MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes

Published on May 25, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Undefeated over the last month but hungry for the first victory in five weeks, the Seattle Sounders FC returns home to face the defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew on Saturday night on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. Pacific Time and the sixth straight sellout crowd will be on hand.

Sounders FC (4-2-4), standing second in the Western Conference with 16 points, is coming off four consecutive draws-three on the road. Both Seattle and Columbus will be playing their second match of the week.

The Sounders FC hosts Colorado in a U.S. Open Cup Play-In on Tuesday night, May 26, at the Starfire Sports Complex at 7 p.m. PT. The two teams battled to a 2-2 draw in league play last week. The Crew (1-2-6) hosts San Jose on Wednesday in a league match before making the trip west.

Saturday's game will be televised live nationally on Fox Soccer Channel, with Max Bretos and Christopher Sullivan announcing. The match can also be heard live on News Talk 97.3 KIRO FM, and in Spanish on 1210 AM Ke Buena.

The Open Cup play-in between the Sounders FC and Colorado Rapids will be carried live via Internet audiocast at SoundersFC.com. Thom Beuning will call the action with analysis from Peter Fewing.

Following Saturday's contest, Seattle's next three MLS home games (San Jose, D.C. United, Colorado) are sold out. There are tickets on sale for the other remaining home dates. To purchase, call 1-877-MLS-GOAL or visit www.SoundersFC.com.

Upcoming Competition Schedule (All times Pacific)

Tuesday, May 26, 7:00 p.m. - Colorado Rapids; Starfire Sports Stadium, Tukwila, Wash.

Saturday, May 30, 7:30 p.m. - Columbus Crew; Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field

Saturday, June 6, 7:30 p.m. - at Chivas USA; The Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.

Saturday, June 13, 7:30 p.m. - San Jose Earthquakes; Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field

Wednesday, June 17, 7:30 p.m - D.C. United; Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field

Upcoming Training Schedule, May 27-31 (subject to change):

Wednesday, May 27 - No Training

Thursday, May 28 - Training at Qwest Field, 10 a.m.

Friday, May 29 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Sunday, May 31 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Sounders FC to Host Colorado in Open Cup Play-In

The winner of Tuesday night's Sounders FC-Colorado Rapids match advances to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup third round, which begins June 30. D.C. United defeated the New York Red Bulls, 5-3, last week in the other MLS play-in. DCU is the defending Open Cup champion.

Covered grandstand seating has sold out for Tuesday's game, however a limited number of $10 bleacher seats are still available. There will be limited seating capacity. Tickets are general admission and fans are encouraged to arrive early to get the best possible seats. For information on Open Cup tickets please visit www.SoundersFC.com and www.Ticketmaster.com.

Seattle won its first play-in game, 4-1 over Real Salt Lake, on April 28 before 3,890 fans at Stafire. Sebastien Le Toux scored two goals and assisted on others by Sanna Nyassi and Stephen King.

The Rapids have several players with Northwest connections. Forward Conor Casey, who scored sixth goal of the season last week, attended the University of Portland (1999-2000), where he was a teammate of Sounders FC forward Nate Jaqua in 2000.

Midfielder Ciaran O'Brien starred for Federal Way's Decatur High School. He played on loan from the Rapids to the USL-1 Sounders last summer alongside his older brother Leighton, who played for the USL-1 Sounders for seven seasons. Their father, Fran, for both FC Seattle and the Tacoma Stars

Goalkeeper Preston Burpo played for the USL-1 Sounders from 1997-05, helping win the championship in 2005 under then head coach and current Sounders FC assistant Brian Schmetzer.

Ty Harden, who teamed up with Sounders FC midfielder Pete Vagenas for the 2007 season with the Galaxy, Harden spent four years at the University of Washington (2003-06), where he was a teammate of Sounders FC goalkeeper Chris Eylander.

Cup History in Seattle

The Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is the longest running team tournament championship in the U.S., dating back to 1914. It is open to both amateur and professional clubs who can qualify. The only Seattle club to qualify for an Open Cup final was the amateur Mitre Eagles in 1987. The Eagles fell to Club Espana of Washington, D.C., on penalties following a 0-0 draw.

While the NASL Sounders did not participate in the Open Cup, the USL-1 Sounders competed on an annual basis, beginning in 1995. They lost to El Paso in the semifinals that season, and also advanced to the final four in 1996 (FC Dallas), 2007 (FC Dallas) and 2008 (Charleston Battery).

