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MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes

March 26, 2012 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Seattle looks to continue its strong start to the 2012 campaign on Saturday night as Sounders FC hosts the San Jose Earthquakes, concluding a three-match home stand to begin the MLS season. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.

Saturday's match will be televised live on KONG 6/16 with Ross Fletcher and Kasey Keller on the call, and can also be seen in Spanish on KOMO2 (Comcast channel 114). The match can also be heard on 97.3 KIRO FM and in Spanish on La Gran D 99.3 FM.

Sounders FC kept up its strong form last Friday as it downed unbeaten Houston, 2-0, in front of another sellout crowd of 38,304. Seattle remains one of two perfect teams in MLS and is tied for the league lead with five goals through just two games.

The sensational play of the ever-active David Estrada resulted in yet another game-winning goal last Friday as he blasted a deflected shot into the far corner. Estrada is the leading goal scorer in MLS with four goals, equal to the output of all but five teams.

Austrian keeper Michael Gspurning and the defense proved pivotal against Houston, stunting the Dynamo offense to earn its first clean sheet of the season. Seattle has allowed just one goal in its two league matches, and has conceded just twice at home this season across all competitions.

Sounders FC (2-0-0, 6 points) looks to close out the opening home stand on Saturday with another victory, reinforcing CenturyLink Field as one of the league's toughest venues for opponents. Seattle improved to 26-10-12 all-time at home, and the team has scored multiple goals in all three home outings this year.

With a visit from San Jose (2-1-0, 6 points), the Rave Green must prepare to shut down one of the league's most dangerous strikers in Chris Wondolowski. The top goal scorer in MLS over the past two seasons, Wondolowski struck for a brace last weekend as San Jose bounced back from a week two defeat to beat Toronto, 3-nil. Saturday's match will be San Jose's third straight on the road.

The first road match of the season for Sounders FC looms in the first week of April as Seattle visits D.C. United on April 7. A light April schedule continues a week later with the lone home contest of the month versus the Colorado Rapids before Sounders FC hits the road for a date with the Chicago Fire on April 28.

Tickets to home MLS matches are available through www.SoundersFC.com, all Ticketmaster Outlets, CenturyLink Field Box Office or by calling 877-MLS-GOAL.

Upcoming Competition Schedule (times are Pacific & subject to change)

Saturday, March 31, 7 p.m. - Sounders FC vs. San Jose Earthquakes, Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field, Seattle

Saturday, April 7, 4:30 p.m. - Sounders FC at DC United, RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C.

Saturday, April 14, 1 p.m. - Sounders FC vs. Colorado Rapids, Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field, Seattle

Saturday, April 28, 5:30 p.m. - Sounders FC at Chicago Fire, Toyota Park, Bridgeview, IL

Wednesday, May 2, 7 p.m. - Sounders FC vs. L.A. Galaxy, Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field

Rave Green Conquest

Sounders FC enter the final weekend of March as one of two teams to win all games played (Sporting Kansas City sits at 3-0-0). Seattle's goal differential of plus-four is second only to Sporting (plus-five), and the defense is one of five to allow one or fewer goals. There are seven teams in MLS that have two wins; five of which are Western Conference foes. And Seattle is one of five teams sitting a game behind with just two games played. Sounders FC will look to match its best start in club history on Saturday night, which was 3-0-0 in the inaugural 2009 season.

Fortress in the Emerald City

For the first time in the short history of the club, Sounders FC begins the MLS campaign with three home games. Seattle has allowed just one goal in its two league contests so far, and also held Mexican scoring power Santos Laguna to one goal in the first leg of the Champions League quarters. All three home matches this season have resulted in victories, outscoring opponents 7-2. The Sounders FC faithful have played their part as well, setting club attendance records for an MLS opener (39,232 vs. Toronto) and CONCACAF Champions League match (23,433 vs. Santos). Seattle is 26-10-13 all-time at home with a plus-32 goal differential (79-47).

