Seattle do not lack attacking conviction, says Schmetzer

Brian Schmetzer hit back at the suggestion that his Seattle Sounders team lacked conviction in attack in their loss to FC Dallas.

The Sounders went down 1-0 in midweek, suffering their first MLS loss since August.

Seattle registered chances worth 2.0 expected goals and had 17 shots, hitting the target seven times, but they could not find a way through.

Schmetzer, though, said it was not down to a lack of belief from his players.

"No, their goalkeeper made a couple of critical saves," he said.

"It wasn't a lack of conviction at all; our guys like to score goals.

"They all had [belief they could score], but their guys were laying on blocks. Maybe our decision to shoot when there was an extra pass [was wrong]. Those were the decisions we were making.

"If you look at the chances we created in the first half.

There were a lot of moments where, if we put one of them away, that game would go differently.

"Defensively, most of their chances came from our sloppy play. It's disappointing, but the guys put the work in, and I'm proud of them for being on the road for a long time and putting that amount of effort in."

Next up for the Sounders is a home game against CF Montreal, as Seattle aim to consolidate their place in the playoffs.

Montreal have lost their last two outings, going down 3-0 to Atlanta United and 2-1 to Toronto FC.

Final. https://t.co/bu3S0EkaG5

— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) October 15, 2026

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Seattle Sounders – Dejan Joveljic

Joveljic is the Sounders' leading scorer in MLS this year, with 12 goals.

He attempted seven shots against Dallas, the highest total for a Sounders player in an MLS game this season.

CF Montreal – Prince Owusu

Owusu has been a leading light for Montreal in 2026, netting 15 MLS goals.

He also leads the way for assists in the league, with six, and the Sounders' defence must be on high alert to keep him out.

MATCH PREDICTION: SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN

Montreal's defeat to Atlanta on Wednesday was their 17th loss of the season, guaranteeing they will lose at least half of their regular-season matches for the third time in the last four years.

The most losses Montreal have suffered in a single regular season is 18, doing so in 2014 and 2025.

However, they have won six of 10 all-time meetings with the Sounders (D1 L3), though the last meeting was a 5-0 Seattle home win in 2024.

Montreal's 60% win rate against the Sounders is the highest of any MLS team against Seattle in regular-season play (minimum meetings).

However, Opta's predictive model is making Seattle the big favorites.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Seattle Sounders – 63.4%

Draw – 19.5%

CF Montreal – 17.1%

The post Seattle do not lack attacking conviction, says Schmetzer appeared first on SoccerNews.