Speaking of Open Cup: Le Toux

When it comes to matches related to the U.S. Open Cup, Sebastien Le Toux is prolific. Le Toux sparked Sounders FC with two goals and two assists in a 4-1 U.S. Open Cup Play-In win over Real Salt Lake on April 28. In both 2007 and 2008 while playing for the USL-1 Sounders, Le Toux was the Open Cup goals leader, with five each season.

Cup Format Notes

If any U.S. Open Cup play-in game is tied at the end of regulation, a 30-minute extra time period (consisting of two 15-minute halves) shall be played in its entirety. If the score is still tied at the end of the 30-minute extra time period, the game shall be decided by a penalty kick tiebreaker.

Each team may make up to four substitutions. Once a player leaves the field as a substitute, he shall not be permitted to participate in the penalty kick tiebreaker.

Rapids Return

Tuesday marks the third meeting with the Rapids. Colorado was the first MLS team to visit Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field this season. The Rapids played a dress rehearsal game on March 12 behind closed doors, with the game's sole goal coming from a Conor Casey penalty. Last Saturday night in Commerce City, Colo., Seattle came from behind to earn a 2-2 tie. Colorado will return to Qwest Field on June 28 for a league match.

About Colorado

Second-year coach Gary Smith leads a Rapids team that through eight games is tied for third with Houston in the Western Conference with 13 points (3-2-4), and is unbeaten in its last four league matches (1-0-3). The Rapids feature two U.S. National Team veterans in Pablo Mastroeni and Cory Gibbs. Midfielder Colin Clark has four assists, and has assisted on all three of Colorado's game-winning goals. The Rapids are 8th in goals scored with 13, and tied 4th in goals yielded with 11.

This past weekend, the Rapids and Sounders FC tied, 2-2. Forward Conor Casey, who is tied for first in MLS with six goals, scored to put Colorado ahead, 2-1, in the 47th minute.

Recap: Sounders FC 2, Colorado Rapids 2

Seattle scored first. In the 17th minute Fredy Montero got his fourth goal of the season. Montero, making a near-post run, received a James Riley cross and shot off the post. The ball ricocheted back to Montero and he converted past goalkeeper Matt Pickens. The goal was Montero's first since scoring three in the season's first two games.

In the 25th minute Colorado's Colin Clark evened the score. Omar Cummings sent in a cross from Clark coming from the far-post and redirected it right for his second goal this season.

Seattle keeper Kasey Keller was able to get a finger on a Conor Casey header hammered point-blank in the 35th minute, and in first-half extra time made another sprawling save and poked the ball away off the foot of Nick LaBrocca in a one-on-one situation.

The Rapids took the 2-1 advantage early in the second half. Casey got past a two defenders in the box using a step over move, delivered far post with his left foot and the ball deflected off Seattle's Peter Vagenas and past Keller for the go-ahead in the 47th minute.

Nate Jaqua scored the equalizer in the 76th minute. The play was set up by a Riley cross to Montero, who headed the ball down to Jaqua and he knocked it past Pickens for his second goal of the season.

Barcelona Coming to Seattle

The Seattle Sounders FC will play FC Barcelona on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field on Wednesday, August 5. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (PT).

Sounders FC season ticket holders have received tickets to the game as part of their 18-match package, which also includes Chelsea and the MLS Cup.

Tickets will go on sale to the general public on Monday, June 15th at 10 a.m. Tickets will be available at www.SoundersFC.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000.

FC Barcelona, whose heralded roster of international superstars currently includes Lionel Messi, Rafa Marquez, Xavi, Carles Puyol, Thierry Henry and Andres Iniesta - who scored the goal that propelled Barca into the Champion's League Final - will look to secure its third UEFA Champions League crown on Wednesday, May 27 against Manchester United, at Rome's Stadio Olimpico.

FC Barcelona has more than 150,000 voting members. Barcelona inspired formation of the Sounders FC Alliance, a supporters association which empowers members to have a vote in the club's direction.

Chelsea Tickets on Sale

Tickets for the Sounders FC-Chelsea match on July 18 are now on sale. To purchase, call 1-800-745-3000, all Ticketmaster outlets or the Qwest Field Box office, or visit www.SoundersFC.com.

