, wild
play that it's bouncing around in front of goal. I
don't really put anything any stock into that more than
(03:55):
it's just a weird play. And then comes the second half,
and what a second half it was. Jordan Morris comes
in from Danny Mazowski to start the second half and
everything is just lighting up. Paul Rothrock in the fifty
seventh minute with a twenty five yard dart. They are
into the left side of the net through two defenders.
(04:16):
What an incredible goal that was from Paul Rothrock, who
will be again you're hearing from him in just a
few minutes it's Jordan Morris in the seventy seventh minutes,
and for Jordan Morris, a major congratulations. We knew it
was coming and to get it at home. Number eighty
seven all time across all competitions. He is now the
(04:38):
number one goal leader in Seattle Sounders club history. A
major congrats to the kid from Mercer Island. And what
an awesome goal it was slipped in from Paul Rothrock.
I mean, you look at these goals Klawney from the
University of Washington, Paul Rothrock from Capitol Hill, Jordan Morris
from Mercer Island to make him the all time leading
(04:59):
goal scorer in club history, and then Christian rolled on
in the eighty fourth minute. University of Washington. Albert Rusnak
had the fifth in the ninety fourth as well. But
four of the five goals are from guys with local
ties Capitol Hill, you dub Mercer Island. The local pipeline
and talent on this team is just incredible. Nobody else
in MLS even comes close in this regard. That's one
(05:22):
thing that Paul Rothrock says that you're gonna hear in
a few minutes. But the local aspect of this team
is incredible, and you for Jordan Morris, the kid who
grew up going to Sounders games, who was in the
stands for the first game ever against New York Red Bulls,
and then he becomes your all time leading goal scorer
at number eighty seven.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
It's so freaking cool.
Speaker 2 (05:44):
The Sounders put out an awesome social media video of
his son, THEO, reacting to Jake Zivins call on the
MLS broadcast on Apple TV. That will make you feel
a lot of things. I mean, just watching that he's
clapping for his dad when Jake says his name is
just one of the most cute and beautiful things you'll
(06:05):
ever see. So check out the Sounders' social pages for
that video for Jordan's family reacting, including THEO. But I
just couldn't be happier for Jordan, And I know he
definitely feels not only the responsibility, but also just he
understands what it means to be in this spot and
he reflected on that in his postgame press conference, and
(06:28):
I just love that for Jordan Morris, so big congratulations
to him. But this entire team, I mean, you go
down the list. Jackson Reagan, shut down, Olivier Jerude, a
French national team legend. Jerud was nowhere to be found
the entire game. GAMRK John Bell had good games, Klanne
was very good. Alex Chuldon who came onto the field
(06:48):
completely erased, Denny Bowoga, Denny Bwanga, the great player for LAFC,
did nothing but Rothrock, Danny Leva and Jul Paulo another
great game in the midfield for the two of them.
Every sounder I feel like had a plus in this game.
It was a thing of beauty five to two over LAFC.
Now the man of the match, Paul Rothrock goal and assist.
(07:12):
I told him when we sat down at a couple
of lockers there in the locker room, I said, man,
that felt like an ass kicking. How would you describe it? So,
Paul Rothrock, how would you describe that awesome five to
two win over LAFC. Let's just be real here, it's
an ass kicking. I mean, that's how That's how I
describe it. How do you describe that thing?
Speaker 3 (07:32):
Just a party.
Speaker 4 (07:36):
And man, just you know, some some long long waited,
long do retribution. It's just, you know, it's fun to
get a win like that against those guys.
Speaker 2 (07:48):
I mean it's been since May of twenty one, since
it's a regular season win against those guys. I mean,
like it's been a while, right, and like, I know
you got the playoff win, but clearly you just mentioned
the retribution, So like it's way on you guys that
you haven't knocked them out.
Speaker 3 (08:02):
In the regular season.
Speaker 4 (08:03):
And I think too. You know, we beat them in
the playoffs last year. That was a great feeling. But
you know, we played a different game then we played.
You know, we we had we weren't playing in our
normal shape and we switched to a back five and
you know, played a really good defensive performance that game
and kind of got the what's the word, like the
bunny off or back or whatever.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
But you know, this game was like.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
We played who like who we were, and you know
a lot of guys came up and showed out Kilanie, Christian,
Albert Jordan, and.
Speaker 3 (08:39):
That was like a it's party, Yeah, it's party party.
What's crazy about it is like four of the five
guys who scored, including you, all local.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
You dubbed for Klana, you dubbed for Christian, you capitol Hill,
Jordan meurs around.
Speaker 4 (08:53):
I mean like that's.
Speaker 2 (08:54):
Pretty cool to have this team put up a five
spot and four of the goals come from local kids.
Speaker 4 (08:58):
Dude, It's awesome. And you know, it's just amazing how
many guys we have from the local area that.
Speaker 3 (09:06):
Are representing Seattle here.
Speaker 4 (09:07):
And for sure, for sure we talked about it a lot.
