MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes

Published on August 1, 2011 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Seattle Seeks to Advance in Champions League, Start a New Unbeaten Run in MLS

Potentially the most active month of all, it's only fitting that August begins with a pair of matches three days and 1500 miles apart for Seattle Sounders FC. First comes the game whose outcome will influence the remainder of the schedule, followed by an opportunity for the Rave Green to start another productive run of form.

Seattle hosts Panama's San Francisco FC on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field in the second and deciding leg of the CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round, to be televised nationally by Fox Soccer. A win by a margin of at least two goals will clinch a place in the group stage that begins later this month.

On Saturday night Sounders FC (10-5-8, 38 points) are back on the road in MLS action, visiting the resurgent Sporting Kansas City (6-6-9, 27 points) at the impressive new LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. First kick is 5:30 p.m. PT on KONG 6/16.

Seeking to rediscover the rhythm exhibited during a nine-match unbeaten streak, the Rave Green must do so while living out of a travel bag. After spending an arduous week on the road in Panama and Houston they come home for just four days before departing again. They are over halfway through a patch in which they play five of seven league fixtures away, yet still own the league's third-best point total.

Seattle resumed competitive play following a nine-day break in Panama City, falling to San Francisco FC, 1-0, with a first-half penalty kick proving the difference. At Houston the Dynamo dealt the first two-goal loss in nearly 11 months, 3-1, snapping the club record unbeaten string.

Sounders FC have fond memories of Kansas City, having secured MLS Cup Playoff berths with victories there in each of the last two seasons. In fact, they have beaten KC in the last four MLS meetings and five times overall. But since Sporting moved into their new home two months ago they have been unbeatable in a franchise-best 13 games, including a mark of 3-0-4 at LIVESTRONG going into Wednesday's game versus Real Salt Lake. Sporting and New England drew, 1-1, last week.

After starting the year with 10 straight on the road while their state-of-the-art stadium was completed, Sporting will be playing Seattle in the fourth of nine consecutive home dates from July 23 through September 10.

While Sounders FC holds a commanding 4-1 advantage in the Kansas City series, each match has been decided by a single goal, including a stoppage-time header by Jeff Parke in a 1-nil Seattle home victory on May 21. The Rave Green's attack, which was revving at a high rate with 13 goals scored in the final four wins of the unbeaten run, faces a stingy defense in KC. Sporting has allowed more than one goal only once in the last 14 outings and a total of six goals in the first seven matches at home.

Both Wednesday and Saturday's matches will be on 97.3 KIRO FM. Arlo White will handle the play calling. Saturday's game can also be heard on La Gran D 99.3 FM.

Sounders FC are back at home on August 13 for a 1 p.m. PT bout with Chivas USA. That game will be televised by KING 5, ROOT Sports and THIS-TV.Tickets for Sounders FC home MLS and Champions League matches are available at www.SoundersFC.com or by calling 800-745-3000.

LIVESTRONG and Prosper

Sounders FC is shooting to become the first victorious visitor at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. It's an opportunity and a challenge. Sporting KC is unbeaten (3-0-4) in their first seven matches played at their new pitch. They host Real Salt Lake on Wednesday. Seattle has ended some impressive home unbeaten runs, first by Columbus (22 games) in 2009 and then Real Salt Lake (29 games) in 2011. In between the Rave Green was the first road team to take three points at Red Bull Arena in 2010. They are 15-14-13 all-time on the road, including 4-3-5 this year. Kansas City was the first team to beat Seattle at home in MLS play.

Awaiting the Victor

CONCACAF has announced the schedule for the first two group stage matches, should Sounders FC advance from the preliminary round. Seattle would host Guatemala's Comunicaciones on August 16 at 7 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. The second round would be played at Mexico's Monterrey on August 22 at 5 p.m. PT. The remainder of the schedule for Group D, which will also include either Herediano (Costa Rica) or Alpha United (Guyana), will be announced once the preliminary round is completed. Herediano beat Alpha United, 8-0, at home last week and the second leg will be played on Thursday.

An August With Potential

If the result goes favorably for Sounders FC on Wednesday they are assured of playing eight matches in the month of August, with the addition of two Champions League group games. There are already four MLS fixtures, plus a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup semifinal versus FC Dallas on August 30 at Starfire.

