Sounders FC News & Notes

The Sounders FC (11-7-11, 44 points) punched its ticket to the postseason by coming from behind to defeat Kansas City, 3-2, last week. It was its third straight MLS away match and eighth in the last 11.

Fourth in the Western Conference by a single point, Seattle could catch any or all of the co-leaders: Chivas USA, Houston Dynamo or Los Angeles Galaxy. The Sounders FC won the season series with both Houston and L.A., thereby holding the tiebreaker should it finish level on points.

MLS Cup Playoff pairings will be determined following the completion of regular season play on Sunday. The first leg of the Conference Semifinal series will occur between October 29 and November 1. The second legs are scheduled to take place between November 5 and November 8. The lower seeded hosts the first game of each series, and the team scoring the most total goals advances to the Conference Championships, held between November 12 and 15.

MLS Cup 2009 will be played on Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field on November 22.

Seattle is the first expansion team to qualify for the playoffs in 11 years and the third altogether. The Sounders FC has won two straight and lost just once in the last seven outings (3-1-3).

FC Dallas (11-12-6, 39 points) is the hottest team in MLS, having won four straight to resurrect its playoff hopes. Dallas is tied with three other teams for the eighth and final playoff spot. Forward Jeff Cunningham is the league scoring leader with 17 goals.

In the only previous meeting between the two teams, on May 16, Seattle and FC Dallas finished level at 1-1 at Pizza Hut Park.

Saturday's match will be televised locally on KONG 6/16 and can be heard on News Talk 97.3 KIRO FM radio with Kevin Calabro and Greg Vanney calling the action. The game will be available in Spanish on THIS TV (Comcast Channel 114) with play-by-play from Jaime Mendez and Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar providing analysis, and on Ke Buena 1210 AM with Rene Aleman, Noe Menendez and Victor Hernandez calling the action.

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

Upcoming Training Schedule, October 20-October 23 (subject to change):

Tuesday, October 20 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Wednesday, October 21 - No Training

Thursday, October 22 - Training at Qwest Field, 10 a.m.

Friday, October 23 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Sunday, October 25 - To be determined

The Wild West

With a win or a draw, Sounders FC can still finish with one of the two high seeds in the West.

Chivas USA, Houston and Los Angeles each have 45 points. Seattle holds season series tiebreakers over Houston and L.A.; Chivas USA has the tiebreaker over the Sounders FC. LA holds three-way tie-breaker over Houston & Chivas (points per game), and Houston holds tie-breaker over Chivas (head-to-head).

Chivas USA plays twice in the final week, traveling to Chicago on Thursday night and hosting Houston on Sunday, the final day of the regular season. The Galaxy hosts San Jose on Saturday.

Three other Western Conference teams all have a mathematical chance of reaching the postseason. If Colorado, Dallas or Real Salt Lake should qualify, they will be placed in the Eastern Conference bracket.

The top two teams in each conference clinch playoff berths, followed by the next four teams with the highest point totals, regardless of division.

Objectives Reached, More to Go

A magical first season of MLS soccer in Seattle only seems to gather more momentum as time marches on. The legions of fans and home match atmosphere of Sounders FC is already becoming legend. In September, the team lifted its first cup and last week it clinched a place in the MLS Cup Playoffs with a week to spare.

Seattle is the first expansion team in 11 seasons and the second overall to clinch a winning record in its first season. It becomes the third expansion team to make the playoffs and the first since 1998. Miami and Chicago each qualified that year.

The only other club to post a winning mark in its inaugural year was the Fire in 1998. Chivas USA finished above .500 and made the playoffs in its second year (2006). Miami (2001) and Real Salt Lake (2008) each needed four years to finish with winning records.

Sounders FC is the third first-year franchise in the modern era to win the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, matching the achievement of D.C. United in 1996 and Chicago, an expansion MLS team in 1998.