I think it helps all of us too, right, Like
I remember growing up in the academy and knowing Christian
and you know, Jordan was obviously someone who I really
looked up to. I saw Jordan make the path, you know,
make the path from going to college, going to a
(09:29):
good program and then finding his way to Seattle homegrown player,
And obviously my path was a little bit different. It
took some took a few more turns before I got yeah,
but yeah, and then you know, Jackson's helped me along
the way, and I can do the same for Kilane now.
And so I think it provides like a really cool
(09:53):
you know, yeah, just like mentorship and friendship with each
other and and you know, I mean, we did the
numbers last year. I can't remember how many we have
this year now, but at least like a third of
the team's local, which I don't know. Another MLS team.
Who can say that.
Speaker 2 (10:11):
I mean, it just shows that the talent we have here.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
Yeah crazy. Yeah, Like you mentioned, like.
Speaker 2 (10:15):
You know, watching Jordan looking up to him, did seeing
him go to college with Stanford? Did that kind of
allow you the confidence and the freedom for yourself to
go to college rather than kind of going through a
different system.
Speaker 3 (10:26):
For sure? I think.
Speaker 4 (10:29):
Yeah, he set he showed me that that was a
viable option. And you know, with my parents and my family,
that was like, without question what I was going to do.
So if I wanted to keep playing soccer, I had
to find a way to do it in university as well.
Speaker 5 (10:48):
I was.
Speaker 4 (10:50):
I never really had the thought of my mind that
I was going to be going pro before I got
my degree. And to have guys in front of me
who were doing that like Lordan and you know, Christian
and who else came out of college, Aaron Covar, number
of guys that was like that was a Yeah, that
(11:13):
was a pathway that I saw that was viable and
and yeah, I was, I'm super lucky to have those
guys in front of me.
Speaker 2 (11:21):
I can see you kind of reflecting in the moment.
Speaker 3 (11:23):
Yeah, it's cool.
Speaker 2 (11:24):
And then let's just.
Speaker 3 (11:25):
Kind of bring up full circle.
Speaker 2 (11:27):
Dude, you assisted on Jordan Morris's record to be number one.
Speaker 3 (11:32):
You assisted on the How cool?
Speaker 2 (11:34):
Is that?
Speaker 3 (11:35):
So cool?
Speaker 4 (11:36):
I'm you know, he said to me after that, He's
always going to remember that one and I will too.
I will too. But and what a special achievement for him.
I just like, I'm just still fathoming eighty seven goals.
That's a lot of goals.
Speaker 3 (11:52):
For one club.
Speaker 4 (11:53):
And the fact that he's done it for Seattle is
just so cool. And you know, his dad's been their
team doctor here and yeah, special special moment. I'm pretty
typical Jordan Gold too. Write a little slipping behind and
uh composed finish through the legs.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
I've had a lot of those today. Yeah, yeah for
your banger. Well we'll talk about that and continue.
Speaker 4 (12:17):
Yeah, but really honored to be, you know, a part
of a couple of those goals with him, and hopefully
we can he breaks one hundred this season at least. Yeah,
that'd be real cool.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
All right, let's not talk about you. This has been
kind of a tough season so far. The first couple
of times bros talked about it, so.
Speaker 2 (12:35):
To like, dude, you come out and get a game
like this and to break through like this, Like how
much does this just feel like the damn totally breaking monkey.
Speaker 3 (12:44):
Off the back of you? Literally I just watched the movie.
Speaker 4 (12:46):
From Off your Back.
Speaker 3 (12:47):
Yeah, it feels really good.
Speaker 4 (12:48):
I you know, I I knew that. I you know,
eventually the things are gonna fall my way. And I've
got a I've got a guy who I see about
like mental performance side of things. And you know, he
was really helpful because he was he was cautioning me
not to get in that thinking of you know, I
(13:10):
just need things to fall my way. He's like, no, like,
go and make things fall your way, right, And that
was a really helpful reminder of like, you know, just
continuing to consistently bring that enthusiasm and that like positive
energy towards this and like you know, staying in my
lane of like who I am as a player and
(13:33):
and trusting that that's going to bring success and you know,
almost acting like I'm already successful, right, and it's already happened,
even though even though this this season has you know,
this season's.
Speaker 3 (13:48):
Been hard to get sharpness. Why do you think that is?
Speaker 4 (13:53):
I think, you know, I was I've been a couple
of weeks behind the team with the way preseason went,
you know, played in one preseason game, and so I
felt a couple of games back just in terms of sharpness.
And and then I think with our the way our
schedule started, A nice thing about it is that you know,
(14:14):
we're we're all getting games right now. But I also
think you don't get a whole lot of training, yeah,
because it's you know, it's basically train or play recover days.
Speaker 5 (14:24):
Man.
Speaker 4 (14:24):
Yeah, but I'm you know, I'm super grateful that throughout
that I've stayed healthy. I haven't had any hiccups coming
back because my injury was serious and you know, I
completely tore my quad tended, so it had to reattach
and luckily it's done that it scarred down and now
(14:45):
it's stronger than it was before.
Speaker 3 (14:47):
But yeah, it was it was.
Speaker 4 (14:50):
Hard mentally watching the team in the final game against Galaxy,
and you know, I just I've just got to sit
there and watch that. But yeah, I mean I think
you just got to stay You got to stay with it,
you got to keep going, you got to continue to
maintain that enthusiasm. And and you know, today, today was
(15:16):
a good day.