Seattle, which also played eight matches in September of 2010, eventually played 44 competitive matches last season. There is the potential for 51 altogether in 2011. The regular season was expanded to 34 rounds and playoff teams may play up five times if they reach the MLS Cup final.

Penalty Phase

Seattle has now attempted more penalty kicks in the first two-thirds of 2011 than it did in the first two full seasons. Alvaro Fernandez stroked his kick confidently into the left corner at Houston. It was the team's fifth try from the spot and fourth conversion. Earlier Brad Evans had connected twice and Osvaldo Alonso once. Two penalties were taken in both 2009 (no conversions) and 2010 (one conversion).

The Comeback Trail

Upon their return home this week Sounders FC may have their resources replenished. Central defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado is nearing his return from a sprained right MCL sustained on July 10 at Portland. Forward O'Brian White is back and available for selection along with midfielder Brad Evans. White played the final 14 minutes in the July 20 Manchester United friendly-his first action since April 22 at Colorado.

The following week White underwent surgery to remove a blood clot in his left leg. Evans, troubled by a hamstring strain, has missed four of the last six MLS matches. Goalkeeper Terry Boss was absent for the 18-man match roster for the first time in two years last week. Boss stayed home while recovering from a concussion sustained in the Man United friendly.

All About the Aggregate

Champions League preliminary round series consist of two matches played home and away. The winner is determined by total aggregate goals. Away goals will be used as the tiebreaker. If teams remain tied after extra time in the second game, the outcome will be decided by penalty kicks.

In last year's preliminary series versus Metapan of El Salvador Seattle won the series, 2-1. Fredy Montero scored the lone goal in a 1-0 home win and Alvaro Fernandez headed home the decisive goal of the series at San Salvador, tying the match and winning the series.

Stopping the Leaks

Seattle has allowed three goals in consecutive matches for the first time in 38 games dating back to July 4, 2010. The Dynamo peppered the defense with 16 shots, including eight on target-the most since Philadelphia's nine on June 27, 2010 (also a 3-1 road loss). Prior to Houston, the last four opponents totaled nine shots on goal.

Slow Off the Mark

For the fourth time in five MLS games Sounders FC found themselves down a goal early in Houston. Against New England, Portland and Colorado they had managed to rally and win. Like the revs and Rapids, the Dynamo went on top in the first seven minutes. In all there have been four goals allowed in the first eight minutes, with Colorado striking on the stroke of 60 seconds.

Keller Kept Busy

July ended with a flurry of activity for Kasey Keller. He played in three matches and traveled over 10,000 miles between Seattle, Panama, Houston, New York and back. When he wasn't flying the Sounders FC captain was kept busy between the pipes. Keller made a half-dozen saves to hold San Francisco to a single goal, then six more at Houston. A little more than 24 hours after leaving the field in Panama City he played only seven minutes at the MLS All-Star Game versus Manchester United. He was credited with one save. Keller has now started 78 straight regular season games since April 25, 2009-the longest current run in MLS.

Young Gambian Joins Sounders FC

Sounders FC have signed Gambian midfielder Amadou Sanyang.Originally signed at age 17 by Toronto FC, Sanyang made his MLS debut on his 18th birthday, August 1, 2009, playing 14 minutes as a reserve versus New England. His first start came two weeks later in midfield versus D.C. United. He went on to play in 20 regular season games over two seasons, starting 15.

Sanyang, 20, was a free agent. Toronto had declined to exercise an option on Sanyang on December 3, 2010.

Sanyang's professional career began in 2007 with Real de Banjul. He helped lead the City Boys to the Gambian first division championship and was named the league's top midfielder that year. Sanyang has also represented Gambia internationally at the U-17 and U-20 levels.

Not eligible to see action in MLS until turning 18, Sanyang played for the Toronto FC Academy for the first five months.

The 150 Watch

The pace has quickened on Sigi Schmid's march toward 150 career victories. He is now only one away from becoming the first in MLS to reach that plateau. Schmid is the all-time leader in both regular season (149) and postseason (19) wins. Last week extended his contract through 2015.

