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Sounders FC News & Notes

September 15, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS) - Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Two teams with their sights set on making the playoffs will meet amidst a homecoming type atmosphere Saturday when the Seattle Sounders FC hosts Chivas USA. Kickoff is 12 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field and the match will be nationally televised on the Fox Soccer Channel.

The Sounders FC (9-6-10, 37 points), coming off a 2-1 road win at D.C. United last week, seeks to regain its home form and earn its first win in three tries this season against Chivas USA (11-9-3, 36 points). Afterward, Seattle goes on the road for three consecutive games.

It will be the penultimate home game for Seattle and its first since claiming the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup on September 2 in Washington, D.C.

In pregame ceremonies, players, coaches and team representatives of the original NASL Sounders will be recognized.

Seattle is bidding to become the first MLS expansion team since 1998 to qualify for the postseason and currently is in position for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference, just one point behind Los Angeles and three behind Houston. The Sounders FC is unbeaten (2-0-1) in its last three league road games but winless (0-1-2) in its last three at home.

Chivas USA, an expansion side in 2005, has made the playoffs each of the last two seasons. The Red and White snapped a two-game losing skid with a 2-0 home win over the New England Revolution in Carson, California.

Max Bretos and Christopher Sullivan will be the FSC announcers in the booth, with Katie Witham reporting from the sideline. Saturday's match will be heard locally on News Talk 97.3 KIRO FM with Kevin Calabro and Pete Fewing calling the play and in Spanish on Ke Buena 1210 AM with Rene Aleman, Noe Menendez and Victor Hernandez.

The Sounders FC visits New England in Foxborough, Massachusetts on September 26.

To purchase tickets to future home games, call 1-877-MLS-GOAL, visit www.SoundersFC.com, any Ticketmaster outlet or the Qwest Field Box office.

Upcoming Competition Schedule (All times Pacific)

Saturday, September 19, 12 p.m. - Chivas USA; Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field

Saturday, September 26, 4:30 p.m. - at New England Revolution, Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.

Saturday, October 3, 4:30 p.m. - at Columbus Crew; Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio

Saturday, October 17, 5:30 p.m. - at Kansas City Wizards, Community America Ballpark, Kansas City, Kansas

Saturday, October 24, 7:30 p.m. - FC Dallas; Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field

Upcoming Training Schedule, September 15-25 (subject to change):

Tuesday, September 15 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Wednesday, September 16 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Thursday, September 17 - Training on Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field, 10 a.m.

Friday, September 18 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Sunday, September 20 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Monday, September 21 - No Training

Tuesday, September 22 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Wednesday, September 23 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Thursday, September 24 - Travel to Boston

Friday, September 25 - Training in Foxborough, Massachusetts; tbd

Seattle Surging, Race Tightening

It's already a September to remember for the Sounders FC. First came the historic victory over D.C. United in the Open Cup Final, followed by a triumphant return to the nation's capital for an identical 2-1 victory with the resumption of MLS play on September 12.

That win enable Seattle to vault over Colorado into third place in the West and pull three points closer to both the L.A. Galaxy and Houston Dynamo.

Currently, the Columbus Crew (42 points) has the inside track to the Supporters' Shield. However the top 11 teams are separated by just 11 points. Of the teams within four points of Sounders FC, New England (2), Chivas USA (2) and Colorado (1) hold games in hand.

Sigi Targets 45

Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid has set a target of 45 points for his club to make the playoffs. In the league's 13 seasons to date, only twice has a club with 40 or more points missed the cut (41 by Miami in 2000 and 45 by Kansas City in 2005).

A minimum of 39 points was required to reach the postseason over the last four seasons, with a maximum of 45 needed by Los Angeles in 2005. In 2008, New York earned the eighth and final slot with 39 points, and the Red Bulls went on to reach the MLS Cup Final.

Sigi's Choice

With the return of Freddie Ljungberg from suspension, Sigi Schmid will have all his top players available for selection this week. That has happened on only five previous occasions this season.

Awards Candidates Galore

Several members of Sounders FC are figuring to be contenders for the top MLS postseason awards. Sigi Schmid is a two-time past Coach of the Year winner, and he has quickly fashioned Seattle into a playoff contender, already winning more games than any expansion team in the last 10 years.

