Caden Clark says the Seattle Sounders' locker room is the best he has ever been part of, despite their MLS winless run standing at 13 games ahead of their clash with Real Salt Lake.
Clark relishing 'best experience' despite Seattle Sounders' long winless run
The Seattle Sounders and Real Salt Lake are on long winless runs dating back to before the World Cup break, ahead of facing off in MLS.
After losing eight games in a row, the Sounders have now played out five consecutive draws, coming from behind in three of those, including in Saturday's 3-3 draw with the Colorado Rapids.
Ahead of welcoming RSL to Lumen Field on Wednesday, Seattle have tumbled all the way down to 13th in the Western Conference, three points adrift of the playoff picture.
Clark scored a last-gasp leveller against Colorado on his debut for Brian Schmetzer's side, having arrived from D.C. United earlier this month.
And despite the Sounders still being without a win in MLS since the World Cup break, Clark told the club's website: "It's been probably the best experience I've had so far being a part of a team.
"The way they go about things, the culture they have, they've been successful in the past for a reason. There's no secret to that.
"They have such a bond and have played together for so long and have high standards.
"Coming into that, I was very fortunate, just trying to learn from them and take that with me and put my best foot forward."
RSL are on a long winless streak of their own, spanning 12 games since they beat the Rapids in May, also prior to the World Cup break.
They are only above Seattle on goal difference, making Wednesday's game a pivotal one in the playoff race, though they have been boosted by Saba Lobjanidze, Morgan Guilavogui and Kobi Henry electing to remain with them during the international break, rather than joining up with their nations.
Head coach Pablo Mastroeni said: "It gives me hope. It gives me belief that the culture is intact, where they would be willing to stay and play for a team that hasn't had a win in... I don't know how long.
"We've got to be dogs. We've got to be disciplined. We've got to work so hard for the guy next to us."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Seattle Sounders – Albert Rusnak
Rusnak assisted two of Seattle's three goals in their draw with Colorado on Saturday, including the stoppage-time equaliser scored by Clark.
He has now assisted five of Seattle's last eight goals, setting up five different players on those goals.
Real Salt Lake – Sergi Solans
Having lost their last two games to nil, RSL are at risk of going three straight MLS games without a goal for the first time since May 2023.
If they are to avoid that fate, then Solans – who leads all of his team-mates for goals (nine) and expected goals (11.4 xG) this year – will have a key role to play.
MATCH PREDICTION: SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN
Real Salt Lake have only lost two of their last 12 meetings with the Seattle Sounders in all competitions (W7 D3), including a 2-1 home win on February 28.
RSL are looking to sweep a season series against Seattle for just the third time, after doing so in 2018 and 2022.
And they will be going up against a Sounders team that are on their longest-ever winless run in regular-season play (13 – D5 L8).
But RSL are themselves enduring the joint-longest single-season winless streak in their MLS history, also going 12 without winning in 2005.
So, with home advantage on their side, Seattle could hardly ask for a more ideal fixture to end their rut.
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Seattle Sounders – 52.7%
Real Salt Lake – 24.9%
Draw – 22.4%