His teams have won two MLS Cups, two Supporters' Shields (best record), and three Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups. Two of those Open Cup triumphs have come with Seattle, which became the first club in 28 years to successfully repeat as champions. Sounders FC also became the first expansion team in 11 years to qualify for the MLS Cup Playoffs in 2009 and qualified again in 2010. Schmid's regular season record in Seattle is 36-21-25 and 49-29-28 in all competitions.

Schmid Milestones

First collegiate win: UCLA 2, Cal State LA 1; September 2, 1980

50th: UCLA 3, at San Francisco 2; September 20, 1983

100th: UCLA 2, SMU 0; December 1, 1985

200th: UCLA 3, Portland 0; November 24, 1991

300th: UCLA 1, Stanford 0; November 16, 1997

First MLS win: LA Galaxy 1, San Jose 0; April 24, 1999

50th: LA Galaxy 1, Chicago 0; June 8, 2002

100th: Columbus Crew 1, Houston Dynamo 0, April 26, 2008

San Francisco FC (provided by CONCACAF)

Founded: 1971

City: La Chorrera, Panama

Stadium: Estadio Agustin Sanchez

Manager: Gary Stempel

Qualification method: 2011 Panamanian Clausura champion

Previous CONCACAF Champions League appearances: 3 (2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11)

Honors: Panamanian league - 7 (1994-95, 1995-96, 2006, 2007 Clausura, 2008 Apertura, 2009 Apertura, 2011 Clausura)

San Francisco is making its fourth Champions League appearance. In the inaugural tournament, San Francisco beat Guatemalan side Jalapa 5-1 in the Preliminary Round to advance to the Group Stage, where it went winless and finished last in Group B with two points from six matches. Two years ago, San Francisco carried a 2-0 edge into the second leg of a Preliminary Round aggregate series against San Juan Jabloteh, but suffered a 3-0 loss in Trinidad and was eliminated. Last year, it was again eliminated in the Preliminary Round 9-2 on aggregate by Cruz Azul. San Francisco plays in the renovated Estadio Agustin Sanchez, which changed to an artificial surface in 2008 and now has a capacity of 8,000. However, due to a current renovation of the stadium, the Champions League match has been moved to Estadio Rommel Fernandez, home of the Panama National Team, in Panama City. It has a capacity of 32,000 and a grass surface.

Nicknamed Los Monjes (The Monks), San Francisco won the 2011 Clausura on May 14 by beating Chorillo, 3-2, on a stoppage time goal. It has opened the 2011 Apertura by winning its first three games, all by 1-0 scorelines.

From Here to There

Sounders FC qualified for the CONCACAF Champions League by winning the 2010 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. The other U.S. berths went to the Colorado Rapids (MLS Cup champion), L.A. Galaxy (MLS Supporters' Shield winner) and FC Dallas (MLS Cup runner-up). The former two receive automatic passage to the group stage. Toronto FC is Canada's representative.

The CONCACAF Champions League is open to the leading teams from federations throughout North America, Central America and the Caribbean. Monterrey of Mexico won the 2010-11 CONCACAF Champions League. Monterrey will represent CONCACAF in the 2011 FIFA Club World Cup in Japan in December. Italy's Inter Milan is the reigning world champion.

The Champions League consists of three stages: preliminary rounds, group play and knockout rounds. Group play will begin in mid-August and conclude in late October. Two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals, to be played in February 2012.

Date Change: Sounders FC to Host Philadelphia on October 8

The date for the home match versus the Philadelphia Union has been moved to Saturday, October 8. The game will start at 7:00 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.

At the request of Major League Soccer the match was moved from its original July 23 date to accommodate the Union's involvement in the Herbalife World Football Challenge. All tickets issue for the original date will be honored on October 8.

Academy Update: Pre-Academy Selections Takes 3rd at Generation adidas Cup in Texas

Making an auspicious debut in the Rave Green kit of Sounders FC, the Pre-Academy U14-15 boys went unbeaten and claimed third place at the Generation adidas Cup last week in Frisco, Texas. Meanwhile, the U17s split their four matches, thanks to a 5-3 win over New England on the final day at Pizza Hut Park.

The Pre-Academy selection missed a place in the championship match by virtue of goal differential despite an 8-1 win over the Houston Dynamo. Abdi Abdullah scored once and assisted on three other goals while David Olsen and Denis Kalamar each scored twice.