Speaker 3 (15:17):
Today was a good day.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
So what I love about this, Like we're not in
a press commerce we're just like literally sitting at two
walkers right now, and you talk about kind of the
mental aspects of this, and you know, it's it wasn't
long ago that pro athletes, you know, didn't want to
focus on the importance of mental health in this game.
And clearly it's something that you definitely are are aware
of and have an intentional thought of, Like mental health
(15:39):
matters as a pro athlete one hundred.
Speaker 4 (15:42):
I think, you know, obviously being in good shape helps,
but if you're in if I'm in the right mental
space going into.
Speaker 3 (15:51):
A game, nothing else matters. I think it's.
Speaker 4 (15:55):
Nine mental and it's challenging going through the ups and
downs of a year. And I think, you know, if
if I've learned anything from being in this world and
being in this realm, and it's a good life lesson too.
Speaker 3 (16:12):
It's like, you know, you have to your.
Speaker 4 (16:16):
Mindset has to be consistent, and you know, when when
other things are failing you, you fall to the level
of your systems, right, and if your systems are good,
then you're only going to fall to a certain level
each time. And and by keeping positive mindset keeping keeping
(16:37):
that enthusiasm. You know, the hardest thing for an athlete
too is maintaining confidence when you know you're not getting
the nod or you're you know, I think about this week.
Last week, you know, I came off at halftime in
our cell and then I played five minutes against.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
Chris Tool and.
Speaker 4 (17:03):
That's difficult, right, Like it's no one likes coming off
at halftime.
Speaker 2 (17:06):
And but then for Brian to give you the nod
today and start your debate, Yeah, it gives you.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
That confidence, I imagine for sure.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
For sure.
Speaker 4 (17:13):
And I also you know, flipped into my head of
like I'm gonna be fresher than everybody else, Like I'm
gonna be fresher than the guy plenty, I'm going against,
fresher than the LFC guys they played.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
Three days ago.
Speaker 4 (17:25):
Like there's there's always a way you can flip the
situation in your head to suit to suit.
Speaker 2 (17:32):
To suit.
Speaker 4 (17:33):
You getting in a good mindset. And and you know this,
the half started off pretty well. I didn't. I thought
it like I was doing my defensive responsibility as well,
and Connie's goal really helped.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
But then you know, we have a set back.
Speaker 4 (17:48):
They get that goal away and it kind of takes
our fire out and we need to spark in the
second half, and then you know, the flood gates really
opened and it was just fun after that. It was
very fun.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Indeed, sitting here by all these Sailor Secrets, What do
you think of the new Sailor Secret or your home
debut five?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
I actually really like the new Kid.
Speaker 4 (18:08):
I think it's really cool that we're honoring some of
you know, our indigenous heritage here. I'm living over west Yawle,
so I've gotten really interested in like the Duwamish River
lately and stuff. And you know, there's this book I've
been reading on the It's called The River That Changed Seattle.
It's a cool book about the Duwamish. But hearing all
that like history is really cool too, and like the
(18:31):
fact that we're tapping into that is is awesome. I
think Seattle and I don't think Seattles has had the
best history with.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
That, so it's cool.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
Then we're we're honoring that as a club, and I
hope we can do more to this year than just
you know, ripping the jersey and and you know, get
back to that community as well. And so we'll see
I love that.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Let's be off with your goal twenty five yards out.
Kind of a square ball there from Albert up in
the short corner took us through what that play you
saw what kind of the aim was with with with
was it always going to be a shot at goal?
Kind of took us through that play to wrap it up.
Speaker 3 (19:15):
That go kind of reminded me of the you know,
the goal I had last year and.
Speaker 4 (19:20):
Puma swere it just kind of it just kind of
like things just developed in in a funny way, and
I had a feeling in my gut I like where
to be, and you know, credit to Albert, he's always
got his eyes up and he's got really good vision.
And so when the corner starts, Danny's kind of talking
(19:41):
to me like you sure you want to be over there,
and I'm like, yeah, I feel good over here, like
I don't really know why, yeah, why? And then yeah,
then you know, the ball comes to me obviously, and
at that point, like things just kind of went dark
and it's like have a go, have a go.
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Paul zone out in those moments a little.
Speaker 4 (20:02):
I mean, you know, how many times do we practice
in you know, that basic shot where we do just
two touches and it's just get the ball out of
your feet, set up and hit. And for me, it
was just kind of a muscle memory flow, like right place,
right time Albert played it to me, I had, you know,
I didn't have a whole lot of pressure coming at me.
(20:22):
And then.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
Yeah, let the rest of the work, dude.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
Congratulations, Thanks man, I can see how much this feels.
I know it's going to be a quick turnaround for
you guys, so safe travel. Can't wait to see you
back out there and kicking ass again.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
Thanks, brother, appreciate it. Good to see you.
Speaker 2 (20:38):
That's great stuff there from Paul Rothrock. Really not an interview,
even just that sit down and we sat two lockers
and you could hear. I mean, I love those kind
of conversations where it just doesn't feel like an interview.