Seattle finished the regular season with an unbeaten record (3-0-3) in six matches against the first three teams to clinch playoff berths: Columbus (1-0-1), Houston (1-0-1) and Los Angeles (1-0-1). Chivas USA, the fourth team to clinch, won two home dates with the Sounders FC and earned a road draw.

Playoff Tickets On Sale Date

Sounders FC playoff tickets will go on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. PT and can be purchased either through Ticketmaster.com or by calling 1-800-745-3000. Season ticket holders must purchase their playoff tickets no later than Monday, October 19. They can do so by contacting their account manager.

Sounders FC Salutes Fans

Sounders FC fans are encouraged to arrive early for Saturday's match vs. FC Dallas to participate in fan appreciation activities. The Qwest Field gates open at 6:00 p.m. and first kick is at 7:30 p.m.

The activities begin at the "March to the Match" in Occidental Park. Sounders FC staff will be distributing "I gave my full 90" t-shirts, while supplies last. The March will depart Occidental Park located in the heart of Pioneer Square at the intersection of Main Street and Occidental Avenue South.

The "March to the Match" will depart the park at 6 p.m. and finish just outside the Northwest Gate, where fans can enter the stadium.

At 6:30 p.m., the Sounders FC ownership group will reveal and dedicate a permanent installation to recognize original season ticket holders on the northwest wall of Qwest Field, adjacent to the NW ticket windows.

Fans can also participate in Soccer Celebration activities which are located at the Northwest Gate, inside the stadium at the North Plaza and throughout the Qwest Field Plaza. Activities include inflatable games, face painting, sign making, music and more. Soccer Celebration activities will begin at 6 p.m. and conclude after the match.

Fans are encouraged to avoid South Royal Brougham Way unless they park in the Qwest Event Center Garage. Fans parking in the garage will have access by one lane only via South Royal Brougham Way and Fourth Avenue South.

Plenty to Play For

Seattle became the fifth team to clinch an MLS Cup Playoffs berth and is also assured of finishing no lower than fourth in the West. The other four certainties for the playoffs are Columbus, Houston, Los Angeles and Chivas USA.

The Crew can clinch the Supporters' Shield (highest point total) for the second year in a row, either by beating New England in its final game, or if Chivas USA fails to win one of its two remaining matches.

Going into the final week, only three of the 15 teams have been eliminated from playoff contention.

Chicago (42) is second in the East but has not yet clinched. It can do so by earning a point against Chivas USA on Thursday night. Also vying for berths are Colorado (40), Toronto (39), New England (39), D.C. United (39), FC Dallas (39) and Real Salt Lake (37). As many as five teams could be tied for the final three spots.

The tiebreaker for teams tied in the standings are separated as follows: greatest number of points in games among the tied teams; best goal difference among the tied teams; total goals (all games).

Ljungberg Lands Player of the Week

Freddie Ljungberg was named the MLS Player of the Week after figuring prominently in all three goals against Kansas City. Two of the goals resulted from Ljungberg corner kicks.

His shot directly from a corner in the 27th minute forced a save from Wizards keeper Kevin Hartman, and Tyrone Marshall scored on the rebound.

Ljungberg's corner in the 69th minute sparked the Sounders FC comeback, as Roger Levesque headed in at the far post to make it 2-2. On the game's deciding goal, Ljungberg stripped a defender in the corner, broke into the box and then delivered a low ball for Nate Jaqua to bury at the near post in the 76th.

It was Ljungberg's second assist of the match and his fourth game-winning assist of the season-tying him for the MLS lead. His seven assists tie him for the team lead and eighth in the league.

Two other balls from Ljungberg produced shots which required Hartman saves. First came a cross to Fredy Montero in the 6th minute, then he fed Steve Zakuani in the second half for a low drive which Hartman stopped with his feet. Ljungberg's defense-splitting pass in the 31st minute was taken by Zakuani, whose subsequent chip clipped the crossbar.

Ljungberg becomes the fourth Sounders FC player to earn player of the week, joining Fredy Montero (Week 1), Kasey Keller (Week 2) and Nate Jaqua (Week 15).