All-Star selections Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Kasey Keller, Fredy Montero and Freddie Ljungberg are in the running for various player awards. Steve Zakuani, the No. 1 selection in the MLS SuperDraft, is a candidate for Rookie of the Year with four goals and four assists.

Re-Establishing the Fortress

With its large, capacity crowds creating the loudest environment in MLS, Seattle quickly broke from the gates and won its first two home matches without allowing a goal. In the first 11 games on Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field, the Sounders FC lost just once.

With the push for the playoffs having begun in earnest, the team now needs to re-establish that dominance and take three points at home for the first time since July 11. Seattle has been blanked in each of its last three home games, settling for scoreless draws with Chicago and Toronto FC and losing to New England, 1-0. The Sounders FC has surrendered only nine goals on its turf, third-fewest in MLS.

Road Works

With eight of the final 12 games on the road, it was imperative that Seattle find a way to win in hostile environments. And so it has. The Sounders FC is undefeated in its last three road games, and has gone 3-0-1, including the Open Cup Final. The attack has scored seven times in those games after generating just one goal in its previous four away matches.

In the last three MLS away games the Sounders FC has taken more points (7) than the first nine road matches (0-4-4), combined.

Late Show Starts Early

Seattle's first two MLS road wins were both 2-nil shutouts, at Toronto FC and Los Angeles. Last week's 2-1 result at D.C. required resiliency. Seattle scored its earliest and latest goals of its inaugural season to turn back United.

Steve Zakuani staked Sounders FC to a lead in the 5th minute, converting a breakaway after being sprung by a Pete Vagenas pass from the defensive end. D.C. answered early in the second half but just as it appeared the points would be split, Fredy Montero struck. In the 84th minute, Montero took a feed from James Riley, turned and fired high into the near post corner for the game winner.

Zakuani has scored first-half goals in all three road wins. Vagenas has earned assists in the last two road victories. Montero has now found the net in four road games and he scored a goal in each of the three meetings with D.C. United, including the Cup Final.

If the Boot Fits

Fredy Montero, who has remained in the hunt for MLS Budweiser Golden Boot throughout the season, found the mark in each of the first two meetings with D.C. United. Montero assisted on Seattle's second goal and scored the third in a 3-3 draw at home on June 17. He also scored the first goal in the U.S. Open Cup Final, a 2-1 win by Sounders FC. Montero's game-winning goal last week, his 11th of the season, is nominated for Goal of the Week.

Sigi's Final Countdown

With 122 victories, Sigi Schmid is two career wins shy of Bob Bradley's MLS record total of 124. Schmid is the career leader with 281 games coached, surpassing Bradley (272) this season. New England's Steve Nicol is No. 2 among active coaches in wins (96) and No. 3 overall. Schmid is 1-5-2 against Chivas USA (1-3-2 with Columbus; 0-2-0 with Seattle) in the regular season.

MLS Cup Ticket On Sale Date

Tickets for MLS Cup 2009 are now on sale to the public in a special one week presale for Visa® cardholders. This is the first chance for fans to purchase tickets to Major League Soccer's premier event, MLS Cup, to be played November 22 on Seattle's Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. The exclusive presale will run from September 11 to September 18. Beginning September 21, tickets will be available to the general public, without restrictions.

Fans may use their Visa card to purchase tickets during an exclusive presale only available online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000. Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis and are only available while supplies last. Visa is a proud sponsor of Major League Soccer.

MLS Cup tickets are included the Seattle Sounders FC 18-game season ticket package.

No Cards, No Problems

Seattle kept a clean sheet with regard to cards last week. Tyrone Marshall was able to reduce his caution total to three, earning a good behavior dividend by going his third straight match with a yellow. Freddie Ljungberg is eligible to return this week after sitting out last week for his five card accumulation.

Going into this week, none of the Sounders FC players is within a caution of receiving a one-game suspension.

Seattle players have served suspensions in six of the last seven MLS games, and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado missed the Cup Final after receiving a red card in the semifinal win over Houston.