It feels like you're just sitting at a bar shooting
and you know what, And I love that from Paul Rothrock,
one of my absolute favorite people that I've ever talked
to here doing this radio show and doing this you know,
(21:01):
interview thing. So that was an awesome conversation and I
hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
There once again.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
Paul Rothrock goal assists Man of the match there in
the locker room. He called that five to two in
over Lafc a party. But all parties must end and
all things must move forward, and the Sounders move forward
to a very very busy week. We have two matches
Tomorrow night, Sounders Leg two against Cruise a Zool down
(21:28):
in Mexico City. It's zero zero right now. They can
even go through on away goals one to one or
two to two would put them through to the quarterfinals
in concer CAF Champions Cup, or simply just win. So
that's Leg two tomorrow night, five thirty kickoff tomorrow Sounders
at Cruise Zool. You can watch it on FS one,
on TUDN, and on VIX. That's vix. Those are the
(21:51):
three places you can watch the Sounders game. I'll be
tuning in there on FS one at five thirty tomorrow.
Then we have Saint Louis City coming up on Saturday.
That will be on a road game there at what
I forget what their stadiums called there in Saint Louis,
But that will be in Saint Louis coming up on Saturday,
five o'clock. Providence we just premat show five thirty kickoff.
(22:14):
You can listen to that over on our sister station
of Sports Radio nine to fifty kjr AM. You can
also watch it on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.
We'll get a thought from Ari lillianwall on what Saint
Louis City did to the LA Galaxy this last weekend.
We'll also get a thought from Ari on cruz Azuel
coming up tomorrow, and anders Hurst will be coming up
(22:35):
later on tonight. Lot still to get to here on
Sounders Weekly, celebrating a five to two Sounders win over
lafc Ari lillienwall is next on Sports Radio ninety three
point three KJRFM.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Now back to Sounders Weekly on your home for sunders
FC Clle's Sports Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
Welcome back, Sounders Weekly.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
Jackson, felt good to have you here on this busy
sports day here on ninety three point three kjr FM.
Thanks to Paul Rothrock for taking the time in the
locker room. You heard that conversation. It wasn't even it
didn't really feel like an interview that we did. Kind
of just to sit down on the two guys just
shooting the you know, what and it was awesome to
sit down with Paul Rothrock there and you heard that
(23:18):
that last segment. Still have anders Hurst coming up next segment.
Want to ask him about Leg two against Cruise a
zool tomorrow night down in Mexico City for your sounders.
But joining us right now here on the show is
our good friend from Major League Soccer at dot com,
where he is a writer and editor. Also the podcast
Lobbing Scorches, which has live shows on Monday mornings and
(23:39):
Thursday nights. It's our good friend Ari, Lillianwall Ari. Good
to have you back on the show, My friend, how
are you?
Speaker 3 (23:45):
I'm doing well?
Speaker 5 (23:46):
Jackson, how are you?
Speaker 2 (23:47):
I'm good, I'm good. Before we go any further, do
we have the clip ready? Let's play this?
Speaker 3 (23:52):
Hey, Brian, congratulations on the win. Paul Rothrock.
Speaker 6 (23:56):
Did this feel kind of like a little bit of
a comeback game for him?
Speaker 3 (23:59):
Off visit and you know, kind of moving forward and
can add that to your podcast. I'm sure you'll talk
about it.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Thanks for listening well, Brian Schmenzer said, thanks for listening.
Speaker 5 (24:09):
Ari.
Speaker 2 (24:10):
Why don't you tell us whose voice that was asking
that question? And uh how that all plays into the
uh to you being with us right now.
Speaker 5 (24:18):
Yeah, that was my co host and producer, Noah Rice
asking that question. And uh, that was verbal confirmation from
Brian Schmetzer that he listens to the podcast. You know,
we theorized for a long time that he might. Uh,
but I think that that settles it right there, does
it not.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
It absolutely confirms that Brian Schmitzer is a listener to
Lobbing Scorchers. I doubt he listens to this kakam Amy show.
So congratulations on having the head coach be the podcast
listener for you. But listen, man, no all joking aside,
that's pretty cool, and uh, and for Noah to be there,
and then obviously Paul had a good game, and and uh, listen,
(24:57):
maybe we just start there the fact that you know,
you and Noah have had this kind of you know,
pro Paul Rothrock agenda for a very long time. Now
goes back a couple of years, and the kids had
a rough start of the year. But what a game
he had in that just five to crushing of LAFC.
Speaker 5 (25:14):
Yeah, he really did. You know, it was a slow
start to the year for him, but I think that's
kind of understandable. He did have a pretty big injury
at the end of last season, and I think he
even talked about the rust that factors into that. But
I really think that I've been saying, I think that
might have been his best. That might have been the
best Rothrock game. There was like a ten to fifteen
(25:35):
minute period of that game in the second half where
he took over the game, which is not something that
I've seen him do to that level for as long
as he did it. In that game, he was absolutely
destroying Ryan hollings Head. He scored a great goal. So
that is the Paul Rothrock that we got used to
seeing last year, and so it was it was great
(25:57):
to see him along with the rest of the depth
pieces that performed so well in that game.