Sigi & Bradley, Tied at the Top

With Seattle's next regular season win, Sigi Schmid will break Bob Bradley's MLS record total of 124. Schmid, who tied Bradley with last week's win at Kansas City, also has 124. He is the career leader with 285 games coached, having surpassed Bradley (272) earlier this season. New England's Steve Nicol is No. 2 among active coaches (97) and No. 3 overall.

Schmid is 11-7-8 against FC Dallas (0-0-1 with Seattle; 4-2-0 with Columbus; 7-5-7 with L.A).

Schmid Goes the Distance

Sigi Schmid is the MLS Cup Playoffs leader in career wins (19) and is the only coach to guide two different teams (Los Angeles in 2002 and Columbus in 2008) to the MLS Cup Championship. Schmid has now become only the third coach to take three different teams to the playoffs, joining Bob Bradley (Chicago, New York, Chivas USA) and Thomas Rongen (Tampa Bay, New England, D.C. United).

Jaqua Strikes Late Again

Nate Jaqua scored upon his return to the lineup at Kansas City. Jaqua, who missed the Columbus game for yellow card accumulation, got the game-winner in the 76th minute. It was his first goal since August 23 at Houston, his second GWG this season and it was nominated for MLS Goal of the Week.

Six of Jaqua's goals this season have come in the second half, including game-tying tallies three times in MLS play, plus an 89th minute strike in the U.S. Open Cup semifinal against Houston, sending that match into overtime.

Jaqua is the team's co-leader in assists (7) and No. 2 in goals (8). He has equaled his career best goal total, matching the eight goals he scored for Chicago in 2006. Jaqua has 40 career goals.

Roger, Mr. October

Three of the most memorable matches in Seattle's inaugural season have Roger Levesque's studs marked all over them. His game-tying goal at Kansas City was only the latest.

Seven minutes after coming off the bench, Levesque brought Seattle level with the Wizards at 2-2 with a header from Freddie Ljungberg's corner kick.

It was Levesque's second career MLS goal-and the second in as many games. His first was the game-winning goal at Columbus on October 3, ending the Crew's league record 22-game home unbeaten streak. It came in his second career start.

Levesque had also scored what proved to be the winning goal in this year's U.S. Open Cup Final at D.C. United on September 2.

Attendance Record

With one home game remaining Seattle leads MLS with an average of 30,739. The MLS record for a season attendance average is 28,916, set by the L.A. Galaxy in 1996. Sounders FC is the first franchise in MLS history to have 28,000 or more fans at 14 consecutive regular season or postseason home games. Each of the first 14 games on Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field has sold out.

The top 10 home season attendance averages are as follows:

1996 Los Angeles Galaxy - 28,916

2008 Los Angeles Galaxy - 26,009

2007 Los Angeles Galaxy - 24,252

2005 Los Angeles Galaxy - 24,204

1996 MetroStars - 23,898

2004 Los Angeles Galaxy - 23,809

1997 New England Revolution - 21,423

1998 Los Angeles Galaxy - 21,784

2001 D.C. United - 21,518

2006 Los Angeles Galaxy - 20,814

Back on Form

Seattle is 10-1-3 when scoring first and 11-1-7 when scoring a goal. Six of Seattle's seven losses have been by shutout. The Sounders FC are 11-1-1 when leading at halftime.

Overdue for Home Goals

Sounders FC is overdue to score some goals on its home field. Seattle has gone scoreless in the last 404 minutes at home, a drought spanning parts of five games, dating back to a 2-1 win over Houston on July 11. In the four games since then, Sounders FC has settled for 0-0 draws with Chicago (July 25), Toronto FC (August 29) and Chivas USA (September 19), and lost to New England, 1-0 (August 20).

During the streak, Seattle has created its share of chances. It has out-shot visitors by a combined margin of 48-33 and owns a 31-19 advantage in corner kicks.