In the third-place match Sounders FC got another brace from Kalamar, with his goals in the 77th and 81st minutes making the difference in a 5-3 victory over FC Dallas. Seattle's first two matches were draws with New York (0-0) and LA (4-4), although it prevailed in the penalty kick tiebreaker in each case. Evan Munn made two saves against the Red Bulls and Paul Christensen stopped two penalties by the Galaxy.

The weeklong tournament, formerly known as the SUM Cup, was played in high heat; the temperature at kickoff for the U17s July 25 opener versus Philadelphia was 108 degrees. Games consisted of two 30-minute halves.

After falling to the Union, 1-0, the U17s equalized late for a 2-2 draw with Sporting Kansas City. They lost that tiebreaker and another in the next match against Columbus after tying the Crew, 1-1.

Recap: Sounders FC 0, San Francisco FC 1 - July 26, Estadio Rommel Fernandez

Seattle conceded a first-half penalty kick to go down a goal in the first leg of a CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round aggregate goal series against Panamanian champion San Francisco FC. The loss snapped a run of 11 consecutive games undefeated in all competitions.

San Francisco FC scored the game's only goal on a first-half penalty kick. Seattle's Jeff Parke was whistled for a handball in the box in the 27th minute and Roberto Brown converted the ensuing penalty kick for his fifth career goal in CCL play.

Sounders FC threatened to earn a late equalizer on a couple of dangerous opportunities. Pat Noonan's 84th minute header hit the left post and Alvaro Fernandez's rebound attempt was blocked by keeper Eric Hugues.

In stoppage time, Noonan found Mike Fucito on a quick throw-in but his attempt was blocked by a defender and his second attempt from the ground went wide of the post.

Kasey Keller made a pair of difficult saves late in the match. In the 78th minute, San Francisco FC's Amir Waite hit a low shot from 6 yards that Keller dived to his left to smother. He also saved Rolando Algadona's drive in the 86th minute.

Seattle held a 10-7 advantage on total shots. Fredy Montero blasted a shot from long range in the 54th minute that went just wide, landing in the side netting.

Osvaldo Alonso found Mauro Rosales on the right flank in the 43rd minute. Rosales served a ball into the box but Lamar Neagle's header sailed over the crossbar. Erik Friberg lofted a ball to the back post in the 13th minute but Montero's header bounced wide of the frame.

Seattle's Alonso, Fernandez and James Riley along with San Francisco's Brown and Edgardo Panezo were all shown yellow card cautions in the match.

Recap: Sounders FC 1, Houston Dynamo 3 - July 30, Robertson Stadium

Sounders FC saw their club record nine-game unbeaten streak end as Houston won comfortably on a hot night in Texas.

Alvaro Fernandez converted a first-half penalty for Sounders FC but Brian Ching netted a brace and Colin Clark added a goal and an assist for the Dynamo, who clinched the season series.

An eventful first-half featured three of the game's goals as well as three key saves by Kasey Keller.

Sounders FC allowed a pair of early goals as Houston quickly built a 2-0 lead. Clark struck in the 7th minute when Ching chested down a Geoff Cameron cross and Clark put the ball past Keller.

Houston doubled its lead in the 23rd minute after Brad Davis and Cameron combined on the flank. Cameron served a cross into the box that Ching headed into the back of the net.

Sounders FC pulled a goal back after Fernandez converted a penalty kick in the 36th minute. Osvaldo Alonso regained possession just outside the box and sent a cross to Roger Levesque at the back post. Levesque headed the ball back in front of goal where Fredy Montero was fouled by Dynamo defender Corey Ashe.

Keller kept the game close with back-to-back saves in the 33rd minute. Ching turned and fired a shot from inside the box that Keller blocked followed by Adam Moffat's long-range follow-up attempt that Keller dived to grab. He also denied Moffat in the 39th minute when he tipped his long-range attempt over the crossbar.

Houston restored the two-goal lead in the 71st minute as Ching netted his second goal of the match. Clark served a cross in front of goal that the unmarked Ching knocked into the back of the net.

Keller made another crucial stop coming out of halftime after Cameron slipped behind the defense and fired a shot from 6-yards in the 49th minute.

