MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Galaxy Take First Leg Against Sounders in Seattle

by Ed Kobak, Global Sportswire
Published on November 1, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC


It was a spooktacular night at Qwest Field in Seattle for the Sounders and their 35,521 loyal fans against their regular season nemesis, the LA Galaxy, winners of the Supporter's Shield, the club with the best overall record in regular season.

The Sounders had the best record over the second half of the season and with the Sounders on a hot streak, the Galaxy with Landon Donovan, Edson Buddle, the 2nd leading goal scorer in the league this season with 17 goals and the ever dangerous David Beckham, the match lived up to its billing of two of the best teams in the league squaring off.

From the moment the fans entered Qwest Field with their Trick or Treat bags handed out by Sounders staff in their hands, they would witness a great game, though with a similar ending as past games against the Galaxy this season.

The Galaxy won the match 1-0, on Edson Buddle's arched long range spectacular goal from 30 yards out into the far corner of the net past a diving Kasey Keller. David Beckham was a dangerous player in the match with his on target free kicks.

The Sounders had their chances from the opening minute of the match with Osvaldo Alonso's shot on goal that was knocked down by Galaxy GK Donovan Ricketts to the followup goal by Steve Zakuani that was disallowed due to being whistled offsides. The Sounders pressured Ricketts all night, with Ricketts making stop after diving stop. The Sounders came close in the 2nd half when a Sounders shot hit the left post, but that was as close as the Sounders would come in this match, with Ricketts having played himself into the star of the game.

Now the Sounders players and fans have to pin their hopes that the Sounders will come back strong in the second leg of this series to win on aggregate goals in the second leg.

Beyond the game, there is much the Sounders owners and staff can be very proud of. The 35,531 fans that came to watch the Sounders on this Halloween night was the second largest crowd to ever witness a Conference Final or Semifinal match in MLS history. It was also the ninth (9th) largest playoff crowd in MLS history.

Going to a Sounders game is an experience in itself, one the rest of the clubs in the MLS wishes it could emulate. Sounders matches have the feel of being at a match somewhere in Europe, say in Manchester, England or Barcelona or in Madrid or Italy. Sounders fans are passionate in their team, in their city, with the Pacific Northwest.

Prior to the game all one has to do is stroll through Pioneer Square, a few blocks from Qwest Field, walk into any number of pubs to see the Sounders faithful talking proud of their team.

From the moment the MLS awarded an expansion team to Seattle the city and the people have embraced this team in a way that the MLS brass could only dream of and hope other MLS clubs can aspire to.

For the second year in a row, the Sounders led the league in attendance, this year with an average of 36,173 a game, attendance that would make any European or South American club proud! Second in attendance this year was the Galaxy with an average of 21,437 followed by Toronto FC at 20,453 a game. Toronto also hosts the MLS Cup final this year.

The Pacific Northwest has always supported soccer over the years, even in the old days of the NASL when the original Sounders, Portland Timbers and Vancouver Whitecaps all had great fan support.

The MLS brass can only hope the second reincarnation of the Timbers and Whitecaps next season will continue the trend of strong fan support in the Pacific Northwest.

As for the Sounders and its faithful, they will turn their attention to the second game of this series to be played in Carson, CA at the Home Depot Center on Sunday, November 7.

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Major League Soccer Stories from November 1, 2010


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