MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes

Published on March 23, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


With three points in its pocket and three goals scored, the Seattle Sounders FC (1-0-0) plays its first Western Conference match on Saturday night against Real Salt Lake, the final MLS team to see action in 2009. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. PT at the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field.

KONG 6/16 will carry the match live on television. Both News Talk KIRO 97.3 FM and ESPN 710 Seattle will air the game on radio. Kevin Calabro will call the action with analysis from Greg Vanney. Calling the game in Spanish on 1210 AM Ke Buena will be Rene Aleman, Noe Menendez and Victor Hernandez.

A capacity crowd of 32,523 screaming, scarf-waving fans attended the Sounders FC opener and a limited number of tickets are available for Saturday's game. Capacity will be capped at 27,700 for the remaining MLS home games. Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-877-MLS-GOAL or www.SoundersFC.com.

Sounders FC begins the week on top of the West by virtue of goal difference over Chivas USA. Seattle travels for the first time April 4, visiting Toronto FC.

Sounders FC will also host Real Salt Lake on April 28 in a U.S. Open Cup Play-In game at the Starfire sports complex in Tukwila, Wash. In MLS play, Seattle visits RSL August 8.

Montero Earns MLS Player of the Week

Fredy Montero of Seattle earned the MLS Player of the Week award by factoring in all three goals in the 3-0 win over New York. Montero, the 21-year-old Colombian making his league debut, scored two goals and assisted on the other. Five players produced a brace during MLS First Kick, but Montero was the only player to also add an assist. His first goal was one of eight nominees for Sierra Mist Goal of the Week.

A Debut for the Record Books

Fredy Montero's opening night was one for the record books. According to Elias Sports Bureau, only 10 other players have scored two goals in their first MLS game (none has scored more), and just one player has previously totaled two goals plus an assist: Brian McBride of Columbus in the inaugural season of 1996.

McBride has since gone on to score 68 regular season goals during his career in MLS and also starred for the U.S. National Team and England's Fulham. The last debutante to score twice was Juan Francisco Valencia of Chivas USA on August 21, 2005.

Upcoming Competition Schedule (All times Pacific)

Saturday, March 28, 7:30 p.m. - Real Salt Lake; Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field

Saturday, April 4, 1 p.m. - at Toronto FC; BMO Field, Toronto

Saturday, April 11, 7:30 p.m. - Kansas City Wizards; Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field

Saturday, April 18, 7:30 p.m. - at Chivas USA; The Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.

Upcoming Training Schedule, March 23-31 (subject to change):

Monday, March 23 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Tuesday, March 24 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Wednesday, March 25- Coaches and Players Off

Thursday, March 26 - Training on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field, 10 a.m.

Friday, March 27 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Sunday, March 29 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 2 p.m.

Monday, March 30 - Coaches and Players Off

Tuesday, March 31- Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

March with Sigi

Sigi Schmid owns a perfect 5-0-0 career coaching record in March. Following the Sounders FC season-opening win over New York, his teams have scored first in four of those victories and shutout opposition three times. A year ago, Schmid guided Columbus to wins in six of the Crew's first seven matches.

Chasing History

The 3-0 win over the Red Bulls matched the second-best result for a team making its MLS debut. Columbus opened the inaugural league season of 1996 by beating D.C. United 4-0 and Kansas City won its opener that season also by a 3-0 count. Sounders FC became the first expansion team to win its opening game since 1998, when the Chicago Fire defeated fellow first-year franchise Miami, 2-0. Chicago also won its second game, 2-0 against Tampa Bay. The Fire and the Miami Fusion were the last expansion teams to qualify for the playoffs, with the Fire going on to win the 1998 MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup.

Jaqua & Real

Forward Nate Jaqua has scored five goals in his last five games against Real Salt Lake, including one of his two career hat tricks. While playing for Houston in 2007, Jaqua scored three times for the Dynamo in a 4-3 home win. He got the game-winner and did so again last season in another 4-3 victory and he also found the net against Salt Lake when playing for the L.A. Galaxy on June 17, 2007.

Another Nate Connection

One member of the Sounders FC roster, defender/midfielder Nathan Sturgis, spent the entire 2008 season and part of 2007 with Real Salt Lake. Sturgis appeared in eight matches, starting seven, for RSL over that span before being selected by Seattle in the expansion draft in November.

Back in 2004

During the summer of 2004 representatives of both the current Sounders FC and Real Salt Lake were involved for competing bids for Major League Soccer's 12th team. Salt Lake got the nod over several other cities, including the group which featured current Sounders FC general manager and owner Adrian Hanauer. RSL began play in 2005 and two years later, in 2007, Seattle and an ownership group consisting of majority owner Joe Roth, Hanauer, Paul Allen and Drew Carey was a awarded the league's 15th franchise.