In its first 10 home dates, Sounders FC averaged 1.90 goals per game and went 6-1-3. Defensively, it has not allowed more than one goal at home in the last six games. Overall it owns a home GAA of 0.64.

Defense Stands Firm

The Sounders FC has not allowed multiple goals in consecutive games this season. In five games in which it has given up more than one goal, Seattle has responded with a goals-against average of 0.60 in the next outing, going 2-1-2. The Sounders FC is 3rd in MLS scoring defense with a GAA of 0.97.

Chasing History

With a record of 11-7-11 through the first 29 league games, Seattle is off to the best start for an MLS expansion franchise since the Chicago Fire (18-11-0) in 1998. Miami and Chicago are the only other 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 29 Games 30 Games 1st Season Notes

Chicago (1998): 18-11-0 19-11-0 Won MLS Cup, U.S. Open Cup

Miami (1998): 13-16-0 14-16-0 1st round playoffs

Salt Lake (2005): 5-20-4 5-21-4 Finished 5th, West

Chivas USA (2005): 3-21-5 4-21-5 Finished 6th, West

Toronto (2007): 6-17-6 6-17-7 Finished 7th, East

San Jose (2008): 7-13-9 8-13-9 Finished 7th, West

Seattle (2009): 11-7-11 Won U.S. Open Cup

Note: Real Salt Lake (5-22-5) and Chivas USA (4-22-6) each played 32 matches in their first season.

Changes in the XI

Seattle's lineup required tweaking in Kansas City, with Nate Jaqua returning from suspension versus Columbus and James Riley being replaced in the lineup due to an ankle sprain. Jaqua was back on the right flank, where Roger Levesque had started against the Crew. Brad Evans was moved from central midfield to Riley's right back spot, and Peter Vagenas came into the middle. Riley was brought on for Vagenas in the 77th minute against the Wizards.

Going for Gold

Forward Fredy Montero's 12 goals is the most scored by a player for a first-year MLS franchise, and he remains tied for third in the MLS Golden Boot race. No other player for an expansion franchise has scored more than 10 goals.

Montero, a top contender for MLS Newcomer of the Year, scored three of the club's five September goals in MLS and Open Cup play. Seven of his goals have been scored at home.

Jeff Cunningham of FC Dallas leads MLS with 17 goals and Colorado's Conor Casey has 16.

Leaders of the Pack

Kasey Keller is No. 2 among MLS goalkeepers with a GAA of 0.92 and shutouts (10). Keller is tied for 3rd in wins (11). Forward Fredy Montero is tied for 3rd in goals (12) and game-winning goals (4). Montero is the leader in shots (81). He and Freddie Ljungberg are 1-2 in fouls suffered (62, 61). Ljungberg is tied for 1st in game-winning assists (4). Nate Jaqua is tied for 8th in assists (7). He is 5th in fouls committed (46).

The Sounders FC ranks 3rd in goals allowed per game (0.97) and 1st in fouls suffered (353). It is 2nd in corner kicks (162) and 2nd in assists (43). The offensive scoring average (1.24) ranks 10th. Seattle is 5th in fouls committed (343) and the 57 cautions ranks 4th.

Four Cards, No Worries

Although Tyrone Marshall, James Riley and Peter Vagenas are carrying four yellow cards into the final regular season match, they are not facing a suspension should they be cautioned against FC Dallas. Yellow card suspensions do not carry over into the postseason, although players would face corresponding fines.

Red cards received in the final regular season game DO carryover into the first game of the playoffs.

Incidentally, Osvaldo Alonso had his yellow card total reduced from four to three following the Kansas City game, making use of the good behavior incentive.

Seattle players have served suspensions in seven of the last 11 MLS games.

About FC Dallas

FC Dallas started out 1-7-3, but since the MLS All-Star break has gone 7-3-1, scoring 27 goals. Twice it has erupted for six goals.

Jeff Cunningham is the frontrunner for Golden Boot with 17 goals. He also leads MLS with seven game-winning goals this season and 36 for his career. Cunningham has scored 13 goals in his last 14 games. He was the MLS Player of the Month for September.

