Gustav Svensson is lifted by his Seattle Sounders FC teammates after scoring against the host Houston Dynamo in the MLS Western Conference final, first leg on November 21, 2017, in Houston, Texas, USA. (Photo: Dan Poss/courtesy of Sounders FC Communications)
HOUSTON -- After his team earned a 2-0 win on the road over 10-man Houston Dynamo in the 2017 Major League Soccer Western Conference final, first leg on Tuesday at BBVA Compass Stadium, Seattle Sounders FC head coach Brian Schmetzer warned against complacency.
“The message after the game was, ‘You cannot fall asleep for any moment,’ ” Schmetzer said. “We play to our strengths and try to dictate tempo to other teams. We will approach [the second leg] the same way."
The defending MLS Cup champion, which will compete in the 2018 Scotiabank CONCACAF Champions League, had several players step forward.
Gustav Svensson (11’) -- who helped Sweden clinch a berth in the 2018 FIFA World Cup -- and Will Bruin (42’) netted first-half goals.
“We’re not looking to MLS Cup yet," said Bruin. "We still have a second leg where they can come into our place and do what we did to them. The game can be cruel sometimes, so we’re not taking anything for granted.”
That second leg will be played November 30 at Seattle’s CenturyLink Field.