Ready for Freddie?

The first MLS appearance for Seattle's Freddie Ljungberg appears to be imminent. Ljungberg, who underwent surgery to repair a hip condition in December, joined full training last week and played 35 minutes in a reserve team game on March 20. He was upgraded from questionable to probable on this week's initial injury report. Ljungberg's last competitive action came for his Swedish National Team during the 2008 European Championships.

Tres Amigos - Muy Buen

Seattle's Three Amigos-Spanish-speaking forward Fredy Montero, defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado and midfielder Osvaldo Alonso-made an instant impact on opening night. Montero scored the franchise's first goal, assisted on the second and then added another of his own in he second half. Alonso was, at once, a creative and destructive force in central midfield and earned an assist on the game's first goal. Hurtado was a member of the back four which silenced New York's star Colombian frontrunner Juan Pablo Angel and held the Red Bulls to just two shots on frame.

Opener Recap

Sounders FC opened its season in magical fashion with a 3-0 home win over the New York Red Bulls March 19. Montero put Seattle in front early, scoring in the 12th minute on a 14-yard shot following a feed from Sebastien Le Toux. Brad Evans made it 2-0 in the 25th minute, taking a ball from Montero and poking it near post under NYRB keeper Danny Cepero.

Seattle weathered a series of New York attacks in the second half before Montero stole the ball in the Red Bulls half and got his second goal in the 75th minute. Sounders FC finished with a 13-8 advantage in shots, including a 6-2 edge on goal.

Salt Lake for Real

Real Salt Lake concluded its preseason schedule with a 3-1 home win over the Austin Aztex of USL-1 on March 21. Real was 7-1-1, outscoring opposition 25-5. It defeated D.C. United 3-0 and Toronto FC 2-1 in the only meetings with MLS sides. RSL and Sounders FC trained in close quarters during early February while both were in Ventura, California. Real began play in 2005 and qualified for the playoffs for the first time in 2008 after finishing third in the Western Conference at 10-10-10. It advanced to the Conference final before falling, to the New York Red Bulls.

Keller: 4-for-4 at Home

Kasey Keller, the native son who starts in goal for Sounders FC, remains perfect in Seattle during his professional career. He made two saves to earn the shutout versus New York, extending his personal scoreless string to 360 minutes in the city. His only previous Seattle appearances were as keeper for the U.S. National Team. All were shutout victories: Honduras (4-0, Safeco Field, 2002), Venezuela (2-0, Seahawks Stadium, 2003) and Canada (2-0, Qwest Field, 2005).

Join the Crowds

The attendance of 32,523 for last week's match was the fifth-largest since Qwest Field opened in 2002 and the largest to watch a Sounders team (NASL, USL included) since September 5, 1980. The original Sounders were the first NASL franchise to reach a sellout, filling Memorial Stadium's 13,876 seats for a 1974 game against Philadelphia.

Mr. Smith Goes to Thailand

Forward Jarrod Smith was called up to the New Zealand National Team for at March 28 friendly with Thailand in Bangkok. Smith is currently on the injured reserve list while recovering from a hip-flexor strain. He had played for the Seattle reserves on March 20, but had not appeared in any preseason matches. Smith has earned 13 caps for New Zealand in the past.

Parke in Seattle

Jeff Parke, the free agent defender taken by Sounders FC in the expansion draft, has arrived in Seattle and took part in last week's reserves game. Parke played the past five seasons with New York, starting 126 of 132 regular season games.

Current Training Squad

The following players began the week training in Seattle: Goalkeepers (4): Ben Dragavon*, Chris Eylander, Jordan Jennings*, Kasey Keller; Defenders (10): Evan Brown, Taylor Graham, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Tyrone Marshall, Jeff Parke*, Midfielders (8): Ely Allen*, Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Stephen King, Sebastien Le Toux, Freddie Ljungberg, Sanna Nyassi; Peter Vagenas; Forwards (5): Kevin Forrest*, Nate Jaqua, Roger Levesque, Fredy Montero, Jarrod Smith+, Steve Zakuani.

+Injured reserve

*Invitee

Training Room Report

GK Chris Eylander (knee sprain), MF Sanna Nyassi (hamstring strain) and MF Peter Vagenas (knee) were limited to partial training. DF Taylor Graham (foot) is out indefinitely.

Reserves Schedule (subject to change)

March 29-Gonzaga at Starfire, 2 p.m.

April 13-Portland Timbers at Starfire, 1 p.m..

April 21-Univ. of Washington, at Starfire, 1:15 p.m.

Note: All reserve team games are closed to the public

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 23, 2009


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