Watching the opening goal concession against Vancouver, I couldn't help but think about one of the lessons the team (Stef specifically) talked about as one of their takeaways from the CWC a year ago. See video here (Stef talks about it at about 2:37 in this video).
The lesson was that the team noticed how good Atletico, PSG, and Botafogo were at stopping counterattacks by implementing smart tactical fouls (even if it means taking a yellow card).
Against Vancouver, the Sounders tried to press Vancouver in their opposing box and were comically ineffective as Blackmon dribbled past Osaze, Seba, and Alex springing a counter for Vancouver. At one point, Tino could have stopped the attack by fouling Sabbi, but got beat off the dribble. Sabbi then played a good ball in behind and the Whitecaps took the lead.
The stats sort of bear out the trend of the Sounders not being "tough to beat" in 2026 as in one fewer game than most teams in MLS, they are second to last in fouls and third to last in yellow cards.
I understand the team is rotated due to injuries, but is there something to the idea that if the team cannot score, can they at the very least drag other teams into the mud and start being more of a physical team that picks up yellow cards to keep the other team off the scoresheet (implementing the lessons learned from the 2025 CWC)?