Make That Seven Series

Last week's win over D.C. United earned Seattle its seventh season series to date. Already the Sounders FC had won series with Houston, Colorado, San Jose, New York, Los Angeles and Toronto. The series with Real Salt Lake and Chicago were split and the Sounders FC has lost one series, to Chivas USA.

Solving Chivas

While both were losses, Seattle's two previous bouts with Chivas USA were close calls. In fact, either outcome could have gone the other way. Playing on the road, the Sounders FC out-shot the Red and White 11-6 in each, however Chivas held the edge in attempts on goals (3-2 and 4-3). In the second meeting, a 1-0 loss on June 6, the Rave Green finished with a commanding 8-1 advantage in corner kicks. An own goal by James Riley accounted for the first goal in the 2-0 defeat on April 18.

Eastern Promises

All three of Seattle's remaining road games occur in either the Central or Eastern Time Zones. The Sounders FC is undefeated (2-0-5) in seven previous trips outside the Pacific Time Zone, including a 2-0-3 road mark against Eastern Conference teams.

Still Shuffling the Back Four

Seattle's back four has been constantly shuffled since late June. In the past 15 MLS games, due to injuries, suspensions, and the unexpected, Seattle has been forced to shuffle its back four each time. The duo of Tyrone Marshall and Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, after starting and playing the entire 90 minutes of the first 11 games, has played together only five times in the 14 games since. Right back James Riley has the most starts (23), followed by Hurtado (21). Leo Gonzalaez has started the last six on the left. Patrick Ianni has appeared in each of the last 16 games, starting 10.

Soldiering On

Seattle is off to the second-best start in MLS expansion history, and has done so while facing its fair share of adversity. The Sounders FC has stayed above .500 since the outset despite finishing seven games shorthanded, going 0-3-4 in those contests. Resulting suspensions, injuries, national team call-ins and the unexpected have allowed Sigi Schmid to pick his starting lineup from his top players on only five occasions to date.

It's All About Goals

It's simple: When Sounders FC scores, points in the standings have followed. And when Seattle scores first, so much the better. It is 8-0-3 when striking first and 9-0-7 when scoring at least one goal. Each of Seattle's six losses has been by shutout.

Chasing History

With a record of 9-6-10 through the first 25 league games, Seattle is off to the best start for an MLS expansion franchise since the Chicago Fire (15-10-0) 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 25 Games 26 Games 1st Season Notes

Chicago (1998): 15-10-0 16-10-0 Won MLS Cup, U.S. Open Cup

Miami (1998): 12-13-0 13-13-0 1st round playoffs

Salt Lake (2005): 5-16-4 5-17-4 Finished 5th, West

Chivas USA (2005): 3-17-5 3-18-5 Finished 6th, West

Toronto (2007): 5-14-6 5-15-6 Finished 7th, East

San Jose (2008): 7-10-8 7-10-9 Finished 7th, West

Seattle (2009): 9-6-10 Won U.S. Open Cup

Attendance Record

Sounders FC is the first franchise in MLS history to have 28,000 or more fans at 13 consecutive regular season or postseason home games. Each of the first 13 games on Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field has sold out. Seattle leads MLS with an average of 30,587. The MLS record for a season attendance average is 28,916, set by the L.A. Galaxy in 1996.

Crowds Swell

Due to the demand for Sounders FC tickets, stadium capacity has been expanded to 32,400 for the final seven MLS home games. Capacity was 27,700 for home dates between March 28 and June 17. The team utilized the full stadium capacity for Chelsea and FC Barcelona. A record crowd of 66,848 watched the Barcelona friendly and the throng of 65,289 was on hand for Chelsea on July 18. It was the fourth largest attendance ever to watch soccer in Seattle. The highest attendance for a league game this season was the 32,705 for the August 20 Sounders FC loss to New England.

Records Watch

The crowd of 66,848 for the Sounders FC-FC Barcelona friendly on August 5 was the largest for a soccer match played in Seattle.