The Pro Shop at Pacific Place to Open June 12

Seahawks and Sounders FC fans who live and work in the heart of downtown Seattle will soon be able to purchase licensed apparel and souvenirs for both teams at The Pro Shop at Pacific Place. The new store will be located on Level-3 next to Benetton and will open Friday, June 12, at 9:30 a.m.

Seating Capacity Increasing

Due to the high demand for Sounders FC tickets, the team will open up seating in the south end zone of the stadium's lower bowl, beginning with the June 28 match. The seating configuration will be the same as it was for the inaugural game, with a capacity of approximately 32,000. The team will utilize the full-stadium capacity of 67,000 for Chelsea and FC Barcelona.

Attendance Record

After another capacity crowd for the match against the L.A. Galaxy on May 10, Sounders FC is the first franchise in MLS history to have 28,000 or more fans at five consecutive regular season or postseason home games. Each of the first five games has sold out. The inaugural match drew the largest crowd in franchise history as 32,523 fans watched the Sounders FC defeat New York on March 19. The Galaxy match attracted the second-largest crowd to date (29,025).

Gold Cup Tickets on Sale

Two-time defending champion USA will play a first-round match of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday, July 4, on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. The U.S. will face Grenada at 6 p.m. PT in the second match of the Gold Cup doubleheader. The first match will feature Haiti and Honduras at 4 p.m. PT. For ticket purchases and information visit www.Ticketmaster.com, www.GoldCup.org and www.CopaOro.org.

One-Third Report

Seattle is off to the best start in MLS expansion history, and has done so despite facing its fair share of adversity. Sounders FC has stayed two-games above .500 through the first 10 games. Chicago and Miami, the only two expansions teams to both make the playoffs (both in 1998), were 5-5-0 at the same stage. Sounders FC has played a man down for 61, 42 and 33 minutes in three games. Resulting suspensions and injuries have allowed Sigi Schmid to pick his starting lineup from his top players on only three occasions to date.

Keller's Unbeatable

Kasey Keller gave up two goals for the first time but the storyline out of Colorado was about the scores he denied in the 2-2 draw with the Rapids. Sounders FC remains unbeaten (4-0-4) when Keller goes the distance. The keeper made four saves last week, including a reaction save of a Conor Casey point-blank header and a dive to deny Nick LaBrocca's 1-on-1. Casey's goal early in the second half deflected off a trailing defender, giving Keller no chance to make the stop.

Fit to be Tied

Seattle has played three of its last four on the road, taking four points in the process. Following three consecutive 1-1 results, Sounders FC rallied for a 2-2 draw at Colorado last week. The current five-game unbeaten run began with a 2-0 home win over San Jose on April 25. Seattle is 3-1-1 at home and Columbus enters the game undefeated (1-0-3) on the road.

Play On

It's likely that every available healthy Sounders FC player will see action this week between the play-in and MLS matches. While Seattle could possibly see the return of midfielders Freddie Ljungberg and Brad Evans, it also could be without Osvaldo Alonso, the starter in holding midfield the first 10 games. Alonso sustained a strained right quadriceps muscle in the opening seconds of the Rapids match. Peter Vagenas got his first start in midfield last week and Stephen King played the final 88-plus minutes in place of Alonso. Ruled out this week are defender Zach Scott (lower abdominal strain) and goalkeeper Chris Eylander (medial knee bone bruise), who was placed on injured reserve on May 15.

They Give the Full 90

In the wake of the exits by Brad Evans and Osvaldo Alonso the past two games, Seattle now has two remaining Iron Men. Central defenders Tyrone Marshall and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado are the only two players to play every minute of the first 10 matches. Forward Nate Jaqua has gone the entire way in eight games and has logged 865 minutes in all. Evans and Alonso had played every minute until injuries forced their removal from the lineup.

Back Four Shuffle

In the past two games, Schmid has used seven different players in his back four. Marshall and Hurtado are the constants, but there have been four different starters--Zach Scott, Patrick Ianni, Nathan Sturgis and James Riley--and five players (including Tyson Wahl) used altogether at the outside backs during the last two games. Of the 26 players on the roster, all but Kevin Forrest have been used during the MLS and play-in games played to date.

Return of Riley

James Riley returned to his accustomed right back post at Colorado and responded by setting up both Seattle goals. Riley's right-wing cross found Fredy Montero for an initial shot which caromed off the right post. Montero put away the rebound. Riley was not credited with an assist because of consecutive touches by Montero on the first goal, but he did earn an assist on the equalizer. He won the ball in the Rapids' half and soon after swung a ball to the far post, again finding Montero, whose header went to an open Nate Jaqua in the crease.

