Sounders FC News & Notes

Sounders FC (4-2-5, 17 points) has drawn its last five games and has slipped to third in the West. Chivas USA (7-2-3, 24 points) owns the best record in MLS but is coming off a loss in its last game.

Following this weekend, Seattle will be home for five of its next six MLS games, beginning June 13 against San Jose.

Saturday's match will be aired live on KONG 6/16 and News Talk 97.3 KIRO FM. Kevin Calabro will call the action with analysis from Greg Vanney. Calling the game in Spanish on THIS-TV (Comcast channel 114) will be Jaime Mendez with analysis from Hugo Alcaraz-Cueller, and on 1210 AM Ke Buena will be Rene Aleman, Noe Menendez and Victor Hernandez.

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)

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

Saturday, June 20, 4:30 p.m. - at New York Red Bulls, Giants Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.

Sunday, June 28, 1:00 p.m. - Colorado Rapids; Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field

Upcoming Training Schedule, June 1-10 (subject to change):

Monday, June 1 - No Training

Tuesday, June 2 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Wednesday, June 3 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Thursday, June 4 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Friday, June 5 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 9 a.m.

Saturday, June 6 - Reserves Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Sunday, June 7 - No Training

Monday, June 8 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Tuesday, June 9 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Wednesday, June 10 - No Training

Keller's Unbeatable

Sounders FC remains unbeaten (4-0-5) when goalkeeper Kasey Keller goes the distance. Keller made four saves last week, including a diving stop of Emmanuel Ekpo's drive in the 40th minute to keep Seattle close. 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. Keller missed the previous match with Chivas USA while serving a one-game suspension for a red card issued on April 11 versus Kansas City.

A Drawn Out Streak

Three of Seattle's five consecutive draws have come on the road. The sole interruption in a string of 1-1 ties was the 2-2 result at Colorado on May 23. The current six-game unbeaten run began with a 2-0 home win over San Jose on April 25. Seattle is 3-1-2 at home and 1-1-3 on the road, the third-best mark in MLS. Sounders FC has not lost since April 18, 2-0 at Chivas USA.

Jaqua String Extended

Forward Nate Jaqua was a consistent contributor to the attack during the month of May, contributing either a goal or an assist in Seattle's final four games. Jaqua has scored second-half equalizer in the last two games after assisting on goals against Los Angeles and FC Dallas. He now has three goals and four assists to lead the team with 10 points.

Jaqua in June

If history is any indication, Jaqua could be poised for bigger things in the next month. June has been Jaqua's most productive month during his career, with 11 goals in 23 MLS games. He has scored four goals and one assist in nine games v Chivas USA. His first career hat trick came 6/4/05 in Chicago's 5-2 win over the expansion side. Jaqua also scored in a 4-0 home win by Houston last season.

Iron Man

Central defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado is the only player to play every minute in the first 11 Sounders FC games. Tyrone Marshall enters this week with the same total of minutes as Hurtado (990), however Marshall was ejected in second-half stoppage time of last week's 1-1 tie with Columbus. Hurtado is now carrying four yellow cards. A fifth would result in a one-game suspension. Next to Hurtado and Marshall, forward Nate Jaqua has gone the entire way in eight games and has logged 948 minutes in all. The other players to appear in all 11 matches to date are midfielders Steve Zakuani and Sebastien Le Toux.

Back Four Shuffle

In the past three games, coach Sigi Schmid has used seven different players in his back four. Tyrone Marshall and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado have started the first 11 games in central defense, but there have been five different starters--Zach Scott, Patrick Ianni, Nathan Sturgis, Tyson Wahl and James Riley at the outside backs during the last three games. Of the 25 players on the roster, all have been used during the MLS and play-in games played to date.

Recap: Seattle 1, Columbus 1

Nate Jaqua scored the tying goal in the 58th minute to earn a 1-1 draw with the Columbus Crew at Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field on May 30.