Speaker 2 (26:00):
Yeah, and I think we keep talking this season before
this game about the depth of the team, the depth
of this team, how good the depth on this team is.
And listen, I don't know if I should be reading
as much into the game as I should. I mean,
five to two is just a slaughter of you know
what was a team in the Western semi final last
year and we had to get in one hundred and
(26:21):
ninth minute winner against I'm kind of looking at this
LAFC team, looking at how much they rotated on Saturday,
I don't know how much should we read into just
the destruction of that team in the second half on Saturday.
Speaker 5 (26:36):
I mean, that's the thing, Like, yes, that was a
rotated LAFC side, and that's what they have their They're
in Concorcap Champions Cup two, so that's what all their
fans are pointing out. Guess what that was a rotated
Seattle side too. That was depth on depth. One team's
depth was up for it and one team's was not
at all. And honestly, I'm not going to sound alarm
(26:57):
bells on LAFC every time I think that they might
have a downfall. They never do, so I'm not gonna
get my hopes super high on that. But I will
tell you, Jackson, I watched Steve Trarundelo's presser after the game,
and uh, he was understandably not happy. But what I
thought was interesting is that he said that he mentioned
his subs specifically, and he said our subs were not
(27:18):
up for the game today in terms of effort and mentality,
which are pretty strong works. You know who one of
the players who subbed on in the second half.
Speaker 3 (27:25):
For LAFCN Denny Bolonga.
Speaker 5 (27:28):
So like if Steve Tarundelo is uh is talking about
that regarding Denny Bolonga, that's that's not good. You know,
I don't know how bad it is, but it's definitely
not good for them.
Speaker 2 (27:39):
No, I mean that was embarrassing. I mean, frankly, Jackson
Reagan owned Oliviersia route. I said it in the first segment,
like you can kind of go along the Sounders roster
starters and backups and kind of say, like, boy, everybody
had a plus somewhere in this game because so many
of LAFC you know, big stars were completely a limited
(28:00):
from various Sounder players. I mean their new Ukrainian fullback,
I mean Klanie Coza Rienzi just owned him and sent
him on a ride on that goal in the eleventh minute,
So you know, up and down. I just look at
pluses everywhere and then minuses for LAFC. Ari Luino was
our guest MLS Soccer dot Com and the podcast Lobbing Scorches,
which we have confirmed Brian Schmitzer listens to UH and
(28:24):
Ari Uh.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
Let's jump around first.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Let's start with the other team in Los Angeles, La
Galaxy Sounders crushed LAFC and LA Galaxy also got crushed
Saint Louis three nothing in Los Angeles on Sunday night.
How down bad are the Galaxy right now?
Speaker 5 (28:43):
Down?
Speaker 3 (28:44):
Horrendously bad?
Speaker 5 (28:45):
Jackson. I mean, I'm not calling the demise of LAFC yet,
and I'm not going to call the demise of the
LA Galaxy quite yet, but that is a lot closer
to getting called, I think, than the LAFC downfall. They
just it's it just feels like they lost too much
of the offseason. They had to shed a bunch of
salary to get compliant.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
They lost guys.
Speaker 5 (29:05):
Like Mark Delgado and Dean Jobilic, Jalen Neil. I'm even
I'm missing a couple in there. They had to shed
so much salary, and then they have the long term
injury to Ricky Pooge. They have Joey Painzill still out
right now, so it just seems.
Speaker 3 (29:19):
Like their fall off. The writing is on the wall
a little bit.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
They couldn't keep that team together and they're dealing with
some really tough injuries and they I mean, they look
like one of the worst teams in the league right now.
I don't know if that's gonna hold true. But they
definitely don't look like a team that's about to defend
their MLS Cup title, and that is for sure.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
I feel like I'm the Jerry Seinfeld Giff was it
Jeff Giff saying shame? It's just a shame, real, real
darn shame that LA teams are down so bad. Ari,
let's go to the good and on the good side
for MLS this year, it's the two undefeated teams still,
the two teams that are three and defeated, but the
(30:01):
two teams that have won all their games three oh
to oh. One is the Philadelphia Union they picked up
a two nothing win over New England over the weekend,
and the other is just a little bit north, the
Vancouver white Caps, also with a two to nothing win
over the weekend over Montreal. Maybe they're both legit, but
if you can only have one, which of those two
(30:21):
three O and O teams are more legit? And you know,
a team that you believe could make a run, you know,
less than ten percent in the season, but you think
could make a run as we move forward.
Speaker 5 (30:32):
Yeah, I gotta say I'm I'm surprised and intrigued at
what we've seen from the Philly Union so far. You know,
they were a team that had a really down year
last year compared to the president they had set in
a few years before that. They fired their coach, who
was kind of a club legend. Yeah, it was a
club legend, I think, and Jim Curtin, the Bradley Carnell
hired to replace him, didn't draw any kind of widespread plaudits.
(30:55):
I think that was kind of viewed by the pundits
as a lateral move, not that exciting. So I didn't
really see much of a reason to think that much
would be different with the Philly Union this year. But
to answer your question, they look for real to me.