Dallas leads the league in scoring, averaging 1.69 goals per game. It is 13th in defense, allowing 1.55. FCD is 3-9-2 on the road.

Dave van den Bergh ranks 2nd in MLS assists with 11. Cunningham has eight.

Since the first meeting with Seattle, Schellas Hyndman has revamped his club, particularly at the back. Colombian Jair Benitez has been brought in at left back and Heath Pearce, a U.S. National Team member, is now on the right.

His two central defenders accounted for the scoring in last week's 2-1 win over Colorado. George John, a rookie defender from the University of Washington, scored the first goal in last week's 2-1 home win over Colorado. It was John's first goal of the season. Ugo Ihemelu, acquired in an August 31 trade with the Rapids, scored what proved to be the game-winner in the 66th minute.

At Home on the Road

The recent run of success on the road has boosted Seattle to the third-best away record in MLS, at 5-5-5. With home sides proving more adventurous than those visiting Qwest Field, the Sounders FC attack is exploiting the greater space by scoring goals. The offense has generated 12 goals in the last six trips and 14 in the last seven, counting the 2-1 Cup Final victory at D.C. United. In the last six MLS away games the Sounders FC has taken more points (13) than the first nine road matches (0-4-4), combined.

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.

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 seven occasions to date.

Up in the Air

Seattle wrapped up a demanding stretch of travel last week in Kansas City. It was the fourth road game in the last five and eighth in 11 MLS games since July. In September and October, the Sounders FC have flown more than 25,000 miles, including the trip to Washington, D.C. for the U.S. Open Cup Final.

Two years from now MLS will have three teams in the Pacific Northwest. Portland and Vancouver join the league in 2011. Projected mileage round trip to Portland (290 miles) and Vancouver (238) will level Seattle's average flight travel with the other MLS clubs. But for now, Sounders FC remains the only team, which means inevitably traveling greater distances than the other clubs.

Based on last season, MLS clubs averaged 31,764 miles per team with New England traveling the farthest (44,940) and Kansas City the shortest (26,790). Sounders FC traveled 46,898 miles this season.

Trends to Date

Of Seattle's 36 goals in the first 29 games, 20 have come in the first half and 27 in the first 60 minutes. Seven have come from set pieces, all from corner kicks; six 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 12 games in which Sounders FC has scored multiple goals, seven have been at home. The defense has not allowed more than one goal in 13 of 14 home games on Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. Seven of the nine shutouts have been at home.

Back Four Shuffled

After three consecutive games playing together, the Seattle's back four was shuffled last week due to an ankle injury sustained by right back James Riley in training. The foursome of Leo Gonzalez, Tyrone Marshall, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and Riley had played together in consecutive games against Chivas USA, New England and Columbus. Prior to that, from late June through mid-September, the back four alignment was shuffled 16 times in 18 games due to injuries, suspensions, national team call-ins and other factors. Riley has the most starts (26), followed by Hurtado (25). Leo Gonzalez has started the last 10 on the left.

Schmid vs. Hyndman

Schellas Hyndman was the head coach for Southern Methodist University from 1984-2008 before taking on the head coaching position at FC Dallas midway through last season. During his tenure at SMU, Hyndman's teams faced off six times with Sigi Schmid's UCLA Bruins, going 1-4-1. All three times the two coaches faced off in the NCAA tournament Sigi's teams won, two of which went on to win the Championship (1985, 1990).

First Meeting Recap

Seattle Sounders FC 1, at FC Dallas 1 - May 16, 2009

Kasey Keller made four second-half saves as the Seattle Sounders FC came away with a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas in a Major League Soccer game on Saturday night at Pizza Hut Park.

Jhon Kennedy Hurtado scored for Seattle, which earned its third straight tie and extended its unbeaten run to four games (1-0-3). Two of the draws have come on the road.

FC Dallas got the equalizer from Andre Rocha in the dying seconds of the second half but is winless in four games (0-3-1).