Columbus opened the scoring in the 12th minute of the match on a lunging header by Alejandro Moreno. Jed Zayner slipped the ball up the right flank for Pat Noonan, whose cross found Moreno open at the far post for the finish past Sounders FC goalkeeper Kasey Keller.

Early in the second half, Freddie Ljungberg lobbed a ball behind the Columbus defense for Jaqua's 10-yard volley to the upper left corner of the net. It was the second equalizing goal for Jaqua in as many matches and it was nominated for MLS Goal of the Week.

Sounders FC was awarded its first penalty kick of the season, but Ljungberg missed wide left in the 32nd minute.

Seattle finished the match a man down for the fourth time this season as defender Tyrone Marshall was sent off the field in the 92nd minute of the match with a red card. He will miss next Saturday's game against Western Conference leaders Chivas USA.

Recap: Seattle 1, Colorado 0

Kevin Forrest scored his first goal for Sounders FC to lift his team over the Colorado Rapids, 1-0, in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Play-In game at Starfire Sports Complex on May 26. Kasey Keller made four saves to earn the shutout for Seattle.

It was the second match between the two teams in three days. The Rapids and Sounders FC had drawn 2-2 in an MLS game on May 23 at Commerce City, Colo.

Forrest, a forward in his second year out of the University of Washington, scored the game's lone goal in the 61st minute. From near the right attacking corner, midfielder Sanna Nyassi made a deep throw into the box. Roger Leveque flicked it on to find streaking Forrest to finish with a diving header past Rapids keeper Preston Burpo at the far post.

With the victory, the Sounders FC earned a spot in the third round of the Open Cup, to be played on or about June 30.

Chasing History

At 4-2-5 through the first 11 games, Seattle is off to the best start for an MLS expansion franchise since the Chicago Fire (7-5-0) in 1998. 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.

Previous Expansion Starts

Team 11 Games 12 Games 1st Season Notes

Chicago Fire (1998): 6-5-0 7-5-0 20-12/MLS Cup, U.S. Open Cup

Miami Fusion (1998): 5-5-1 5-7-0 15-17/1st round playoffs

Real Salt Lake (2005): 3-6-2 3-7-2 5-22-5/5th, West

Chivas USA (2005): 1-8-2 1-9-2 4-22-6 /6th, West

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

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

Seattle Sounders FC (2009): 4-2-5

One-Third Report

Seattle is off to the second-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 11 games despite finishing four games shorthanded, going 0-1-3 in those contests. Resulting suspensions and injuries have allowed Sigi Schmid to pick his starting lineup from his top players on only three occasions to date.

Three Now On IR

Defender Taylor Graham became the third Seattle player placed on the injured reserve list. Graham sustained a fractured third metatarsal of his right foot during training last week. He is eligible to return to league play for the July 11 game versus Houston. Graham was in uniform for four league games. He started and played the full 90 minutes of a U.S. Open Cup Play-In game on April 28. Forward Jarrod Smith and goalkeeper Chris Eylander had been placed on IR earlier. Eylander is eligible to return June 20 at New York.

Mr. Smith Goes to Africa

Forward Jarrod Smith has been called up to the New Zealand National Team for the FIFA Confederations Cup and related friendlies this month in Africa. Smith was last called up by New Zealand in late March for friendlies at Thailand, but he did not see action. New Zealand will train in Botswana prior to friendlies with Botswana and Tanzania. The All Whites face Italy in another friendly on June 10 in Pretoria, South Africa. New Zealand faces Spain (June 14), and hosts South Africa (June 17) and Iraq (June 20) in Confederations Cup group play. Smith, on IR since the start of the MLS season, played 25 minutes for Seattle in an April 28 U.S. Open Cup Play-In game against Real Salt Lake.

11-Game Totals

Through the first 11 games of the MLS season, Seattle has scored 15 goals and given up nine. 14 of those 24 total goals have come in the first half; nine for Seattle, and five 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 against just eight in the last eight.

