The game in 100 words (or less): The Seattle Sounders are really, really hard to watch. Furthermore, they’re a really, really bad soccer team right now. With just three points to show for their first four games of the 2016 season, Sunday’s away date with the Houston Dynamo became a somewhat important game in the Western Conference playoff race, no matter how early in the year it may still be. In the end, a point from a 1-1 draw will serve a solid building block going forward, but the overall sentiment long before the final whistle is this: another week, another dreadful performance in the attacking half of the field; the switch to the 4-3-3 hasn’t clicked for a number of key figures; a play-making no. 10 is need nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 for Sigi Schmid’s side; Obafemi Martins isn’t walking through that door.
[ MORE: Recaps from Saturday’s MLS action ]
Three moments that mattered
35' — Barnes scores amid a defensive breakdown — “Defensive breakdown” is the nicest way I can describe what the Sounders did on Giles Barnes’ opening goal while keeping it G-rated. Goalkeeper Stefan Frei called for an impromptu nap time for everyone inside his penalty area, apparently.
What a finish from Giles Barnes to give @HoustonDynamo the lead. Tune in to #HOUvSEA on @espn https://t.co/NrHElurlVU
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 10, 2016
84' — Gomez makes an instant impact, near-equalizer — Herculez Gomez replaced the struggling Jordan Morris in the 79th minute and promptly caused a bit of chaos in the Dynamo’s penalty area. Close, oh so close.
.@herculezg is wasting absolutely no time getting to work!#HOUvSEA: https://t.co/AHZYlXYTrT pic.twitter.com/1UybxCr3O1
— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) April 10, 2016
90+4' — Marshall bags a last-gasp equalizer — When creating quality scoring chances becomes next to impossible, chaos in the box is often the best solution.
. @SoundersFC tie it late with this @ChadMarshall14 finish in stoppage time. #HOUvSEA finishes up 1-1 #SoccerSunday https://t.co/KqClT12wqq
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 10, 2016
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Man of the match: Giles Barnes
Goalscorers: Barnes (35'), Marshall (90+4')