MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes - October 11

Published on October 11, 2010 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


With its playoff ticket punched and its trophy haul now doubled, the Seattle Sounders FC comes home to celebrate and then quickly begin setting-up a run at an even bigger prize.

The Rave Green's next three matches are at home, beginning Tuesday night at 7 p.m. PT, when Mexico's most popular team, CD Chivas de Guadalajara, visits for a friendly on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. TeleFutura and Fox Sports Northwest will televise the game live.

Friday is Fan Appreciation night as Sounders FC hosts its final home MLS regular season contest against Chivas USA at 8 p.m. PT. It will be seen nationwide on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes.

Finally, the group stage of CONCACAF Champions League play concludes on October 19 when CD Saprissa of Costa Rica meets Seattle at 7 p.m. PT on Fox Soccer Channel. All three games will be broadcast on KIRO 97.3 FM. Tuesday's match is available on Homero 1210 AM.

The home stand affords an opportunity for the Sounders FC to bask briefly in the spotlight following some remarkable achievements. Last week it accomplished two major feats: Seattle became the first team in 27 years to repeat as Lamar Hunt U.S. open Cup champions and, four days later, it clinched a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the second year in a row.

Of course, the supporters have set standards in their own right. They came out in droves for the Open Cup final, smashing the previous attendance record for the 97-year-old tournament. And on Friday the fans will put the finishing touches on the new MLS season attendance standard, breaking the mark they set just a year ago.

It's possible that the biggest crowd of the season will be on hand for Chivas de Guadalajara and another full house-make it 31 in a row-is assured for Friday, when the Rave Green goes for a record-breaking fifth straight league win.

The hottest team in America, Sounders FC (13-9-6, 45 points) has won four consecutive matches after beating Kansas City, 2-1, on the road last week, and it is undefeated (7-0-2) at home in nine MLS and Open Cup matches since June 10.

Chivas USA (8-14-5, 28 points) snapped a three-game losing string with a 3-0 home victory over Toronto FC, but fallen on hard times after qualifying for playoffs four straight years. However, the Red and White have yet to yield a goal to Seattle in four regular season meetings and lead the series 2-0-2. Sounders FC did beat Chivas USA, 3-1, the semifinal round of the Open Cup.

Saprissa comes to Seattle knowing that a win will assure the Purple Monster of advancing to the Champions League quarterfinals. By winning, Sounders FC could conceivably finish third in Group C. Following the home stand the regular season ends at Houston on August 23.

Upcoming Competition Schedule (All times Pacific):

Tuesday, October 12, 7 p.m. - CD Chivas de Guadalajara, Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field, Seattle (Friendly C)

Friday, October 15, 8 p.m. - Chivas USA, Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field, Seattle

Tuesday, October 19, 7 p.m. - CD Saprissa, Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field, Seattle (CONCACAF Champions League group stage/round six)

Saturday, October 23, 1 p.m. - at Houston Dynamo, Robertson Stadium, Houston

Upcoming Training Schedule, October 13-October 18 (times are local & subject to change):

Wednesday, October 13, 11 a.m. - Training at Starfire

Thursday, October 14, 10 a.m. - Training at Starfire

Saturday, October 16 - No Training

Sunday, October 17, 10 a.m. - Training at Starfire

Monday, October 18, 10 a.m. - Training at Starfire

Sounders FC Factoids

- Sounders FC is 12-1-3 in its last 16 domestic (MLS and Open Cup) matches; 9-1-3 in MLS

- With 45 points through 28 matches Seattle is four points ahead of the 2009 pace (10-7-11, 41 points) and it is four wins above .500 for the first time this season

- Seattle is unbeaten in its last nine (7-0-2) at home in MLS (4-0-2) and Open Cup (3-0-0) play

- Sanna Nyassi has scored in each of his last two MLS matches, and has four goals in the last three in all competitions

- Blaise Nkufo has scored five goals in the last four matches, including two game-winners, and Seattle is 8-0-1 in his nine starts

- Fredy Montero has 12 goals (six game-winners) and 10 assists in all competitions. He is one of two players to rank among MLS top ten in both goals (10) and assists (9).

