Orlando City hoped for its first win of a packed three-game week on Saturday night at Seattle.
The Lions (7-5-7, 28 points) tied the Sounders (8-7-5, 29 points) 0-0 at Lumen Field, unable to grab the three points.
In seventh place in the MLS East, Orlando had a quick turnaround from Wednesday’s home game against the Philadelphia Union (10-5-4, 34 points) at Exploria Stadium, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
The Lions had fallen at the New England Revolution (10-3-6, 36 points) last Saturday, 3-1, snapping their six-game unbeaten streak.
Even with key starters Wilder Cartagena (Peru), Pedro Gallese (Peru) and Facundo Torres (Uruguay) back from international duties for the first time this week, the Lions could not get back to winning form despite controlling 57% of possession in the first half.
“We walk off the field with the sensation that we could have won it and that feeling is heavy right now in the locker room because we had our chances at the end, especially in the second half,” Orlando City coach Oscar Pareja said. “Even in the first half, we had [chances]. It’s a game very well played by the players with a lot of personality in a very difficult place against a very good team. I think we dominated the game in terms of the clear options. We’re going to walk off with that point and take it proudly and take it to Orlando with our commitment to be heavy at home and keep ascending in the standings.”
In third place in the West, the Sounders came out stronger in the second half, generating three shots within the first five minutes. Only one was on frame, and goalkeeper Gallese made the save.
The only real scoring opportunity came in the 76th minute for Orlando captain Mauricio Pereyra.
Torres made a fast break past the defensive line and took a shot from a wide left angle. Sounders goalkeeper Stefan Frei deflected the ball into the path of Pereyra running into the 18-yard box. The veteran made contact with the ball but skyrocketed it over the crossbar.
The Lions increased offensive pressure in the final 10 minutes, producing 4 shots but could not get the ball past Frei.
“We had various chances,” Torres said. “First Mauricio had one that unfortunately wasn’t able to get in and then I had that one [in the 89th minute], and unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get it either. But I think the most important part is that we were creating those chances.”
Seattle remains unbeaten (2-0-3) vs. Orlando City at Lumen Field.
The Lions return home for Saturday night’s game against 12th-place Chicago (5-6-8, 23 points) at 7:30 p.m.
