The travel, the heat and, most important, the losses provided one miserable week for Sounders FC.

Coming off an embarrassing 7-0 defeat to Manchester United, Seattle compounded its woes with a 1-0 loss in Panama last Tuesday to San Francisco FC in the CONCACAF Champions League, and then fell 3-1 Saturday in Houston to the Dynamo in the MLS.

Lackluster. Lethargic. The performances were far from the look of a team that was unbeaten in 11 previous games.

"We have to try and get back our confidence," said midfielder Mauro Rosales. "It was a tough week, with a long trip and many miles traveled, but we have to try to figure out our mistakes. ... I think everybody knows we can do better."

The Sounders have a chance to prove that Wednesday in a CCL preliminary-round rematch with San Francisco FC. Kickoff for the second leg of the home-and-home, aggregate-goals series is at 7 p.m. at CenturyLink Field.

"We'll be ready," said Sounders FC coach Sigi Schmid.

Schmid shrugged off the notion that the Manchester United defeat disrupted the team's rhythm. He cited lapses in focus and concentration — particularly defensively — for the team's poor form.

So how does Seattle regain its confidence?

"Certainly, a win will help that immensely," Schmid said. "It's just a matter of re-establishing ourselves. We're still a good team. It's still the same group of players. We need to get reminded sometimes of basics. When you have some success and you're still a team that's in a growth phase, sometimes you relax a little bit. That's where you need the hardened veterans on the field saying, 'Hey, now is not the time to relax.'

"I feel good about where we're at."

Seattle must overcome at 1-0 series deficit to San Francisco FC to advance to the CCL group stage. Schmid tried to simplify the complicated qualification scenarios by saying his team needs to win by two goals, but there are several other possibilities.

San Francisco FC advances with a win or tie Wednesday, but due to an away-goals tiebreaker, the visitors would also move on with a one-goal loss, if they score at least once.

A 1-0 Seattle win after 90 minutes would send the match into overtime, where the away-goals tiebreaker no longer applies. If the teams remain tied after 30 extra minutes, the game would be decided by a penalty-kick shootout.

With one game down and one to go, the Sounders aren't worried about the task ahead.

"Fortunately for us, we are at halftime," said midfielder Pat Noonan after the loss in Panama. "We are very confident we are going to go in and get the result back in Seattle."

Added Schmid: "Being at home, being able to get a little bit of rest, getting away, getting into a little bit of a rhythm again training-wise, all those things are going to help."

Notes

• Amadou Sanyang, the newest Sounder who signed Saturday, is expected to provide depth at midfield and defense, Schmid said. Sanyang, a Gambian youth international who turned 20 on Monday, was released by Toronto FC in December.

Sanyang said he's heard good things about Sounders FC from his countryman and longtime friend Sanna Nyassi, a former Sounders midfielder.

• Forward O'Brian White is in full training after surgery to remove a blood clot from his left leg, and Schmid said the team is waiting for the right situation to get him back on the field. Defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado is improving after an MCL sprain and trained with the reserves on Tuesday. Goalkeeper Terry Boss could be out another 3 to 6 days after a concussion.

• Sounders FC has distributed 19,000 tickets for Wednesday's game.

Joshua Mayers: 206-464-3184 or jmayers@seattletimes.com