- The 13 wins is one more than 2009 total and the 11 shutouts surpasses the 10 earned last year

- Kasey Keller has played in 53 consecutive MLS matches, dating to April 25, 2009

- Seventeen of the team's 36 goals have been scored either in the first or last 15 minutes

- Eleven of the 32 goals allowed have come in the final 15 minutes

- Sounders FC is 11-2-3 when scoring first and 1-6-2 when allowing two or more goals

- Nine of the 13 MLS victories have been shutouts and in the 18 wins (18-13-8) over all competitions the average goals allowed is 0.39

- Seattle is tied for second in road wins (6) and has posted five shutouts in its last seven away

Get Your Tickets

Sounders FC fans have filled the stadium to capacity for 30 consecutive MLS matches, and deposits of $50 per seat are now being taken for new 2011 season tickets. Playoff tickets go on sale to the public on October 21 at 10 a.m. PT.

Tickets are still available for the Chivas de Guadalajara and Saprissa matches at www.SoundersFC.com, by calling 800-745-3000, or at all Ticketmaster outlets and the Qwest Field Box office.

Chivas de Guadalajara Update

CD Chivas de Guadalajara arrived in Seattle on Sunday and will hold a press conference with José Luis Real on Monday at 6 p.m. PT, prior to its training session at Qwest Field. Chivas Guadalajara, an 11-time champion, was the 2010 Copa Libertadores runner-up.

The Chivas travel roster: Goalkeepers (2): Luis Michel, Hugo Hernandez. Defenders (8): Hector Reynoso, Mario De Luna, Edgar Mejía, Miguel Ponce, Omar Esparza, Christian Perez, Patricio Araujo, Juan Ocampo. Midfielders (6): Xavier Baez, Dionicio Escalante, Jorge Enriquez, Marco Fabián, Ulises Dávila, Sergio Ávila.Forwards (6): Omar Arellano, Omar Bravo, Adolfo Bautista, Michel Vázquez, Jesús Sánchez, Alberto Medina.

Sánchez scored in Saturday's 2-2 road draw at Querétaro. Araujo and Esparza both played in Seattle for the Mexico National Team's 1-0 friendly win over China in 2008. That match attracted 56,416 fans. Like Sounders FC, Chivas plays its home matches on artificial turf.

Champions League: Adios y Hola

No sooner did Sounders FC exit the Champions League did it book the first ticket to the 2011-12 tournament. CONCACAF announced last week that Seattle's 2-1 win over the Columbus Crew in the Open Cup final secured a berth in the next edition of the Champions League. The club had qualified for this year's preliminary round by virtue of winning the 2009 Open Cup. Still to be decided are the other U.S. representatives in the 2011-12 tourney. Typically the MLS Cup Champion and Supporters Shield winners take two of the four spots allotted to America.

Seattle became the first club in 27 years to successfully retain the Open Cup. The 2-1 victory over Columbus earned a berth in the 2011-12 CONCACAF Champions League, which the club followed with another 2-1 win at Kansas City, clinching a place in the playoffs in Kansas for the second year in a row.

A Second-Half Team

Without question, the best team over the second half of the regular season has been Sounders FC. Since finishing the first half at 4-8-3, Seattle has taken 30 of a possible 39 points in the next 13 matches, going 9-1-3. Seven of the wins have been by a single goal, including game-winners in the final minutes against D.C. United and Chicago (twice). Five times the Rave Green came from behind or scored the winning goal in the second half.

The finish by Sounders FC is comparable to the sensational start by the L.A. Galaxy, which was 11-1-3 at the halfway stage. Over the second half of the season Seattle has totaled five more points than FC Dallas (6-0-7), which is unbeaten in a league-record 19 games, and eight more than defending champion Real Salt Lake (5-1-7). It has taken 16 of a possible 21 points in its last seven MLS road matches, going 5-1-1 and allowing just four goals.

