As the Seattle Sounders prepare for playoff action and play their final regular season match this Saturday against St. Louis CITY SC (6 p.m. PT; Free to stream on Apple TV, iHeartRadio, and El Rey 1360AM), the defense has been one to watch this season.
Yeimar’s position at the center of the defense has been crucial, even though defensive efforts from every Sounder on the field were required to rank second in Major League Soccer for fewest goals conceded (32) this season.
According to assistant coach Andy Rose, “He’s just become an increasingly important player for us to have in the backline.” He is also someone who, simply by being there, improves the lives of those around him.
The Colombian defender, in Rose’s words, “allows his teammates to be a little bit braver,” just by his self-assurance and decision-making in 1-v-1 scenarios.
He covered so much area in 1-on-1 defense, said the player, “I think other players feel they can take more risks.” When you have a player like that in the back, it’s amazing.
Yeimar presently leads all MLS players this season in interceptions (72) by a huge margin, with the runner-up trailing by a whopping 15. This clearly demonstrates his ability to shut down opposition in high pressure situations.
His efforts have not gone unnoticed as seen by the club’s recent nomination of him for MLS Defender of the Year.
Jackson Ragen, a center defender, remarked, “It’s highly deserved. “I believe he is a true example of a defender,”
This weekend in St. Louis, he will have the chance to consolidate his position as one of the league’s top defenders, as the team depends on him to help them secure a league-leading 14th clean sheet and two potential club records for the fewest goals allowed and the most shutouts in a single season.
Ragen remarked, “We’ve needed him all year and we’ll need him in the biggest games. “He wins the ball for us a ton, and he’s a leader back there.”
The team’s preparation for the upcoming 2023 Audi MLS Playoffs will depend heavily on Yeimar’s contribution.
The amount of fires he extinguishes, his physical prowess, his ability to win one-on-one matches, and his game reading actually define a lot of what we can do with the ball, according to Rose. So, how far we go will undoubtedly depend on his performance.
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