Calgary beats up on Sounders
August 1, 2004 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Calgary Mustangs News Release
In a match that they clearly dominated, Calgary was rewarded with a well-earned 3-0 victory over the visiting Seattle Sounders.
Two goals by Damir Jesic and a beautiful cracker by Mesut Mert meant that Calgary would enjoy the full three points for the first time in ten matches.
Calgary began brightly enough and were rewarded with an early goal in the 12th minute. A cross was flicked into the Seattle box by Walter Otta and landed dangerously between a number of players. It eventually found itself at the feet of Jesic, whose shot deflected off a Seattle defender and found the back of the net, past a stunned Preston Burpo.
Seattle nearly countered right away, when Roger Levesque was sprung by Darren Sawatzky, but the play was judged to have been offside.
The 32nd minute saw the goal of the season, as Mesut Mert opted to try his luck from 35 yards out. He unleashed an absolute cannon that flew over a sprawling Burpo and just under the crossbar.
At the stroke of halftime, Calgary's Conrad Smith, having been inspired by Mert's goal, fired a blast from 30 yards that Burpo did well to parry and track down the rebound.
HALFTIME SCORE â Calgary 2 â 0 Seattle
Seattle came out from the break with a little more urgency and Jonathan Bolanos pounced on a failed clearing attempt in the 47th minute, but his shot sailed well over the bar.
Two minutes later, Seattle had its best pressure of the night as Welton made a great turn at the top of the box, but fired high. Seconds later, Levesque had a good shooting opportunity, but a last second intervention by Aaron Richer slowed the shot so it posed no problem for Lutz Pfannenstiel to scoop up.
The Mustangs Walter Otta sliced a shot just wide of the right post in the 62nd minute, after Jamie Auvigne had be sprung to the left side of the box and cut it back into the middle.
Sergei Kolomiets-Raad put a slight scare into the Seattle keeper in the 70th minute, when his cross attempt was tipped up by Burpo and landed in the 6 yard box, but the Seattle stopper was able to gather it up before any Calgary player could get to it.
The 74th minute witnessed a pretty give-and-go play between Jesic and Auvigne that resulted in Jesic crossing into an open Steffen Holdt, but his volley grazed the outside of the right post.
Seattle tried to mount some late pressure and nearly potted a free-kick attempt in the 88th minute. The attempt skimmed just over the Calgary bar.
Levesque managed to get himself free on a cross in the 88th minute, but his powerful header found the side netting.
Finally, in their desperate attempts to score, Seattle was caught on the counter attack. Kolomiets-Raad ran down the run touchline and switched the ball into Conrad Smith who, in turn, fed a perfect through ball to Jesic who slid a one-timer inside the right post.
For Jesic, the two goals came as great relief after what has been a relatively frustrating season, thus far.
USL First Division Stories from August 1, 2004
- Early goal sparks Timbers to 2-0 win over Wave United - Milwaukee Wave United
- Sounders suprised in Calgary - Seattle Sounders
- Calgary beats up on Sounders - Calgary Mustangs
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