Goals, Sweet Goals

The league's highest scoring team in 2011 is at it again as Sounders FC is atop the league with five goals in its first two outings. Seattle is tied with New York, Salt Lake and Colorado, all of which have played one more game than Sounders FC. Among the four sides atop the scoring list, Seattle has taken just 19 shots; 13 fewer than next-lowest New York. Seattle has scored two or more goals in eight of its last 11 MLS games, including playoffs. The two first-half goals against Houston marked the first time the Dynamo allowed multiple goals in the opening half in 19 MLS contests. It was also the first time since 2009 that Seattle has scored five goals in its first two matches, doing so in six fewer shots. Despite leading the league in scoring last season, it took Seattle 69 shots to score five goals, whereas it has taken the team just 19 shots this year.

Estrada Strikes Again

Things are going pretty well for David Estrada this season. He is the leading goal scorer in Major League Soccer, scoring four goals through his first two games, and added a fifth against Mexico's Santos Laguna. The tireless work-rate of the third-year forward is paying off as the game rewarded him with a tricky, deflected goal to open the scoring on Friday night.

More on Estrada

* Scored as many goals as all but five MLS teams

* Broke Houston's 203 minute shutout streak

* Leads MLS with two game-winning goals

* Eight total shots with six on goal

* Scored in all three career starts at CenturyLink Field

* Fourth among active players with four goals in March (tied with Fredy Montero)

Evans on the Mark

The sure foot of midfielder Brad Evans proved true again on Friday night as he stepped up and converted his first penalty kick of the season. Evans is a perfect 4-4 all-time from the spot and has emerged as one of Seattle's go-to-guys in the clutch. His four penalty kick goals over the past two seasons are tied for most in the league. Overall, Seattle is eight for 14 from the penalty spot, earning the second-most attempts in 2011 (nine), converting six (tied-third in MLS).

Getting Defensive

The offense may get most of the attention but the backbone of Seattle's success over the past three seasons has been its defense. Seattle earned its first shutout of the season last Friday against Houston, and the team is tied-fourth with a 0.50 goals against average. Sounders FC has been among the league's top defenses since 2009 when the team ranked first with a 0.97 GAA, followed by a 1.09 GAA last season (tied-fourth in MLS).

Depth Tested

One constant of Sigi Schmid's Seattle squads has been depth at all positions, and the depth was tested again last week as starters Mauro Rosales and Adam Johansson were unavailable due to injury. Two former USL Sounders stepped up in their absence as Roger Levesque started at right mid and Zach Scott assumed the right back position. With Levesque and Scott holding down the right flank, last year's MVP finalist Brad Davis was unable to make an impact on the score line.

Scott makes a particularly notable impact when in the starting XI. Seattle is 13-3-4 all-time with Scott in the starting lineup, and 17-4-5 when he makes an appearance. Scott joined the backline on Friday night and led the group with 23 tackles with possession lost. And Levesque does his part, as well, as Seattle has won its last four with Levesque in the lineup and has gone 8-1-2 in his last 11 starts, dating back to May 7, 2011.

Stats Can't Explain the Whole Story

Great teams always find a way to win, and Friday night's victory proved an example for Sounders FC. Despite losing the statistical battle, Seattle came out with the 2-nil advantage in the score line. Houston held 56% of the possession and made 108 more passes than Sounders FC, including six more open play crosses. Seattle only had two shots on goal, finishing both. Perhaps it shows the effectiveness of Sounders FC, much like the five winners on Saturday whose average possession was 45%.

One Sounders FC player who jumps out on the stats sheet is the industrious midfielder Osvaldo Alonso. Alonso packed the stats sheet again on Friday night, leading all Seattle players with 48 successful passes. He won five of six tackles, made 16 tackles where possession was lost, recovered 12 balls and made four interceptions.

San Jose Preview

Sounders FC is unbeaten (2-0-1) in its past three matchups with San Jose, holding a 4-2-1 all-time mark. Seattle has outscored the Earthquakes 6-3 at home, earning a memorable 2-1 comeback victory in front of 64,140 in Kasey Keller's regular season home finale on October 15, 2011. Each team has scored nine goals in the series, and each side has recorded two clean sheets. Sounders FC will host the Quakes again on September 23, with a trip to the Bay Area slated for August 11.