Second Time Around

After a series of firsts, it's now time for some Sounders FC seconds. Chivas USA is the first opponent to play Seattle twice, and the following game on June 13 against San Jose is another such instance. Chivas USA and the Earthquakes are the only two teams which Sounders FC will play three times during the inaugural season. Chivas USA visits Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field on September 19 and the Sounders FC visits San Jose on August 2.

Leaders of the Pack

Kasey Keller is back in front of MLS goalkeepers with a goals-against average of 0.64. Keller also leads in saves percentage (80.5). He is tied for third in wins (4) and clean sheets (4). Forward Fredy Montero leads all players in fouls suffered (27) and he is No. 4 in shots (30). Seattle is the team with most fouls suffered (141) and ninth in fouls committed. It ranks third in goals allowed per game (0.82) and in cautions (25).

Statistically Speaking

Sounders FC is 4-0-3 when scoring first and undefeated 4-0-5 when scoring a goal. Seattle is tied for No. 2 in fewest goals allowed (9) behind Houston (7). Two of Seattle's goals against were scored while playing shorthanded.

Barcelona Coming to Seattle

The Seattle Sounders FC will play European champions 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, Samuel Eto'o and Andres Iniesta. Last week Barca won its third UEFA Champions League crown by defeating Manchester United, 2-1, on goals from Eto'o and Messi.

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. Chelsea completed its season by winning the FA Cup last week. The Blues finished third in the English Premier League and advanced to the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League. 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 versus Colorado. 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

Sounders FC is the first franchise in MLS history to have 28,000 or more fans at six consecutive regular season or postseason home games. Each of the first six games on Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field has sold out. The inaugural March 19 match drew the largest crowd in franchise history as 32,523 fans watched the Sounders FC defeat New York. Last week's match with Columbus attracted the second-largest crowd to date (29,126).

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.

All-Star Voting Continues

Sounders FC fans are not only supporting the team in record numbers at home games, they are also getting out the vote. According to MLSnet.com, Kasey Keller is the overall leader in votes by fans in balloting for the MLS All-Star Game starters. Right behind Keller are seven more Seattle players: Freddie Ljungberg, Fredy Montero, Osvaldo Alonso, Tyrone Marshall, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Steve Zakuani and Sebastien Le Toux. James Riley is tenth.

The fan balloting counts for 25 percent of the all-star selection process, and fans can vote up to 10 times a day. Players, coaches/general managers and media each contribute 25 percent also. Balloting continues through July 6 at MLSnet.com.

The 14th annual MLS All-Star Game is July 29, when the MLS takes on Everton of the English Premier League in Sandy, Utah.

Getting Involved

Eleven players have been involved in the 15 goals scored by Seattle to date, including eight different goal scorers: Fredy Montero (4), Nate Jaqua (3), Steve Zakuani (2), Brad Evans (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 (90) and No. 3 overall. Schmid (267) is five matches away from surpassing Bradley's MLS record of 272 career games coached.

More About Schmid

Schmid is 1-4-2 (1-3-2 with Columbus; 1-3-1 vs. Preki) against Chivas USA, which began play in 2005. He is 17-9-7 in regular season games coached at HDC (2-4-1 as a visitor).

LA is Home (or close to it)

Several members of the Sounders FC team staff have ties to the Los Angeles area. Head Coach Sigi Schmid grew up in Torrance, played at UCLA (1972-75), and later served as assistant coach (1977-79) and head coach of the Bruins (1980-98). His professional coaching career began with the L.A. Galaxy (1999-2004) and he maintains a residence in Manhattan Beach.

Assistant coach Ezra Hendrickson played for the Galaxy (1997-2003) and Chivas USA (2005).

Assistant coach/scout Kurt Schmid attended UCLA, and he was an assistant coach the past two years at UC Irvine and also coached for West Coast FC. Technical director Chris Henderson played (1989-90) for Sigi Schmid at UCLA.

Several players have seen action for club, college or pro teams in the L.A. area. Defender Tyson Wahl is a native of Newport Beach. Midfielder Peter Vagenas attended St. Francis High School, lives in Pasadena and played at UCLA (1996-99). His first nine MLS seasons were spent with the Galaxy.

