Seattle Sounders midfielder Freddie Ljungberg is aware that his team is in need of points if they want to challenge for MLS play-offs in their second season. The Sounders currently sit third on the Western Conference table with eight points from six matches but with all teams below them having a game or two in hand, the Swede knows it is important to consistently record points.
"We need points but, like I said before, the Toronto game was a massive step forward for us playing-wise," he told The Seattle Times. "I think we are much more confident as a team now.
"We played well and created more chances and kept the ball well and hopefully Columbus, regarded as a good team in the league, will come and they will attack a little bit and that will open up things for us. In other games at home, people have just wanted to sit back and be defensive.
"Now I think it will maybe open up for us and we have a better game now than we had two or three weeks ago. I'm looking forward to it. Of course it is tough but I think when we played down in Columbus, that one and Real [Salt Lake], were probably the hardest game we played away from home last season so it's going to be a hard one."