After a July 4 loss at L.A., Seattle was seventh in the Western Conference and 11th overall in MLS. It is now tied fourth in the West and sixth overall.

Making History

On a truly momentous night, Sounders FC and its supporters made history in the U.S. Open Cup on October 5. Backed by a record crowd of 31,311 in full voice, Seattle came from a goal down to lift the cup for the second year in a row. The attendance shattered the previous best for a final; 21,583 watched the 1929 second leg between New York Hakoah and Madison Kennel Club of St. Louis at Brooklyn's Dexter Park. The tournament's modern era record crowd was 19,164 for the 2000 final between the Chicago Fire and Miami Fusion.

Sounders FC was the first Open Cup repeat champion since 1982-83, when the New York Pancyprian Freedoms won back-to-back. Only the New York Greek-American club has captured three straight (1967-69).

Another Week, Another Hero

There's no shortage of players who have been in a position to be called heroes. In the beginning of the turnaround it might have been Osvaldo Alonso, whose return to midfield gave Seattle tenacity in the middle of the park. Then there were the scoring exploits of Fredy Montero, Steve Zakuani and Blaise Nkufo, and the shot-stopping of Kasey Keller. Now the hero mantle is being worn by Sanna Nyassi. The 21-year-old right winger has become Mr. October, banging in a brace in the Open Cup final, then adding his second MLS goal in as many matches at KC. The first player in the MLS era to score multiple goals in the championship game, Nyassi was voted the final's outstanding player by TheCup.us.

All the Right Moves

Once again last week Sigi Schmid exhibited the Midas touch in managing his substitutes against the Wizards. Seconds after Schmid inserted him into the team, Nate Jaqua worked a quick give-and-go with Nyassi to set-up the game's first goal in the 66th minute. Jaqua figured in the scoring again a few minutes later. Four minutes into Alvaro Fernandez's relief role he took a short ball from Jaqua at the top of the box, beat one defender and then the keeper for a 2-nil lead.

It was only the second multi-assist game in Jaqua's career, the fifth in club history and the first by a substitute.

Back in July, when the club's fortunes began to rise, it was timely substitutions which did the trick. Nyassi came off the bench in the 88th minute at D.C. United to set in motion the game-winning goal. In the first Champions League fixture, Fredy Montero scored less than a minute after stepping onto the pitch against Metapán. Advancement to the group stage was secured when Fernandez scored nine minutes into his substitute appearance in El Salvador.

Five and 'O' in October

Seattle has now won all five of its regular season games played in October, and Schmid has a career mark of 12-6-2 for the month. He's 10-2-2 in October playoffs. In its inaugural campaign Sounders FC won its final three regular season matches, clinching a postseason spot with a game to go. This time it did so with two matches to spare.

Serious Consideration

It's election season all over the land and there's certainly a strong case for selecting some Sounders FC personnel. Fredy Montero has shouldered the offensive load for much of the year and is one of two players to rank among the top 10 in both goals and assists. Last week MLSsoccer.com named the young Colombian forward the best player ages 24 and under. Steve Zakuani, who has more than doubled the scoring statistics of his rookie season, was No. 4 on the 24under24 list. The Rave Green is 10-3-6 when Osvaldo Alonso plays more than 45 minutes, evidence that his ball-winning and energy fuels success.

Schmid and his staff have done a remarkable job of retooling the squad on the run. Despite losing four projected starters for 13 games or more, Sounders FC has become just the second team in MLS history to post winning records and make the playoffs in each of its first two seasons. Schmid was the MLS Coach of the Year in 1999 and again in 2008.

Steps to Better Performance

The reversal of fortune first began with sealing defensive leaks.During the first half of the season Sounders FC allowed 1.53 goals per game. Over the second half of the season the defense has a GAA of 0.69 goals (nine in 13 games) with seven shutouts. The 11 total shutouts is one more than the entire 2009 season. Since July 11 the back four of James Riley, Patrick Ianni, Jeff Parke and Leo Gonzalez has started together eight times. Goalkeeper Kasey Keller has started 53 consecutive games and has 21 shutouts in 57 career appearances.

