Sounders show rust in scoreless draw, but their first match back was a welcome sight regardless

Normally, that would have been fodder for all the soccer haters insisting the sport is the epitome of boredom. Under other circumstances, that 0-0 tie between the Sounders and San Jose in Orlando would have served as an argument that a Disney Plus binge has more entertainment value than 90 minutes of futbol

But in this case, seeing a local team from one of the five most-watched sports leagues was more comforting than it was dull. There was a time when we wondered whether we’d see the Sounders — or any team, really — take the field again. In that sense, Friday’s tie was a victory.It had been nearly four months since the defending MLS champs played a competitive match, as the coronavirus wiped out sports throughout the spring and early summer. And as the NBA, MLB and NHL seasons have yet to return, the Sounders returning to action offered a sense of normalcy that has been ever elusive.No, it wasn’t pretty. Yes, players were clearly shaking off some rust. And watching a fanless match was an eerie preview of what will become the temporary norm in sports.Still, seeing the likes of Nico Lodeiro, Cristian Roldan and Stefan Frei was a welcome sight, considering we had no idea when they’d return to the pitch a couple months back.