And with the Ryan Gold injury that got announced today
for the Vancouver White Cats, he's going to be out
(31:15):
a few weeks, so I think in the short term
that's we're gonna learn a lot about them because in
the past couple of years that they haven't been able
to play really without Ryan Gold. But Philly just looks
really good right now. Their attack looks as good as
it ever did during the Jim Curtin years, and Tyberribo
looks like one of the best number nines in the
league to start the year. So yeah, no, I'll take
(31:38):
the Philly Union.
Speaker 4 (31:38):
There.
Speaker 5 (31:39):
They look a lot better than I thought.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
Okay, well we'll stay on that and we'll talk to
you about Philly down the road. Wrapping up with Ari
Lillion Wall once again Major League Soccer dot Com and
the podcast Lobbing Scorches, which again we have confirmed Brian
Scheitzer listens to Ari. Let's wrap it with looking at
the week ahead for the Sounders. It's Cruise Azuel in
the second leg in Mexico City to and then you
(32:01):
mentioned a few thoughts on Saint Louis in terms of
the galaxy and how down bad they are.
Speaker 3 (32:05):
But let's let's hit two questions here.
Speaker 2 (32:08):
A Cruise Azool, what you may have taken from the
first leg that you think that you may give the
hope or not give hope for the Sounders tomorrow down
in Mexico City and then Saint Louis on Saturday after
the very quick turnaround again, so thoughts on both these
week's games for the Sounders as we wrap this.
Speaker 5 (32:27):
Yeah, I mean it's all about Cruise Azool right now.
I honestly forgot about this Saint Louis game. I really
haven't been thinking about that. Yeah, I think it's all
hands on decks for this game against Cruise Azul and uh,
I think you know it's going to be a hard game.
I don't want to have any illusions about that it
go These road trips to Mexico and CCC are extremely difficult,
(32:50):
and I think there is an extent to which the
odds are stacked against Seattle in the sense that to
put themselves in really good position, they need to score
in that first leg. But I will say not giving
up that road goal was pretty important. That doesn't give
them the advantage going into leg two, but it does
if they can score the first goal. So that was
(33:13):
why this kind of surprised me that cruizes Will played
for the zero zero because now going back home, they
put themselves in a position where road goals can come
back to hurt them. So I think Crusos Will is
still the favorite in this scenario, probably the comfortable favorite
playing at home. But my feeling on it is that
the result that Seattle needs to go through is it's attainable,
(33:35):
Like this is not an impossible task or an unthinkable
result for them to get.
Speaker 3 (33:40):
They can do this.
Speaker 2 (33:41):
Yes, sign me up for one to one. I would
love that in an instant, But we'll see what happens
there Tomorrow night, five point thirty kickoff in Mexico City,
and I would tell folks it's not available a lot
of places to watch, but it is available on TUDN,
VIX and twob no radio broadcast by the way for that.
But Saint Louis, so they are one of the undefeated
squads in MLS. They got a zero zero against Colorado
(34:03):
zero zero in San Diego and then three nothing went
over the Galaxy. So that is a game coming up
there on Saturday for a team that the Sounders have
done very very well against in recent history, Saint Louis City.
So we'll see what happens on Saturday as well. But
I agree with you, it's all focus and all hands
on deck for Cruise Azuel in Mexico City tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (34:23):
Ari.
Speaker 2 (34:23):
We will talk to you next week where hopefully we're
talking about some more concer calf action and we'll be
pre or re reacting to whatever happens against Saint Louis
this weekend. Appreciate it. Put out a very very good
show on Thursday night for Brian Schmitzer.
Speaker 5 (34:37):
Will you cond good, Jack, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (34:40):
It's good stuff there from Ari lill you once again
MLS Soccer dot com and that podcast Lobbing Scorches. They'll
have a live show on Thursday night. We'll see if
the head coach tunes in for that. But very very
cool stuff and congrats there for Ari. All right, we'll
take a break. Let's continue talking Cruise a Zool. The
man behind the window there, Anders Hurst here from KGr.
(35:01):
He has a new place that he is reacting to Sounders,
a place that he is writing for. We'll talk to
him about that and preview Cruise a Zool tomorrow night.
That comes up next on Sounders Weekly Sports Radio ninety
three point three KJRFM.
Speaker 3 (35:14):
Now back to.
Speaker 1 (35:15):
Sounders Weekly on your home for Sounders FC, Seattle's Sports
Radio ninety three point three kjr FM.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
Welcome back Sounders Weekly, Jackson Feltz, you're talking all things
Sounders soccer. What a day here on KJR such news
and wrapping up here the live and local here tonight
with some soccer talk here from eight to nine pm.
With this last segment tonight, we want to thank both
of our guests so far tonight. Paul Rothrock in the
locker room after the Sounders Big Gigantic just onslought over
(35:47):
LAFC five to two on Saturday, and also Ari Lillian
while they're in that previous segment. Check out the podcast
Sounders Weekly in case you missed either of them. Somebody
who knows Ari and then played with Paul Rothrock I
just learned in the locker room. It's our good friend
here on kJ R anders Hurst andres As I understand it.
