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Sounders Face Rival Montreal Impact At Starfire

September 9, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Seattle Sounders News Release


(Seattle, Wa)- The Seattle Sounders (10-8-9) take on the Montreal Impact (11-10-5) Wednesday, September 10 at Starfire. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PT.

After nearly a two week break, Seattle returned to league action on Saturday with a 3-0 win over the Miami FC Blues. Leighton O'Brien, after missing nine games including six in league play, returned to the midfield and scored two goals in the victory. Sebastien Le Toux added the third, his 12th of the season (2nd in the league behind Alex Afonso, 14) and dished out an assist to O'Brien in the 77th minute. Both players earned USL-1 Team of the Week honors. The clean sheet was Chris Eylander's 10th of the regular season, 14th in all including U.S. Open Cup competition. Seattle has now won two straight scoring a combined seven goals, after having beaten the Carolina RailHawks 4-3 on August 24.

Next up is the Montreal Impact, playing its 400th match in club history and first of a two-game West Coast road trip that ends in Vancouver on Saturday. In its last game played on Monday, the Impact defeated the Portland Timbers at Saputo Stadium 2-0 behind goals from Leonard Di Lorenzo and Peter Byers. The Impact have won four straight and are in fifth place (38 points), just one point behind Seattle. A win clinches a playoff spot for both Montreal and Seattle.

Earlier this season, the Sounders tied the Impact 1-1 on June 28 at Starfire, and won 1-0 on July 13 at Saputo Stadium. All-time the Sounders are 13-8-2 against the Impact. The match marks the final regular season game in the history of the rivalry.

"Montreal has revenge on their mind after the 1-0 loss that they suffered at home against us when we were kind of up and down and they were kind of up and down," Coach Schmetzer said. "If you look at the standings, if we win, we keep them below us. But I'm assuming that they are going to come out with a lot of energy and intensity and when you combine that with the fact that now they are getting into a groove and are playing better, it makes it a huge game."

PLAYOFF OUTLOOK

The Sounders are in sole position of fourth place in USL-1 with 39 points just one point back of the Rochester Rhinos. Puerto Rico (49 points) and Vancouver (47) are at the top of the table. Montreal is fifth (38 points) with four straight wins; defeating Portland (9th with 31), Atlanta (8th place with 32) twice, and one over Carolina (10th place with 27 points). Charleston is in sixth place, one point back of the Impact. Minnesota sits in the seventh and final playoff spot (33 points), but are just one point ahead of Atlanta, who will be in Seattle on Saturday.

ARRIVE EARLY FOR SEASON'S FINAL GAMES!

Don't miss your chance to see the Sounders final run in their storied history starting this Wednesday at Starfire against Canadian rival Montreal Impact, tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com. After Wednesday's game the Sounders play the Atlanta Silverbacks, September 13 and the Vancouver Whitecaps on September 20 in the regular season finale and Cascadia Cup deciding match. SEATING AT STARFIRE IS LIMITED AND ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS; ARRIVE EARLY AS LARGER CROWDS ARE EXPECTED FOR THESE HISTORIC MATCHES.

BUDWEISER BEER GARDEN

The Budweiser beer garden debuted last Saturday and will be open during the final two Saturday matches of the season, September 13 and September 20. Stadium gates open at 5:30 pm.

SEPTEMBER 20 POSTER GIVEAWAY

The Saturday, September 20 match against the Vancouver Whitecaps is Team Poster night at Starfire. Fans in attendance can pick up a complimentary team poster at the main entrance as they enter the stadium. After the game, Sounders' players will be available to sign posters on the main field at Starfire.

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