Revolution 0 - 0 Sounders
Final
  for this game

Sounders turn focus back to MLS for Revs tilt

Apr 12, 2013 - 5:34 PM Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Seattle Sounders FC enters the weekend in unfamiliar territory.

Seattle has been a model entity since MLS in 2009, gaining tremendous fan support while remaining competitive on the pitch.

While the Sounders faithful still attend CenturyLink Field in large numbers, the results have not been there so far this season. Seattle has managed just one point from its first four league matches, leaving the club at the foot of the Western Conference table.

But a new season begins for the Sounders on Saturday as they will hope to claim that elusive first win when they host the New England Revolution.

Saturday's contest seems like a logical transition period for the Sounders. The club focused a great deal of its energy on the CONCACAF Champions League, from which it was ousted with a 1-1 draw at Mexican side Santos on Tuesday.

With that competition now unattainable, the Sounders turn their efforts back to MLS play, where they have not featured since suffering a 2-1 loss to Real Salt Lake on March 30.

Seattle has scored just six goals in its eight matches across all competitions this season, three of which came in a win over Tigres in CONCACAF Champions League action.

According to Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid, the key to getting back to winning ways is putting the ball in the back of the net on a consistent basis.

"We had chances, and right now the onus is on our guys to finish their chances," Schmid said. "We haven't finished chances well enough, and we have to do a better job of that and it'll make games easier."

That task may prove to be difficult against New England, which has conceded just two goals in its first four league games of the season.

Not only does that defensive record tie the Revs with Sporting Kansas City for the best goals against average in the league, but it marks the best defensive start to the season in club history.

New England and Seattle have split the seven matches in the season series with both clubs going 3-3-1, but the Sounders have posted a 2-1-0 record against the Revs at CenturyLink.

Saturday's tilt will be the only MLS regular season contest between the two clubs this season.






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