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Sounders Face Montreal Impact Friday In Quarterfinal At Starfire

September 25, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Seattle Sounders News Release


(Seattle, Wa)- The defending champion Seattle Sounders (10-10-10) take on rival Montreal Impact (12-12-6) in the first of a two-match, home-and away, aggregate goals USL-1 quarterfinal. The match is set for Friday, September 26 at Starfire; kickoff is 7:00 p.m. PT. The first 1,000 fans receive a bobblehead of a mystery Sounders player as they enter the stadium.

Tickets are $13 in advance through www.ticketmaster.com and $15 at the gate. $13 group tickets are available by calling 425-203-8303.

Seattle enters the playoffs as the six seed after falling 3-2 to the Vancouver Whitecaps Saturday in the regular season finale. The Sounders finished 10-10-10 with 40 points good for sixth in the 11-team league. Friday's match will be the eighth consecutive played at Starfire; a home-stand that began August 15 and saw the Sounders finish 2-3-2 in their final seven.

Though the team's form at home has not been consistent, Seattle enters the playoffs with most of their players healthy. Taylor Graham should be available Friday after missing the regular season finale with a hamstring strain and Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar, absent for much of the month with a calf strain, should also be available for the playoffs.

Coach Brian Schmetzer thinks that his team still has what it takes to win the title in their final USL season. "We're still the defending champions and though we haven't played up to our potential, that capability is still within this group of players," he said.

The Sounders and Impact have met three times this season going 1-1-1 with each team winning one on their opponents' home field. Seattle was host to the first match June 28 which ended in a 1-1 draw. Andre Schmid scored in the 80th minute to give the Sounders the lead, but Impact defender Stefano Pesoli equalized four minutes later earning the draw.

In their next meeting on July 13, the Sounders squeezed out a 1-0 win at Saputo Stadium in Montreal despite being out shot by the home side 15-4. The Sounders were playing their seventh game in two weeks including having played two MLS sides in the US Open Cup. Montreal controlled the match throughout but Sebastien Le Toux took advantage of one of the rare Sounders scoring opportunities and delivered the winner in the 73rd minute.

The Impact won the final match of the season two weeks ago, September 10, 2-1 behind second half goals from Tony Donatelli and Antonio Rabeiro. Youssouf Kante scored his second goal of the year in the loss.

ABOUT MONTREAL

Montreal is currently knee deep in the CONCACAF Champions' League after having qualified in July by winning the Nutrilite Canadian Championship, a three team tournament between the Impact, Vancouver Whitecaps (USL-1), and Toronto FC (MLS).

Their last game in the Champions League was Wednesday night where they battled Atlante FC of the Primera División de México to a 0-0 draw at Saputo Stadium. The match marked their second match of the group stages of the tournament, the Impact defeated Joe Public FC 2-0 September 17 in the first. Montreal currently sits atop group C with their next match set for October 1 against Honduras side Olimpia.

Like the Sounders, Montreal's league season has been filled with ups and downs. After a dismal and uncharacteristic start to the season where they went 2-6-2, Head Coach Nick De Santis stepped down to become Technical Director of the club and John Limniatis stepped into the head coaching role, June 10. The Impact's fortunes began to turn after the change as they won their next two matches before drawing 1-1 with Seattle, June 28.

The Impact were one of the hottest teams in the league over the second half of the season going 8-4-3 including a 8-2-2 stretch before losing two of their final three games. In their last league game played Sunday, the Impact drew 0-0 with the league champion Puerto Rico Islanders.

PLAYOFF BRACKET

Friday, September 26

#7 Minnesota Thunder at #2 Vancouver Whitecaps

#5 Charleston Battery at #4 Rochester Rhinos

#3 Montreal Impact at #6 Seattle Sounders

Sunday, September 28

#2 Vancouver Whitecaps at #7 Minnesota Thunder

#4 Rochester Rhinos at #5 Charleston Battery

#6 Seattle Sounders at #3 Montreal Impact

*Puerto Rico Islanders finished #1 and earned bye to semifinals

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE PLAYOFFS

Friday will be the fourth all-time meeting between the two clubs in the playoffs. In the 2004 A-League Championship game, Montreal defeated Seattle 2-0 behind goals from Mauricio Vincello and Freddy Commodore giving the Impact their second title in team history.

The Sounders returned the favor a year later defeating the regular season champion Impact in the semifinals 4-3 on aggregate on way to their third league Championship. Current Sounders Leighton O'Brien and Roger Levesque both scored in that series; Levesque's goal was an extra time winner in the second leg catapulting the Sounders into the championship game.

Last year, the Sounders went through the Carolina RailHawks (3-0) and Puerto Rico Islanders (3-3, 4-2 PK) en route to the Championship game where they defeated the Atlanta Silverbacks 4-0 at Starfire.

FIRST 1,000 FANS RECEIVE SOUNDERS BOBBLEHEAD

Arrive early fans! Stadium gates open at 5:30 pm.



USL First Division Stories from September 25, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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