Columbus Discovers Seattle

Certainly this Saturday's match will mean something extra special to a few members of the Sounders FC family. Sigi Schmid coached Columbus from 2006 through 2008, taking the team to its first MLS Cup and winning coach of the year honors in his final season. On his squad were Brad Evans and Ezra Hendrickson. Evans scored the game-winning goal for the Crew in a playoff semifinal win. After two years in Columbus he was selected in the expansion draft and is now a regular starter in the Seattle midfield. Hendrickson played his final three seasons for the Crew. Now retired, he is an assistant coach on Schmid's staff.

Other Columbus Crew - Sounders FC Ties

MLS pool goalkeeper Ben Dragavon, who has suited up for seven games for Seattle including last weekend's contest with Colorado, was called up by the Crew for two games earlier this season (vs. CHI, 4/25; at TOR, 5/2).

Sounders FC defender James Riley played alongside Columbus midfielder Brian Carroll (2001-02) and goalkeeper William Hesmer (2001-03) at Wake Forest.

Columbus forward Pat Noonan played with Riley at New England for three seasons (2005-07).

Sounders FC midfielder Stephen King was a teammate of Columbus forwards Jason Garey (2004-05) and Robbie Rogers (2005) at Maryland.

Columbus defender Chad Marshall played with Sounders FC defender Taylor Graham and forward Roger Levesque at Stanford for one season (2002).

Columbus forward Alejandro Moreno was a member of Sigi Schmid's Galaxy teams from 2002-04, playing alongside Sounders FC defender Tyrone Marshall and midfielder Pete Vagenas.

Columbus defender/midfielder Frankie Hejduk played three seasons at UCLA and three seasons for the Crew under Sigi Schmid. Hejduk also played on the U.S. national team with Kasey Keller.

They Are the Champions

Columbus comes to Seattle as the reigning MLS Cup and Supporters Shield holders. The Crew features some of the league's most respected players in Argentine midfield maestro Guillermo Barros Schelotto, Robbie Rogers and defender Chad Marshall, all members of the 2008 Best XI. Schelotto, last year's league MVP, assisted on all three Columbus goals in the 3-1 MLS Cup victory over New York He has scored five times this season. Marshall was the defender of the year. The Crew plays a Wednesday night home game against San Jose.

More Knocks on Wood

Call it the woodwork, metalwork or simply goal posts and crossbars, but Seattle has been hitting them nearly as often as the back of the net of late. Against Colorado last week, Sounders FC struck shots off the frame on two occasions. Fredy Montero's opening goal came off a rebound after his initial shot hit the right post. Later in the first half, Tyrone Marshall's header from Sebastien Le Toux's corner kick skipped off the crossbar. At FC Dallas the previous week, Brad Evans shot off the left post and on May 10 at home, Nate Jaqua found the right post.

Forwards Find Net

In the draw with the Rapids, Seattle's regular starting forwards, Fredy Montero and Nate Jaqua, scored for the first time since the March 28 win over Real Salt Lake. Montero played a role both goals after taking down right-wing crosses from defender James Riley. Montero hit the first against the post, then converted the rebound for his fourth goal overall. He collected his second assist of the year when he nodded the ball down to Jaqua for the 76th minute equalizer.

National Spotlight Once More

The Sounders FC story has been told by all forms of media near and far, and this week's match features a television audience stretching across North America on Fox Soccer Channel. When it comes to such coverage for Seattle, so far, so good; in respective appearances on ESPN2 and FSC, Sounders FC rolled up wins against New York (3-0) and Toronto (2-0). A TeleFutura game against the L.A. Galaxy ended in a 1-1 tie. In all, Seattle is scheduled to make at least 10 national TV appearances this season, including the July 11 friendly with Chelsea on ESPN2.

Chasing History

At 4-2-4 through the first 10 games, Seattle is off to the best start in MLS expansion history. Miami and Chicago are the only expansion teams to reach the playoffs, with the Fire winning both the MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup in its first season (1998).