In the middle of the park, Sounders FC has found both stability and energy. Osvaldo Alonso and Nathan Sturgis have started together 10 of the last 11 matches, the sole exception being the September 4 loss at New England. Sanna Nyassi was installed as the regular on the right beginning July 25 and initially provided increased speed and defense on the flank, and has now emerged as a scoring threat.

Up front, Fredy Montero has found a complimentary partner in Blaise Nkufo. In Nkufo's nine starts he has scored five goals and Seattle is 8-0-1.

Playoff Race Breakdown

With two weeks left in the regular season, only one berth remains up for grabs in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Los Angeles (56), Real Salt Lake (52 points), FC Dallas (50), New York (48), Columbus (46), Seattle (45) and San Jose (43) and have clinched spots. Colorado (42) has the inside track to the eighth and final spot, with only Kansas City (33) is still mathematically alive. Sounders FC, the Earthquakes and Rapids are jockeying for seeding in the West, with the fifth- and sixth-place teams swinging to the East bracket. Colorado needs one more point to clinch. The Quakes have a game in hand on Seattle and Colorado.

Seattle (45 points): Chivas USA (10/15), at Houston (10/23)

San Jose (43 points): Houston (10/16), Chivas USA (10/20), at Kansas City (10/23)

Colorado (42 points): Los Angeles (10/16), Real Salt Lake (10/23)

Kansas City (33 points): at Chicago (10/12), at New England (10/16), San Jose

It's In the Cards

While one player moved away from the precipice, two others moved toward it. Right back James Riley avoided a fifth yellow card for the third straight game at Kansas City, earning a one-card deduction from MLS. Meanwhile, Fredy Montero and Osvaldo Alonso were cautioned for the fourth time. A fifth yellow card results in a one-game suspension.

Comings & Goings

Terry Boss crisscrossed the continent twice last week while joining and re-joining the Puerto Rico National Team for first round Caribbean Championship games. With Boss in goal Puerto Rico won Group A with a perfect 3-0-0 record and next plays Guadaloupe on October 20. In between the second and third matches, Boss returned to Seattle for the Open Cup final. Following the third fixture he me the team in Kansas City.

Sanna Nyassi's call in to the Gambia National team was aborted after he experienced difficulties in the visa process. Gambia lost to Burkina Faso, 3-1, last Saturday in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

Riley Named Humanitarian of the Month

James Riley has been named MLS W.O.R.K.S. Humanitarian of the Month for October - Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Since turning pro in 2005, Riley has worked to help fight breast cancer, first with the Breast Cancer Foundation in Boston and now with the Puget Sound Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. He has promoted the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in the Seattle area, showing up amidst a downpour to help at the race this past June. In Riley's communications with people, he encourages people to get screened, but also talks to kids about making sure their parents get screened. His mother, Chong Horton, was diagnosed early and now is fully recovered. Riley is Seattle's second Humanitarian of the Month in 2010. Sanna Nyassi was honored in April for his work in the fight against malaria.

Last MLS Match: Sounders FC 2, Kansas City Wizards 1 - October 9, 2010 - Recap

Sanna Nyassi and Alvaro Fernandez scored 12 minutes apart as Sounders FC clinched a playoff berth for the second year in a row at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.

Nyassi scored in the 66th minute when Nate Jaqua, who entered the match just one minute earlier, played him into the box. Nyassi's initial shot was stopped by keeper Jimmy Nielson but he knocked the rebound into the back of the net from a narrow angle on the left.

It was Nyassi's second MLS goal in as many games and his fourth goal in three competitive matches over eight days. He had scored twice in the U.S. Open Cup final.

Four minutes after coming on as a substitute, Fernandez connected on what proved to be the game-winner in the 78th minute. Following a short pass from Jaqua, Fernandez juked a defender, then rolled a left-footed shot under Nielson for his second MLS goal.

