Seattle Sounders coach Sigi Schmid is standing by Steve Zakuani after his goal drought. The former Arsenal trainee is under pressure to start converting his chances, particularly with the second-leg playoff at Houston Dynamo to come.

Schmid told the Seattle Times: "Steve is an important player for us. Early in the game there were two or three times where he got behind the defense. It's something that I wish I knew what the magic formula was or the magic drill because I would be a millionaire right now. I'd be producing players right and left.

"But there is no magic formula or magic drill. It just comes with experience and so forth. All of a sudden Steve [Zakuani] is going to make that run in behind the defense and the options will be clearer, sharper, the game's going to slow down just that little bit for him. He's going to end up making that choice that results in a goal either for himself or for a teammate. Once that hits then he takes his game to the next level."