Previous Expansion Starts

Team 10 Games 11 Games 1st Season Notes

Chicago Fire (1998): 5-5-0 6-5-0 20-12/MLS Cup, U.S. Open Cup

Miami Fusion (1998): 5-5-0 5-5-1 15-17/1st round playoffs

Real Salt Lake (2005): 3-5-2 3-6-2 5-22-5/5th, West

Chivas USA (2005): 1-8-1 1-8-2 4-22-6 /6th, West

Toronto FC (2007): 3-6-1 4-6-1 6-17-7/7th, East

San Jose Earthquakes (2008): 3-6-1 3-7-1 8-13-9/7th, West

Seattle Sounders FC (2009): 4-2-4

Defenders Score, Two

Defenders have now scored or assisted on four of the last seven Sounders FC goals. Jhon Kennedy Hurtado scored Seattle's only goal in the May 16 draw at FC Dallas. Two weeks earlier, on May 2, Tyrone Marshall, scored the equalizer at Chicago. Marshall assisted on Steve Zakuani's goal versus San Jose on April 25 and James Riley assisted on the tying goal last week at Colorado.

First Half of First Third

Through the first one-third of the MLS season, Seattle has scored 14 goals and given up eight. Thirteen of those 18 total goals have come in the first half; nine for Seattle, and four for the opponents. In the first six games, Seattle scored nine goals; just five in the last four. In the first three games, Seattle earned nine points; just seven in the last seven.

Keller at Home

Kasey Keller's spotless record at home ended after 334 minutes with the first-half goal by L.A.'s Alan Gordon. Combined with games played for the U.S. National Team, Keller had not allowed a goal in 604 minutes of his games played in Seattle. Earlier, Keller set an MLS record for consecutive scoreless minutes to start a season (457 minutes), and he is the only goalkeeper in league history to post three complete shutouts to start their MLS career. His record in goal this season is 4-0-4.

Getting Defensive

Sounders FC ranks No. 3 in MLS in fewest goals allowed (8) behind Columbus (7) and Chivas USA (6). Two of Seattle's goals against were scored while playing shorthanded. Kasey Keller rates second among keepers with a GAA of 0.60. He is tied for No. 2 in shutouts (4) and wins (4).

Getting Involved

Eleven players have been involved in the 14 goals scored by Seattle to date, including eight different goal scorers: Fredy Montero (4), Steve Zakuani (2), Brad Evans (2), Nate Jaqua (2), Freddie Ljungberg, Tyrone Marshall, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Sebastien Le Toux.

Sigi's Final Countdown

Schmid is approaching the summit of two MLS coaching categories. The league's active leader in wins (117), Schmid is seven wins shy of Bob Bradley's MLS record 124 victories. New England's Steve Nicol is No. 2 among active coaches in wins (89) and No. 3 overall. Schmid (266) is six matches away from surpassing Bradley's MLS record of 272 career games coached.

More About Schmid

Schmid's career mark against Columbus is 5-3-4, all while coaching the L.A. Galaxy. Over three seasons as coach of the Crew (2006-08), Sigi's teams were 34-33-25 in the regular season, and 3-0-1 in the playoffs, winning the MLS Cup in 2008.

Current Training Squad

The following players begin the week training in Seattle: Goalkeepers (4): Chris Blais*, Ben Dragavon*, Chris Eylander, Kasey Keller; Defenders (9): Evan Brown, Taylor Graham, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Tyrone Marshall, James Riley, Zach Scott, Nathan Sturgis, Tyson Wahl; Midfielders (7): Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Stephen King, Sebastien Le Toux, Freddie Ljungberg, Sanna Nyassi, Peter Vagenas; Forwards (7): Kevin Forrest, Nate Jaqua, Roger Levesque, Fredy Montero, Lamar Neagle*, Jarrod Smith, Steve Zakuani.

*invitee

Injury Update

Midfielders Brad Evans and Freddie Ljungberg returned to full training this week. Evans missed the Colorado game with a left ankle sprain and tibial bone bruise. Ljungberg is recovering from a migraine suffered on May 15. Forward Jarrod Smith (left hamstring strain) was also cleared for full training although he remains on the injured reserve list.

Defender Zach Scott left the FC Dallas game in the 18th minute with lower abdominal pain and will be re-evaluated this week. Also held out was midfielder Osvaldo Alonso with a strain of the right quadriceps.

Goalkeeper Chris Eylander was placed on injured reserve on May 15 with a left medial knee bone bruise. Eylander will eligible to return to action for the June 20 game at New York.

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 25, 2009


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