Midfielder Brad Evans played at UC Irvine (2003-06), defender Patrick Ianni played for UCLA (2003-05), and central defender Tyrone Marshall played for the Galaxy (2002-07). Evans and Wahl also played for USL PDL club Orange County Blue Star, which once featured Chivas USA star Sacha Klijestan.

Been There Before

This will be Seattle's second of three visits to the Home Depot Center (HDC). In its first visit, Seattle surrendered its first and only own goal in the 32nd minute and Chivas' Chukwudi Chijindu scored in the 84th to give Chivas USA the 2-0 win. Sounders FC will face the L.A. Galaxy on August 15. Peter Vagenas, who played nine seasons for the Galaxy, played 71 times at HDC since it opened in 2003. Nate Jaqua has played 15 times at the HDC, including the 2003 MLS Cup Final when his Chicago Fire fell to San Jose, 4-2. Sigi Schmid, Ezra Hendrickson and Brad Evans were with Columbus last season when the Crew defeated New York, 3-1, to lift the 2008 MLS Cup at Carson.

A Sounders Connection

Chivas USA forward Maykel Galindo's path to an MLS career began in Seattle back in 2005, during the Gold Cup while playing for the Cuban National Team. Galindo defected and then signed with the USL-1 Sounders later that summer. He played two seasons in Seattle. His second-half goal against Richmond sent the championship final into a shootout which the Sounders won. Teammates on that squad include current Sounders FC players Zach Scott, Taylor Graham and Roger Levesque. The team was coached by Brian Schmetzer. Galindo joined Chivas USA in 2007 and scored 12 goals in his first MLS season. He has two goals in seven games this season

Preki Revisited

Chivas USA head coach Predrag Radosavljevic has roots in Puget Sound area soccer, which is where he established a foothold in the American game. Radosavljevic arrived in the area from Yugoslavia in 1985 to play indoors for the Tacoma Stars of the Major Indoor Soccer League, where he played alongside current Sounders FC assistant Brian Schmetzer. He was quickly nicknamed Preki and went on to become the Stars' icon over the next five seasons, setting franchise records of 219 goals and 227 assists in 247 regular season games. It was Preki's goal and Kasey Keller's shutout which lifted the U.S. over Brazil during the 1998 Gold Cup at the L.A. Coliseum. Preki went on to earn two MLS MVPs. He was the 2007 MLS Coach of the Year after guiding Chivas USA to the Western Conference title.

About Chivas USA

Chivas USA has held sole possession of first place since April 11, and began to consolidate that lead with a 2-0 home win over Seattle on April 18. After a pair of three-game win streaks, Chivas USA is now winless in three games, including a 3-2 home loss to Chicago in its last outing on May 28. Chivas USA owns the highest goal differential (+8) in MLS and is third in goals (17). The Red and White are 5-1-1 at home, averaging 1.86 goals. Chivas USA leads the league in fouls committed and cautions.

Current Training Squad

The following players begin the week training in Seattle: Goalkeepers (5): Chris Blais*, Ben Dragavon*, Chris Eylander, Kasey Keller, Tyrel Lacey*; 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

Midfielder Osvaldo Alonso begins the week limited to partial training with a strain of the right quadriceps.

Defender Zach Scott, who last played at FC Dallas on May 16, remains out with a partial tear of an abdominal muscle.

Defender Taylor Graham was added to the injured reserve list on May 29 with a fracture of the third metatarsal in his right foot. Graham is eligible to resume MLS play on July 11. Goalkeeper Chris Eylander was placed on injured reserve on May 15 with a left medial knee bone bruise. Eylander will be eligible to return to action for the June 20 game at New York.

Forward Jarrod Smith (left hamstring strain) has been cleared for full training, although he remains on the injured reserve list, and is now with the New Zealand National Team for the FIFA Confederations Cup.

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