Sounders FC lost defender Zach Scott and midfielder Brad Evans to injuries during the match. Seattle played without starters Freddie Ljungberg (migraine), Nathan Sturgis (hamstring) and James Riley (suspension).

Keller twice denied Dallas forward Brek Shea in the second half. He dived to his left to save a 15-yard drive by Shea in the 60th minute and Keller stopped a Shea point-blank header in the 69th.

Seattle scored first. Hurtado, a central defender, celebrated his 25th birthday by scoring his first MLS goal in the 18th minute. Hurtado flicked over FCD keeper Ray Burse from 12 yards after Nate Jaqua had headed on a ball from Patrick Ianni.

Evans nearly made it 2-0 in the 36th minute. He poked Osvaldo Alonso's lofted pass past Burse from 15 yards but the ball rebounded off the left post.

Stoppage time in the first half proved pivotal. Sounders FC midfielder Sebastien Le Toux narrowly missed with a low, left-footed drive past the far post.

Moments later, Dallas defender Marcelo Saragosa drove the ball deep into the Seattle box, and Rocha redirected the ball past Keller from 6 yards.

Steve Zakuani had the best second-half scoring chance for Seattle. In the 48th minute he forced Burse into a diving save on a quick counterattack up the left wing.

Last Game Recap:

Seattle Sounders FC 3, at Kansas City Wizards 2 - October 17, 2009

Second-half goals from Roger Levesque and Nate Jaqua earned the Sounders FC a playoff-clinching, 3-2 comeback win over the Kansas City Wizards at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Freddie Ljungberg was a factor in all three Seattle goals and earned two assists. The win was the 124th in Sigi Schmid's career, tying him with Bob Bradley for the most in MLS.

Jaqua netted the game-winner in the 76th minute, scoring from short range after Ljungberg has won the ball on the right, then dribbled deep into the box along the endline.

A corner kick by Ljungberg had set-up Levesque's goal to knot the score at 2-2 in the 69th minute. Levesque's goal was his second career goal and also the second in as many games. He had come off the bench seven minutes earlier.

Central defender Tyrone Marshall opened up the scoring with a goal in the 28th minute. Ljungberg's shot directly from the corner was deflected by Wizards goalkeeper Kevin Hartman and Marshall knocked in the rebound for his second goal of the season.

Kansas City struck back early in the second half with two quick goals. Wizards forward Zoltan scored the equalizer in the 51st minute and Josh Wolff gave his team a 2-1 lead in the 54th minute after knocking in a ball from teammate Davy Arnaud.

Sounders FC had hit the goal frame twice in the first half. Steve Zakuani's chip skipped off the crossbar in the 31st minute and in the 35th minute a Jaqua header caromed off the crossbar.

It was the first three-goal game for the Seattle on the road and the first overall since defeating Colorado, 3-0, at home on June 28.

October: Good Vibrations

While the Sounders FC is 2-0-0 this month, Seattle's past Sounders never lost in six October matches over the years. In fact, it's the month the franchise won three of its four league championships.

While the NASL originals were never required to play in October, the A-League/USL club was extended into the tenth page of the calendar for postseason play in three different seasons, going a combined 2-0-4 and winning league championships each time.

Seattle won its first A-League title over Atlanta on October 12, 1995. The Sounders repeated that feat the following year, defeating Rochester, 2-0, on October 6, 1996. They went 2-0-4. Seattle won the 2005 USL-1 crown on October 1 (a shootout victory following a 1-1 draw).

MLS Cup Credential Process Opens

Media planning to cover MLS Cup 2009 at Qwest Field in Seattle on Sunday, Nov. 22 can now apply for their credentials online by using the following link http://sum.iwebreg.com/apply. Media members who have applied for credentials for recent MLS / SUM events can login using the same email address and password previously used. Otherwise, please set up new user and login information through the online application.