The Earthquakes' 4-1-2-1-2 formation features the lethal Chris Wondolowski up top, paired with the six-foot-one Steven Lenhart. The rebuilt midfield includes the return of Shea Salinas, the signing of former FC Dallas man and Honduran international Marvin Chaves and Colombian newcomer Tressor Moreno, along with midfielder Sam Cronin who has registered two assists (tied-second in MLS). Goalkeeper Jon Busch is tied-second in MLS with a 0.33 goals against average, with the lone goal allowed coming from the penalty spot.

Fredy Montero and Wondolowski lead all players with three goals in the series. Wondolowski, the Golden Boot winner in 2010 and runner-up in 2011 with 16 tallies, has scored three goals in his first three games this season (tied-second in MLS). Wondolowski and David Estrada are the only two players to net two game-winners in the first three weeks of the 2012 season. San Jose (2-1-0, 6 points) is coming off a dominating 3-0 victory over Toronto FC last Saturday with Wondolowski scoring a brace.

Sounders FC Announce Friendly and 4-Match Ticket Package

Seattle Sounders FC announced they will host Chelsea FC on Wednesday, July 18 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. The match is part of the Sounders FC full 18-match season ticket package. The presenting partner for the Sounders FC international friendly match is AT&T.

Fans can guarantee seats for Chelsea by purchasing a 4-Match ticket package for $110 prior to the public on-sale of individual tickets on June 4.

Chelsea, the only English Premier League club still competing in the Champions League this season, were runners up in the League last season having been champions and FA Cup winners in 2010. The London club has many international players, from Europe, Africa and South America.

The 4-Match ticket package includes Sounders FC home matches versus Chelsea on July 18, Los Angeles Galaxy on August 5, Vancouver Whitecaps on August 18 and Portland Timbers on October 7. In anticipation of the high demand for tickets, seating at CenturyLink Field will be expanded to include the upper bowl for all four matches.

The 4-Match ticket package and full season ticket packages are available by phone at 1-877-MLS-GOAL or online at www.SoundersFC.com. Single match tickets exclusively for the Chelsea match will go on-sale Monday, June 4.

Single match tickets are now available for sale at the Downtown Pro Shop located at 410 Pike Street. There are no fees or surcharges associated with the ticket purchase. Fans who purchase tickets at the Downtown Pro Shop will receive a 10% discount on all regular-priced merchandise. The Downtown Pro Shop is open Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. and on Sunday from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m.

For more information visit www.SoundersFC.com

Sueño MLS 2012 - presented by Allstate

Seattle Sounders FC will host Sueño MLS 2012 - presented by Allstate, the premier nationally televised search for the best undiscovered soccer talent in America. Legends Guillermo Barros Schelotto and Adolfo Rios will mentor the national finalists in LA.

Starting Sunday, March 25, hopefuls can register via www.SuenoMLS.com for an opportunity to participate in one of three open tryouts. The competition and personal stories will be chronicled by Univision Network's popular weekly sports entertainment program, "República Deportiva" (Sports Republic).

Now in its sixth year, Sueño MLS 2012 - presented by Allstate will be staged by three MLS teams, including first-time host, Seattle Sounders FC, as well as returning hosts FC Dallas and Chivas USA. Up to 500 tryout spots will be made available at each city on a first come, first served basis. In past years, spots have filled up in only a few hours following the start of registration. A waiting list will be available for those who are not able to register for the initial spots.

In each city, field players will be battling for one of five invitations to a week-long trial with their respective youth development host club and a ticket to the exciting four-day "Final Event" which will be staged in the greater Los Angeles area and be hosted by MLS and Argentina soccer legend Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The finals will include training sessions, scrimmages, guest celebrity scouts, and an opportunity to meet some of the League's biggest stars. The ultimate champion will be crowned on Sunday, May 13, live on "República Deportiva" (see calendar below for more information). "Republica Deportiva" host and former Mexican national team goalkeeper, Félix Fernández, will also be onsite to participate in select Sueño MLS events.

