Tyson Wahl finds a spot in Sounders FC starting lineup at new position

Few spots in Sounders FC's lineup have had as much change as left back. Tyson Wahl could be the man to stop all that and make the position his.

Wahl didn't see action in a Major League Soccer regular-season game until May 16 at FC Dallas, when he was pressed into service for the injured Zach Scott. Typically a central defender asked to play outside, Wahl was replaced the following week by Nathan Sturgis but returned to the starting lineup on May 30 against Columbus.

After Wednesday night's 3-3 draw against D.C. United, Wahl has played every minute of the past four games.

"He's done well. It's nice to have a natural left footer back there," Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid said. "And Tyson, the opportunity sort of presented itself. He kept working hard at training. He's played more as a central defender over his years in MLS, so it's a little bit of a change going to the outside for him. But I think he's growing more comfortable there."

Wahl, an expansion draft pickup from the Kansas City Wizards, played left defender in college at California. There's no guarantee he will keep the starting job after Sounders FC allowed three goals Wednesday, but Wahl is gaining a comfort level.

"Starting to see some of the angles in the passing and getting to know the position a little bit better now, so it's coming along," Wahl said. "It's practice and more importantly, games. Obviously, winning helps my cause."

There was no switch that Wahl flipped or light that came on that put him in the rotation, he said. Instead, Wahl said he developed consistency and stayed fit to fight his way out of a role in which he was only seeing action in reserve games.

"You've seen very steady [progress] from what he's done from the first couple of games until now," goalkeeper Kasey Keller said of Wahl. "If he continues to grow there's no reason why he can't make that position his own."

Injuries to Scott and Sturgis also were a factor, but Sturgis, a former starter, appears healthy now. Scott, who opened the season as the starter, is also working his way back from injury.

"The past couple of months I've felt pretty good at practice, and really was just waiting for an opportunity and being ready for when it came," Wahl said. "I got some playing time and I kind of edged my way in there."

Wahl got a vote of confidence from Schmid, who said he was satisfied with how Wahl played against the San Jose Earthquakes two games ago.

"I thought he had a pretty difficult opponent in terms of [Arturo] Alvarez, who is a very good dribbler, who can cut inside with the ball, who is quick and aggressive," Schmid said. "And Alvarez, the only time he really was a real danger was the one time he cut in and Stephen King blocked the shot. Outside of that I thought [Wahl] kept Alvarez at bay. So I've been very pleased with what Tyson has done."

ESPN comments on delay

Plenty of Sounders FC and other soccer fans were incensed with the ESPN networks' decision to remain with a College World Series baseball game into extra innings rather than air the Seattle-D.C. United match when it began just after 7:30 Wednesday night.

ESPN2 didn't go to the match until the 62nd minute, then aired it in its entirety starting at 10 p.m. The network offered a statement through a spokesman regarding the decision Thursday.

"It was definitely and unfortunate circumstance, but per company policy we stay with live events on ESPN networks through completion," the statement said. "We did carry the game live on ESPN360.com and provided studio updates, alerts and cut-ins to keep fans informed. Because much of the match was missed, ESPN2 also presented a bonus re-air of the entire match at 1 a.m. ET overnight (10 p.m. PT). The game also aired as scheduled on tape-delay on ESPN Deportes at midnight ET."

Sounders FC issued the following statement Thursday: "We are disappointed and understand the frustration of our fans. Unfortunately the situation was out of our hands."

José Miguel Romero: 206-464-2409 or jromero@seattletimes.com