Media credential applications must be received by Friday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. ET. Credentials from previous MLS matches or other soccer events, including 2009 MLS All-Stadium and Team season credentials, will NOT gain media access to this game.

Shirt Off Kasey's Back

Two of Kasey Keller's most special game-worn jerseys are being auctioned online to benefit the Life Rolls On Foundation (www.liferollson.org). The auction runs through October 26 on MLSnet.com. The one-of-a-kind jerseys include the shirt worn by Keller in earning his 100th cap for the U.S. National Team and also the one donned for the inaugural Sounders FC match against New York on March 19, 2009. Both jerseys are autographed.

Life Rolls On exists to be a resource that provides hope and advocacy for young people whose lives have been affected by spinal cord injury.

MLS Cup Tickets On Sale

Tickets for MLS Cup 2009 are now on sale to the public. Major League Soccer's premier event, MLS Cup, will be played November 22 on Seattle's Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. Fans can purchase tickets www.ticketmaster.com or by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000. MLS Cup tickets are included in the Seattle Sounders FC 18-game season ticket package.

Penalties Not a Given

While penalty kicks have converted at a 76 percent clip in the league this season (45 of 59), Sounders FC games are another matter. Seattle and opposing players have combined to score on one of five penalties, with the four misses (two by Sounders FC players, two by opponents) either going wide or off the crossbar.

Seattle Hosts Union, 2010 First Kick

The Sounders FC will again host Major League Soccer's opening game in 2010. The Sounders FC will face Philadelphia Union on March 25 on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. The match will be nationally televised by ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. PT.

Philadelphia will be making its debut as the 16th team in MLS. Seattle joined the league this season, and is on pace to break the regular season attendance record. All 14 home matches to date have been sold out.

In First Kick 2009, the Sounders FC hosted the New York Red Bulls on March 19, attracting a capacity crowd of 32,523. Seattle won, 3-0.

The complete MLS schedule will be released in February, 2010. Each team will play 30 games, facing each team twice (home and away).

Twelve other teams will begin their 2010 season on March 27. It was also announced that Real Salt Lake will host Seattle in its home opener on April 10 at Rio Tinto Stadium.

Drew Carey Joins World Cup Hosting Effort Sounders FC part owner Drew Carey has joined the board of the U.S. committee bidding to host the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup. A comedian, actor and host of The Price Is Right on CBS, Carey is recognized as American soccer's most visible supporter.

Seattle is one of 27 cities under consideration as a host city, with both Qwest Field and Husky Stadium listed as possible venues. In December 2010, FIFA will award the host nation for the 2018 and 2022. Next year's World Cup will be in South Africa and the 2014 host is Brazil.

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 32,719 for the September 19 Sounders FC draw with Chivas USA.

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)

Throw-Ins

For the first time in his 273 MLS career games, Tyrone Marshall scored a goal and was credited with an assist at Kansas City. Marshall scored the first goal and flicked on Freddie Ljungberg's corner to Roger Levesque on the second score. Marshall has 15 career goals...Kasey Keller's four saves against the Wizards was the most since making 10 stops at San Jose on August 2...Seattle finished 5-2-4 outside the Pacific Zone this season, including the U.S. Open Cup Final played September 2 in Washington, D.C. The Sounders FC was 4-1-1 in the Eastern Time Zone...Leo Gonzalez did not see action for Costa Rica in its final two World Cup qualifiers. Gonzalez trained with the national team prior to its home win over Trinidad & Tobago, but returned to Seattle before the loss to the U.S. in Washington, D.C., last week. The Ticos will face Uruguay in a two-game playoff next month to determine a spot in the World Cup finals...Caleb Sturgis, the 19-year-old younger brother of Seattle defender Nathan Sturgis, kicked the game-winning 27-yard field goal in top-ranked Florida's 23-20 football victory over Arkansas last Saturday...Ben Dragavon, a member of the MLS emergency goalkeeper pool who trains regularly with Sounders FC, was called in by Toronto FC for last Saturday's 1-0 win over Real Salt Lake.

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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