Sounders’ Obed Vargas backing up first MLS goal with sharp play

by · The Seattle Times

RENTON — The eye-popping goal is long forgotten. It’s part of a lesson learned from former Tacoma Defiance coach Wade Webber.

Obed Vargas is already one MLS match removed from his contributions in a win over the Philadelphia Union that cemented he’s back to the level at which he played a pivotal role in helping the Sounders win the CONCACAF Champions League title two years ago. Focus is now on Sunday’s match against the Portland Timbers at Providence Park.

The Sounders are winless in their past six matches against their Cascadia rival, the sides playing to a pair of draws in their past two meetings.

“One of the things that Wade always told me was, ‘You’re only as good as your next game,’” said Vargas, who began his pro career with the Defiance in 2021. “Our last game is history, it’s done. We have to show it again and again. That’s the difficult part about playing sports, you have to show up every day and perform.”

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It’ll be hard to top the Union match. Vargas scored his first professional goal in the 22nd minute of the eventual 3-2 Seattle win at Subaru Park in Chester, Pa., late last month.

The 18-year-old was smooth like a seasoned striker. He received a pass from teammate Leo Chu left of the penalty box, tapping it forward to get before his defender and not hesitating to hook a right-footed shot into the back of the net.

“In my head, I was like, ‘Yeah, it kind of looked like Raul [Ruidiaz] hit it,’” Vargas said of the Sounders’ designated player. “I’ve seen him take that shot in training like every day and I felt like him in that moment.”

That moment was the splashy highlight. Vargas also did the dirty work in making tackles, winning duels and drawing a foul in the box that set up what ultimately was Ruidiaz’s game-winning penalty in the 37th minute.

As a team, the Sounders didn’t follow the win with an impressive performance at home against the LA Galaxy last week. But within the goalless draw, Vargas was smart in his decision-making and had a shot at goal during his 90-minute shift.

“Obed is an excellent player and I always tell him that,” said Ruidiaz in Spanish. “You can see that now because he’s having better development. But in the end, it’s about confidence. That depends on him.”

Vargas capitalized on injuries to Albert Rusnak (ankle), Joao Paulo (hip) and Pedro de la Vega (hamstring) that forced Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer to start him to open the season. He’ll likely get the nod Sunday because midfielder Josh Atencio is unavailable due to a hamstring injury he suffered in Seattle’s midweek U.S. Open Cup win against Louisville City FC.

Spotted at age 14 to play for the Sounders Academy, Vargas attributes this season to being able to “play free.” His breakout 2022 campaign ended in June due to a lower-back stress fracture. It was hard for Vargas to get consistent minutes last year with Atencio surging in his play alongside Paulo.

“During that I was super upset,” Vargas said of 2022. “I was kind of coming up and boom, I was done for the season … but I also knew I was super young.”

Schmetzer called on Atencio during the playoff run last fall. Vargas only logged 24 minutes off the bench. But to open this year, Vargas has started eight of his nine appearances and recorded an assist in the blowout win against CF Montreal in April.

“I worked really hard in the offseason,” he said. “The way last season ended, I wasn’t playing and I wasn’t having the minutes I wanted to, so it’s just seeing the rewards of all of the hard work that I put in. … I’m happy about that and hope to carry it on.”

Here’s a look at Sunday’s match:

The details

Sounders (2-5-4) at Portland Timbers (2-5-4)

Time/place: 1:45 p.m. Sunday at Providence Park, Portland.

TV: Apple TV (free) and Fox.

Radio: 93.3 KJR FM in English and El Rey 1360 AM in Spanish.

Series history: The Sounders lead the all-time series 56-46-17 since 1975.

Here are the storylines:

Busy week

Sunday is the first of a three-game week for Seattle, which will make lineup and minute choices tricky. The Sounders play Real Salt Lake in Utah on Wednesday and host Vancouver at Lumen Field on Saturday.

Injury updates

Schmetzer didn’t play the majority of his first-choice starters in the Open Cup win to prepare. But center back Yeimar Gomez Andrade suffered a quad injury in training and is questionable. Backup Nathan is already out with a quad injury.

Free-agent pickup Jon Bell played well in the win against Philly last month and LouCity. He could be called on to replace Yeimar.

Chu (groin) and de la Vega are listed as questionable for Sunday. If de la Vega is able to play, it’ll be his first appearance since March.

One thing that needs to be avoided is left back Nouhou getting a yellow card. He would be suspended against RSL due to accumulation.

Giving mood?

Portland, which has a new coach in Phil Neville, is winless in its past eight matches and doesn’t have any shutouts this season. In the past, the Timbers have managed to use good results against the Sounders to turn their season around.