Kansas City, which lost its third in a row, scored on a penalty kick in the 84th minute. Seattle defender Jeff Parke was whistled for tripping the Wizards' Teal Bunbury in the box and Davy Arnaud stepped up and beat Kasey Keller to the left corner.

The Wizards saw a pair of chances hit the crossbar. In the 35th minute, Ryan Smith found Bunbury at the far post but his header hit the top of the crossbar and Kei Kamara's sliding attempt in the first minute of second-half stoppage time hit the right post.

Kansas City held a commanding 18-8 advantage in shots, but the teams were equal with three attempts on goal.

Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final: Sounders FC 2, Columbus Crew 1 - October 5, 2010

Sanna Nyassi scored twice as Seattle came from behind to win its second straight title before a record crowd. A winner over D.C. United in 2009, Sounders FC is the first club in 27 years to successfully retain the Cup since the New York Pancyprian Freedoms won back-to-back in 1982-83.

After tying the game in the 38th minute, Nyassi scored the game-winner in the 66th minute. Steve Zakuani's header from a Fredy Montero cross caromed off the crossbar and Nyassi crashed home the rebound from 8 yards. Nyassi, a 21-year-old winger, had scored his first career MLS goal in Saturday's win over Toronto FC.

Columbus took the lead on a goal by Kevin Burns in the 24th minute. Frankie Hejduk got behind the Seattle backline and sent a cross to Steven Lenhart who dropped a pass to Burns in the middle of the box. Burns' left-footed shot beat Kasey Keller inside the far post.

Nyassi scored the equalizer for Sounders FC with seven minutes left in the first half. After Crew keeper Andy Gruenebaum came off this line to punch away a Tyson Wahl cross, the ball bounced off Seattle's Nathan Sturgis and Columbus forward Guillermo Barros Schelotto before rolling to Nyassi, who turned and fired a right-footed shot from 18 yards.

Columbus nearly tied the match in the closing minutes when Robbie Rogers' 8-yard drive hit the underside of the crossbar.

Both teams finished with 10 shots, however Seattle had a 5-1 advantage of attempts on goal.

Gruenebaum made three saves. Sounders FC also had a 6-2 edge in corner kicks.

Seattle is undefeated (9-0-1) in 10 Open Cup-related matches. It used 22 players in four cup ties this season.

Target Accomplished: 1.5 Points

It's been the target all along. Sigi Schmid has told anyone who will listen that 1.5 points per game would push Seattle into the playoffs. After a very slow start, Sounders FC has not only met that standard but surpassed it. With four consecutive wins it is now averaging 1.61 points through 28 games. Forty-five points is the objective and Schmid's team has met that with two fixtures remaining. Seattle totaled 47 points (12-7-11) to become the first MLS expansion team in 11 years to make the playoffs in 2009.

In the first 14 years of MLS, only one team has hit 45 points (Kansas City in 2005) and failed to earn a postseason berth. A minimum of 39 points was required the last five years. In 2009, two of the three teams finishing with 40 missed the cut. Real Salt Lake prevailed in the tiebreakers with D.C. United and Colorado and went on to win MLS Cup. In 2008, New York nabbed the eighth and final slot with 39 points, and the Red Bulls proceeded to reach the MLS Cup Final.

Goals Galore

After going more than 17 months between goals, suddenly the floodgates have opened for Sanna Nyassi. The Gambian winger's first competitive goal was scored on April 28, 2009, in an Open Cup play-in match against Real Salt Lake. The next time he tested the twine was October 2, 2010 when he hit the game-winner and his first MLS goal against Toronto FC. Three days later came his first multi-goal game in the cup final, and four days after that he struck again at Kansas City. Three of the last week's four goals came off his left foot.

Another Attendance Record to Fall

In 2009 Sounders FC fans established an MLS record (30,943) for average season attendance and to date there have been 30 consecutive sellouts of MLS matches. Seattle is averaging 36,160 this season and has already surpassed (506,244) last year's total attendance (464,145) for league matches with one date still to play.

The top 10 home season attendance averages are as follows:

2009 Seattle Sounders FC 30,943

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

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 11, 2010


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