(36:09):
I mean we were Paul was finishing his press conference
coming to sit down with me. You were getting ready
to talk to Jordan Morris, and you guys had an
embrace and I was like, excuse me, what's what's going
on here?
Speaker 3 (36:20):
Well, you and Paul were tired apparently. Yeah.
Speaker 6 (36:22):
Well I don't know if you were there for the
actual press conference, but I asked a question and he said, oh, hey, Anders,
I remember playing with literally in front of everyone.
Speaker 3 (36:30):
I didn't hear that. Yeah, that's great. What you should
watch the video. It's really great. It's a proud moment
for me.
Speaker 6 (36:34):
I did not think Paul would recognize me because me
only played together for like a summer. But he's a
great dude. I heard you guys conversation earlier. It's he
is such good perspective on being an athlete in today's world.
He's a super smart guy. I think he has a
great head on his shoulders. He's so fun to talk to,
and he's had a really good year last year. It's
so fun to root for those local guys. So yeah,
(36:56):
it was great. Great to hear from Paul Rothrock there.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Yeah, and his comments, I think you nailed it right
there of being a professional athlete in twenty twenty five,
the emphasis on mental health that he talked about earlier.
Awesome conversation to check out in case you missed it.
But you know, after Paul left, you hung around for
the Jordan Morris press conference, and I was over talking
to Paul, and I was kind of wondering, you know,
(37:19):
how was Jordan coming off of eighty seventh goal most
in club history. I imagine he was a bit reflective
in that.
Speaker 6 (37:26):
Press or yes, kind of similar situation where you expect
someone who just broke the record for most goals in
club history to be pretty like upbeat and like super
excited smile on his face. And while you could definitely
see that come out every couple of moments. For Jordan Morris,
he was very like I think that's a perfect word, reflective,
because he's kind of just is very thankful about where
(37:49):
he is, for his family, for the situation that put
him here to play for the club that is his
hometown team and now is the top goal scorer in
their history, a very storied history, even though it's not
maybe as long as some other teams in MLSH. He
thanked his family. He does it for his two year
(38:09):
old son. I don't know if you saw the video.
Oh yeah, Oh my god, that was one of the
cutest video.
Speaker 2 (38:14):
I think that's the best video to ever hit the internet,
where THEO is reacting to the jig zivin the announcer
on mlsc's in the past actually like saying number one
all time eighty seven, and THEO is like, that's my dad,
or do you say that's my dad? But he's clapping
for like as if like that's my dad. One of
the cutest things you'll ever seen in your life.
Speaker 6 (38:32):
Yeah, and then it goes to show you like how
much that means to Jordan too. And I think it
came out in his press conference and it was really
cool to see He's such an easy gotta root for
as well. It's another reason why I just love this
team is there's a lot of really good guys on it.
So yeah, Jordan, congratulations to him. It absolutely deserved and uh,
I'm glad he did it at home because he got
to celebrate in front of the home fans he did.
Speaker 2 (38:54):
That was the best part of the fact that it
didn't come like you know at Cruise as right somewhere
else well and is joining us here of course he
is a soccer reporter or at KJAR. It produces Ian
ferness in the afternoons right before Softy and dictate the hair.
And in addition to all that, Anders, before we go
any further, you now have a new thing going on
(39:18):
that the people can follow at Anders hearst and and
follow your new I guess soccer writing coverage.
Speaker 3 (39:24):
Tell us what you're doing.
Speaker 6 (39:25):
Yeah, well, I normally kind of for KJR here I
do a lot of stuff with the shows. I don't
have an opportunity to necessarily write on a daily beat
basis for us as often as I would like to.
So I got the opportunity from our good friend Corbyn Smith,
who covers the Seahawks on a daily basis. He started
this website called Emerald City Spectrum, which covers all of
(39:47):
Seattle sports, has daily writers, reporters in journalists for every
single Seattle sports and he needed someone to cover the
Sounders and Rain and he reached out to me and
it was something I wasn't expecting, but I think was
welcomed by myself and I'm really enjoying it so far.
(40:08):
It's only been one week, but I love being able
to go to the games now talk to players. It's
a great opportunity. If you want more coverage for any
Seattle sports, but specifically for me, you're looking for Sounders
rain in the future World Cup, you can go to
Emerald City Spectrum. It's six bucks a month, or you
can sixty dollars for the year. See a little bit
of a discount if you pay for the four year.
Speaker 2 (40:29):
Oh yeah, definitely twelve dollars discount. It's enough of a
discount for me. Emerald City Spectrum. Check it out at
Andershurst on Socials and then at Emerald Spectrum as well.
So follow check out all the stories as anders will
be covering the Sounders and Rain for Emerald City Spectrum.
Let's put some of that knowledge to the test. Alrighty,
here we are because we saw LFC. But LFC is
(40:51):
now in the rearview mirar. The attention turns to twenty
four hours from right now we will know the result
of the second leg. It's a five thirty kick off
tomorrow for Sounders at Cruise Azool.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
First leg was zero zero. We watched it last week.
