Joevin Jones has a brand new bag and it’s playing winger for Seattle Sounders FC. The young fullback came into Wednesday’s match away at D.C. United late for midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz who was playing left wing with game locked at 0-0.
“We knew we could bring him on at left back or we felt maybe we’ll bring him on at left wing,” said head coach Sigi Schmid on his plan for Jones coming into the match. “We’ll see how the game goes.”
In the 74th minute, Schmid decided to forego Jones’ traditional fullback position and deployed him at left wing instead, where he made an immediate impact.
In the 79th minute, Jones exchanged a nice give and go with forward Jordan Morris setting himself up for a tight angle shot which forced D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid to parry into the middle of the box. The ball fell to Morris, who found the narrow gap between two defenders and finished across Hamid for the go ahead goal and his fifth of the season.
“He [Jones] was a huge spark for us,” said Morris. “He came in and worked hard defensively and offensively…I’m really happy for him.”
Jones then grabbed a goal for himself in the 83rd minute when midfielder Osvaldo Alonso picked the pocket of midfielder Marcelo Sarvas and played Jones brilliantly into space. Jones then finished the chance by slotting the ball coolly between the outstretched arm and leg of Hamid with the composure of a seasoned striker. The goal was Jones’ first for the Sounders.
Joevin Jones has a brand new bag and it’s playing winger for Seattle Sounders FC. The young fullback came into Wednesday’s match away at D.C. United late for midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz who was playing left wing with game locked at 0-0.
“We knew we could bring him on at left back or we felt maybe we’ll bring him on at left wing,” said head coach Sigi Schmid on his plan for Jones coming into the match. “We’ll see how the game goes.”
In the 74th minute, Schmid decided to forego Jones’ traditional fullback position and deployed him at left wing instead, where he made an immediate impact.
In the 79th minute, Jones exchanged a nice give and go with forward Jordan Morris setting himself up for a tight angle shot which forced D.C. United goalkeeper Bill Hamid to parry into the middle of the box. The ball fell to Morris, who found the narrow gap between two defenders and finished across Hamid for the go ahead goal and his fifth of the season.
“He [Jones] was a huge spark for us,” said Morris. “He came in and worked hard defensively and offensively…I’m really happy for him.”
Jones then grabbed a goal for himself in the 83rd minute when midfielder Osvaldo Alonso picked the pocket of midfielder Marcelo Sarvas and played Jones brilliantly into space. Jones then finished the chance by slotting the ball coolly between the outstretched arm and leg of Hamid with the composure of a seasoned striker. The goal was Jones’ first for the Sounders.
“It feels good to get my first goal for the Sounders,” said Jones after the match. “I feel great; I feel relief.”
While this may be a new position for Jones as a Sounder, he is no stranger to it in international play. Jones plays far up the field in most matches for his home county of Trinidad and Tobago.
“I’m accustomed to playing that position for my country,” said Jones. “I told Sigi I am comfortable there.”
Could this be a sign of things to come from Jones? With the season off to a rocky start and Schmid still fitting the pieces together in the team's new 4-3-3 formation, a performance like tonight certainly won’t go ignored. Schmid, however, was cautious to indicate that this could be a new spot for Jones moving forward.
“I still think he’s an outstanding attacking left back,” he told reporters. “I just think Joevin has so much talent. I just always want more so maybe I’m greedy and today he gave it to me.”