The top 10 attendances are as follows:

66,848 August 5, 2009 Qwest Field Seattle v Barcelona (friendly)

66,830 August 9, 2006 Qwest Field Real Madrid v D.C. United (friendly)

66,722 July 22, 2003 Seahawks Stadium Manchester United v Celtic (friendly)

65,289 July 18, 2009 Qwest Field Sounders FC v Chelsea (friendly)

58,218 April 9, 1976 Kingdome Seattle v New York (friendly; Pele 2 goals)

56,416 April 16, 2008 Qwest Field Mexico v China (friendly)

56,256 August 25, 1977 Kingdome Seattle v Los Angeles (NASL playoffs)

49,606 August 9, 1980 Kingdome New York at Seattle (NASL)

47,052 May 31, 2008 Qwest Field Brazil v Canada (friendly)

43,651 January 29, 1994 Kingdome U.S. v Russia (friendly)

About Chivas USA

Maicon Santos and Sasha Kljestan scored goals to give Chivas USA a 2-0 home win over New England on September 13, but the Red and White have struggled on the road of late. A 2-0 result at New York on August 15 account for the only points in the last seven away games. Chivas USA has been held scoreless in five of the last six on the road. Zach Thornton leads all goalkeepers with a GAA of 0.82 and nine shutouts. Thornton was not required to make a single save in last Sunday's win over New England. The defense allows only 1.04 goals per game, ranking third in MLS. Eduardo Lillingston leads the club with seven goals, but Chivas ranks 13th in scoring offense (1.09).

Preki Comes Home

Chivas USA head coach Predrag Radosavljevic, a.k.a. Preki, has roots in Puget Sound area soccer, which is where he established a foothold in the American game. Preki 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. Preki later gained U.S. citizenship and it was his goal and Kasey Keller's shutout which lifted the U.S. over Brazil during the 1998 Gold Cup at the Los Angeles 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.

Galindo Returns

Chivas USA forward Maykel Galindo's path to an MLS career began at Seattle's Qwest Field 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 season.

First-Year Clubs to Win Cup Finals

Seattle is the third first-year franchise in the modern era to win the Open Cup. D.C. United did so in 1996 and Chicago, an expansion MLS team, followed in 1998. The only other first-year team to make a final is the 1996 Rochester Rhinos of the A-League.

First Meeting Recap

Seattle Sounders FC 0, at Chivas USA 2-April 18, 2009

Chivas USA extended its lead atop the MLS standings with a win at the Home Depot Center. Seattle had entered the game trailing Chivas USA by one point (10-9) for the West's top spot.

An own-goal by Seattle's James Riley and an 84th-minute clincher by Chivas USA's Chukwudi Chijindu extended the club's undefeated streak to five games.

Zach Thornton made two saves to earn the shutout, including a point blank stop on a Sebastien Le Toux header just before the first half ended. Thornton

Seattle played without goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who was suspended after being sent off the weekend before. Chris Eylander made his first MLS start, was unfortunately beaten in the 32nd minute. Jonathan Bornstein cut a cross back across goal, but it was deflected into the net by Riley.

Chivas USA put the game away six minutes from the end. Substitute Bojan Stepanovic dribbled into the box before laying the ball back for Chijinduto convert from near the penalty spot.

Second Meeting Recap

Seattle Sounders FC 0, at Chivas USA 1-June 6, 2009

Despite controlling possession for much of the game and leading in almost every offensive category, a six-game unbeaten run (1-0-5) ended for Seattle at the Home Depot Center. It was the first loss and first time being shutout since losing at Chivas USA, 2-0, on April 18.

Chivas USA got the sole goal of the game from Eduardo Lillingston late in the first half. In the 38th minute, Maykel Galindo, on the left side in the box, found Paulo Nagamura, who shot low toward the near post. Kasey Keller made the initial save, but the ball deflected to Lillingston and he knocked it straight in for the score.

Seattle had a number of chances throughout the match. Seattle's best first half opportunity came in the 12th minute when Fredy Montero saw Nate Jaqua on the right side, but Jaqua's right-footed shot went wide right.

In the second half, Sounders FC appeared to have a resurgence of energy when Sebastien Le Toux replaced Montero in the 65th minute. Immediately, Le Toux found Jaqua on the left side, but Jaqua's shot was just outside. In the 68th minute Freddie Ljungberg's free kick from the right set up a Jhon Kennedy Hurtado header in front of the net that went over the post.