Speaker 2 (41:06):
And you know there were chances and bars and posts
and annoyances. What do you make of the zero zero
game last week between the Sounders and Cruise Azool missed opportunity.
Speaker 6 (41:17):
I think the Sounders will feel like they should have
gone into the leg, the away leg in Mexico City,
with a lead. They definitely I think in the first
few twenty to thirty minutes it was kind of both
teams feeling each other out.
Speaker 3 (41:29):
You could see the quality of Cruise Usoul for sure.
Speaker 6 (41:32):
But the Sounders grew into the match in the last
kind of five to ten minutes of the first half
and then really got some chances in the second half,
including a post from Jordan Morris, a crossbar header from
Knew Who, and I'm forgetting one more. I think oh
the off sides goal, yea, that there is some question
whether that was offsides.
Speaker 3 (41:51):
I don't know.
Speaker 6 (41:52):
In Brian's post match press conference, he mentioned that Conka
caff may not have had all of the cameras available
to them that they should have, and that there's a
real question whether Pedro was nos Paulo Riola was off
side on Pedro's goals. So there there is a little bit,
I don't want to say controversy because it wasn't like
a huge deal where they were complaining that it definitely
(42:14):
wasn't off sides, but it's it's hard to tell sometimes
in those moments. So I think Sounders will go in
needing a result in Mexico City. Uh, and it's gonna
be a tough one for sure, especially after the quick
turnaround from Saturday to Tuesday.
Speaker 2 (42:26):
Yeah really, I mean they flew down on Sunday afternoon,
just you know, hours after the LAFC win, training there
today and then playing there tomorrow night, and then it's
Saint Louis coming up on the weekend. But going back
to Cruise a zool, I mean, that's a team that
did rotate quite a lot of their starting lineup. They
didn't bring seven of their normal starters to Seattle mostly attackers.
Ye see if they end up playing. But we still
(42:49):
have Mateyoush Bagoosh from LAFC last year who's on their team.
And you can see, and you mentioned it right there,
the quality of Cruise of Zool. This is a very
very very good squad. Yeah, and you are playing at
their house in Mexico City, or I should say at
their you know, temporary house in Mexico City, where this
will take an enormous effort to come away with a
(43:10):
series win. And listen, you can get away on away goals.
One to one will send the found Sounders through. Two
two will send the Sounders through, So you can slip
through with a draw if you score a goal. But
it's still going to be an enormous test to even
do that against this team.
Speaker 3 (43:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (43:24):
And obviously if you looked at the lineup from the
LFC game, Brian Schmitzer had this game in mind, heavily
rotating that team. We're fortunate to still come out with
a win with the MLS. This is what having a
deep squad gives you the opportunity to do.
Speaker 2 (43:38):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (43:38):
You have no pairode la Vega because of his injury
on Saturday. Uh, but you have basically the rest of
your squad available. Uh and I think probably one of
the biggest games at this point early in the year
since the twenty twenty two CONCA CAF Champions League. It's
it's going to be a big test to see, you know,
where this team is at at this point. I think
(43:59):
we've had a little mixed bag of results for the
first couple games, both in MLS and CONCA CAFF. But
you're right, Who's Asol definitely has the quality. I think
you're going to see a much different team than we
saw last Wednesday.
Speaker 3 (44:09):
Five thirty.
Speaker 2 (44:10):
Kickoff tomorrow Sounders at cruises Ol. You can watch it
on FS one, on TUDN and on VIX. That's vix.
Those are the three places you can watch the Sounders game.
I'll be tuning in there on FS one at five
thirty tomorrow. Leg two again wait gets them through, draw
where you score a goal gets them through and if
(44:30):
it's zero zero, I guess we go to Penn's yep,
so that'll be wild. And then Saint Louis coming up
on Saturday, and we haven't done too much of that
tonight other than our's comments on Saint Louis. But listen,
let's just focus on tomorrow week then we can focus
on moving forward.
Speaker 3 (44:44):
And thanks for joining us. Appreciate you. Thanks, Thanks Jackson.
That'll do it for the show tonight.
Speaker 2 (44:48):
I want to thank all of our guests, Anders right here,
Ari Lillenwall and Paul Rothrock from the locker room. Check
out the podcast Sounders Weekly everywhere you get your podcasts
in case you missed it.
Speaker 3 (44:58):
A couple more notes.
Speaker 2 (44:59):
Sounders FC Soccer is presented by Providence Swedish, the official
healthcare partner of Sounders FC. Also michelob Ultra ninety five
calories and two point six grams of carbs. It's only
worth it if you enjoy it. Five thirty tomorrow night
for the Cruise a Zool game, and then the attention
turns to Saint Louis coming up on Saturday really quickly
to give you broadcast details one more time on that.
(45:20):
It'll be a five o'clock Providence Swedish premat show five
point thirty kickoff. You can watch at MLS Season Pass
on Apple TV. You can also listen over on our
sister station of Sports Radio nine fifty kr AM this
Saturday for Sounders at Saint Louis City.
Speaker 3 (45:35):
Have a very good rest of your week.
Speaker 2 (45:37):
We will all be watching tomorrow night at five thirty
for Sounders Cruise a zool, enjoy the game and go Sounders.
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