Erik Friberg's late attempt in second-half stoppage time hit the post before it was cleared by the Dynamo defense.

Series Notes

Seattle is 4-1-0 all-time against Kansas City in MLS play, scoring seven goals and allowing four. Having won four of the previous five meetings, the Rave Green's lone loss came over two years ago (April 11, 2009) in the initial meeting in the Emerald City. The action between the two sides picks up in the final 45 minutes as ten of the eleven goals scored in the series have come in the second half, with six coming in the final 15 minutes (four by Sounders FC). Kansas City is yet to score on Seattle in the first half. The teams also nearly double their shots on goal output in the second half (14 in first half, 24 in second half). Coach Sigi Schmid has faced Kansas City more than any other team in the league, holding a mark of 17-15-5 in 37 meetings.

About Kansas City

After playing the first ten matches of the season on the road, Sporting Kansas City has found form at home, going unbeaten in seven (3-0-4) at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. They are currently on a 13-game unbeaten run (5-0-8) but have drawn four of their last five, including Saturday against New England after Teal Bunbury's late equalizer. They play Real Salt Lake in a home match on Wednesday. Kansas City sits fourth in the East with 27 points from 21 games. They are tied fifth in MLS with 1.38 goals per game but hold a 1.33 goals against average (13th). They are top five in shots (290; 5th) and shots on goal (99; 5th). Kansas City has scored multiple goals eight times this season, including a league-best four three-goal games.

Sporting Notables

Mexican international Omar Bravo leads the offense with six goals in 14 starts. Forward Kei Kamara has added five goals but all five were scored in three games. Kamara also leads the team with 50 shots (10th in MLS) but only 14 have been on frame. Teal Bunbury has four goals and two assists, including the late equalizer against the Revs last Saturday. Rookie C.J. Sapong, a 6-2 forward, has started 15 games up top with three goals and four assists. French defender Aurelien Collin has also added three goals but could miss up to six weeks with a back injury. Goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen has started 18 games, allowing 23 goals (1.30 goals against average) and has made 56 saves. Sporting KC also recently signed Brazilian designated player Jeferson. The 27-year-old midfielder has started twice with one assist.

Sporting KC Connections

Seattle defender Tyson Wahl spent two seasons with Kansas Cityand made 32 appearances before being taken by Seattle in the expansiondraft. Defender Taylor Graham played for Kansas City from 2003-04. Sporting's Chance Myers and Sounders FC midfielder David Estrada were teammates at UCLA. Schmid coached Kei Kamara at Columbus from 2006 to 2007. Sporting KC goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen began his professional career at Millwall (1994-95) behind Kasey Keller (1992-96). Nielsen also played at another of Keller's former clubs, Leicester City, from 2007-08.

Sounders FC technical director Chris Henderson played for KansasCity from 1999-2000, winning the MLS Cup in 2000. He was a teammateof Kansas City's coach Peter Vermes in 2000 and also while with Coloradofrom 1997-98. Henderson spent the 2007 season as an assistant coachwith the then-Wizards. Sounders FC head fitness coach David Tenney spentthe 2007 and 2008 seasons in the same capacity with Kansas City.

Throw-ins

Seattle remains well ahead of its pace for 2010 (9-9-5, 32 points) and 2009 (8-6-9, 33 points)...Rookie goalkeeper Josh Ford was part of the match day roster in each game last week...More than 17,500 tickets have been distributed for Wednesday's match. The largest attendance for a 2010 Champions League preliminary round or group stage match was 22,513 for Sounders FC v Monterrey in Seattle...Pat Noonan will turn 31 on Tuesday, August 2...New signee Amadou Sanyang turned 20 on Monday, August 1...Alvaro Fernandez is now tied with Fredy Montero for the team's goal lead with six...Roger Levesque played in his 50th MLS match at Houston. He has made a career-high seven starts, including the last five matches in a row...Seattle has not lost an August match since August 20, 2009, going down 2-1 at home to New England. Since then it has gone 2-0-3...August 4 is the 17th anniversary of amateur side FC Seattle's historic first victory, 2-1 over the NASL Vancouver Whitecaps at B.C. Place in 1984.

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 1, 2011


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