Seattle finished the game down a man for the fifth time this season, as Jaqua was sent off in the 88th minute with his second yellow card of the evening. The Sounders FC played without midfielder Peter Vagenas, who was scratched from the starting lineup after experiencing right ankle pain in warm-ups. Stephen King started in Vagenas' place.

Last Game Recap:

Seattle Sounders FC 2, at D.C. United 1-September 12, 2009

Fredy Montero's game-winning goal in the 84th minute earned three valuable points between two playoff contenders in the rematch of the U.S. Open Cup Final.

Just 10 days after winning the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a 2-1 win over United on the same RFK Stadium pitch, the Sounders FC (9-6-10, 37) returned to win again, and overtake Colorado for third in the West and fifth overall.

James Riley's pass found Montero inside the box where he quickly turned and blasted the ball into the back of the net for his 11th goal of the season. Montero has scored one goal in all three matches with United this season.

Steve Zakuani scored the game's first goal in the 5th minute. Zakuani sped past D.C. defender Bryan Namoff and tucked the ball through the open legs of goalkeeper Josh Wicks for his fourth goal of the season.

D.C. United equalized in the 55th minute. A tackle by Riley sent the ball to the center of the box where United's Rodney Wallace knocked it past Kasey Keller.

Sounders FC All-Star midfielder Freddie Ljungberg missed the match due to yellow card accumulation and defender Tyrone Marshall sat out most of the game as a result of injury.

Kasey Keller remains unbeaten in nine career starts at RFK Stadium with two saves, including a stop in the 74th minute on a wide open Luciano Emilio.

Leaders of the Pack

Kasey Keller is No. 2 among MLS goalkeepers with a GAA of 0.90. Keller is tied for third in shutouts (8) and tied for 4th in wins (9). Forward Fredy Montero is 3rd in goals (11), 2nd in game-winning goals (4) and tied for 1st in shots (71) Montero is No. 3 in shots (66), 8th in shots on goal (25) and 1st in fouls suffered (53). Nate Jaqua is tied for 6th in assists (7). He is 5th in fouls committed (42). Freddie Ljungberg is 2nd in fouls suffered (52) and is tied for 2nd in game-winning assists (3).

Sounders FC ranks 9th in scoring average (1.24) and 2nd in goals allowed per game (0.96). Its 40 assists are 1st in the league and the 138 corner kicks are 2nd. Seattle is the team with most fouls suffered (315) and 5th in fouls committed (300). The 51 cautions ranks 4th.

Trends to Date

Of Seattle's 31 goals in the first 25 games, 19 have come in the first half and 24 in the first 60 minutes. Five have come from set pieces, all from corner kicks; four by Freddie Ljungberg and one by Peter Vagenas. A goal has yet to be scored from either the penalty spot or free kick. Of the 11 games in which Sounders FC has scored multiple goals, seven have been at home. The defense has not allowed more than one goal in 12 of 13 home games on Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. Six of the eight shutouts have been at home.

Throw-Ins

Vagenas now has 27 career assists, ranking him 31st among active players. Now in his 10th season, he is six games away from his 200th career appearance...Riley's assist was his fourth of the season, establishing a new career high for him...Seattle is 3-1-3 in afternoon games...Kasey Keller is now unbeaten in nine career starts at RFK. In seven starts for the U.S. National Team in Washington, D.C., Keller was unbeaten (5-0-2) while yielding only one goal...Seattle is 3-2-4 in nationally televised games (1-1-2 ESPN; 2-0-1 FSC; 0-1-1 TeleFutura) to date. This is the final national TV appearance in the regular season.

Current Training Squad

The following players begin the week training in Seattle: Goalkeepers (4): Terry Boss, Ben Dragavon*, Chris Eylander, Kasey Keller; Defenders (10): Evan Brown, Taylor Graham, Leo Gonzalez, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Tyrone Marshall, James Riley, Zach Scott, Nathan Sturgis, Tyson Wahl; Midfielders (9): Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Michael Fucito, Stephen King, Sebastien Le Toux, Freddie Ljungberg, Lamar Neagle, Sanna Nyassi, Peter Vagenas; Forwards (4): Nate Jaqua, Roger Levesque, Fredy Montero, Steve Zakuani.

*invitee


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