NYC hopes to end slide against Sounders
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}New York, NY (SportsNetwork.com) - New York City FC will be trying to turn things around against Seattle Sounders FC when the two sides square off at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.
NYC's winless streak reached six games with a 1-0 loss to the Chicago Fire in the club's last outing, while Seattle has won back-to-back games for the first time this season.
The 1-0 setback marks the second straight match that New York has failed to score a goal, while the club has been blanked four times in eight games this term.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Despite his team's early-season struggles, head coach Jason Kreis is still encouraged by the effort of the side, even if the goals have been few and far between.
"I'm continually impressed by this team. They keep fighting and not giving up. I'm pleased with that," said Kreis. "I'm pleased with the resolve and the togetherness. I wish that we had figured out a way to get a little more attack going in the second half."
Not only did NYC fail to get a goal or any points from the game, but the club also had two players leave injured as striker Adam Nemec and defender Javier Calle both had to leave the game in the first half.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Seattle is coming off a Cascadia Cup victory over Portland as Clint Dempsey scored the lone goal in a 1-0 win, marking the Sounders fourth successive victory over their rivals.
Dempsey continued his strong start with that goal, giving the American international a goal or assist in all five league games for the Sounders this season.
But the club has also benefited from an improved defense with the club yielding only five goals in seven games.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Last year, obviously, defensively we gave up some goals," Seattle head coach Sigi Schmid said. "You look at our defense [so far] this year I think we're, if not at the top of the league, we're very close to the top of the league. That'll always keep you in games and give opportunities to win games."
With defender Chad Marshall suspended, Zach Scott filled in and helped the Sounders record their fourth clean sheet of the season, giving Schmid another reliable option in defense if necessary.