Returning to Sueño MLS for a second year is the Allstate "Good Hands©" top goalkeeper award - El Portero Allstate. One goalkeeper at each of the three local tryouts will be selected as the top goalkeeper and will compete in the finals on Univision's "Republica Deportiva" on Sunday, May 13th for the opportunity to be named El Portero Allstate and train with an MLS team. El Portero Allstate will be selected in conjunction with the winner of the Sueño MLS 2012 - presented by Allstate, and mentored by Mexican goalkeeping legend Adolfo Rios. For more information on El Portero Allstate, go to www.suenomls.com.

Airing nationally every Sunday at 10:55 a.m. ET/10 a.m. CT/1 p.m. PT, Univision Network's "República Deportiva," the highest-rated weekly sports show on Spanish-language television, will follow the action weekly in a unique "reality show within a show" format.

Since its inception in 2007, Sueño MLS has given thousands of talented young athletes a chance to showcase their skills and impress youth development scouts. The original winner, forward Jorge Villafaña (formerly Jorge Flores) of Anaheim, Calif., is now in his sixth year with MLS' Chivas USA. He is also part of the current roster for the United States Under-23 National Team. The 2008 FC Dallas Sueño MLS winner, Gabriel Funes Mori, played with the FC Dallas Juniors U-18 team before moving on to Argentina's legendary side River Plate, where he plays alongside his twin brother Jose, a Dallas Sueño MLS finalist that same year.

Tryouts for Sueño MLS 2012 - presented by Allstate, kick-off the weekend of Saturday, April 14, with two days of open tryouts in Frisco, TX, home of FC Dallas. The program then moves to Seattle on April 21-22 and on to LA-based Chivas USA April 28-29. Specific tryout locations will be announced at a later date. The "Final Event" will take place May 9-13, at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA, where League scouts and celebrity guests, including Barros Schelotto and Rios, will be on hand to provide guidance and select the ultimate winner in front of a live Univision national television audience on Sunday, May 13.

MLS partners participating in Sueño MLS 2012- presented by Allstate, also include adidas, Degree Men, Gatorade, Pepsi and Volkswagen.

2012 TIMELINE

March 25 Live announcement on República Deportiva

April 14-15 Local market tryouts (FC Dallas)

April 21-22 Local market tryouts (Seattle Sounders FC)

April 28-29 Local market tryouts (Chivas USA)

May 9-13 National Finals in Los Angeles

May 13 Announcement of winner on República Deportiva

PARTICIPANT ELIGIBILITY :

Eligible players must be males between the ages of 14 and 18 years old (born between dates of April 13, 1998 and May 14, 1994) with appropriate identification and retain their amateur status. Current collegiate student athletes will not be permitted to attend the final event in Carson, CA. Sueño MLS participants will be responsible for all personal expenses associated with the local market tryout, including travel to local tryouts, lodging, food, soccer equipment (shoes, training gear, etc.), etc. Program sponsors will cover all expenses for eighteen (18) participants selected to attend the final event in Carson, CA. For more information, please visit www.SuenoMLS.com. Participation in the event is free. Players may not register for more than one city.

Sounders FC Buys Out Contract of O'Brian White

Seattle Sounders FC has bought out the contract of forward O'Brian White, the club announced on March 22.

As a result, Sounders FC will fulfill the financial obligations of White's contract but he will no longer occupy a roster spot or count against the club's salary budget. White will remain in Seattle to continue to rehab from blood clot surgery with the club.

White, 26, joined Sounders FC in November 2010 following a trade with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC. White scored two goals with two assists in seven starts before undergoing blood clot surgery in April 2011.

White played his first two MLS seasons for Toronto FC after winning the 2008 MAC Hermann Trophy and Soccer America Player of the Year as a junior at the University of Connecticut.

Seattle Sounders FC 2 vs. Houston Dynamo 0 - March 23, 2012

David Estrada scored his fourth goal in two games and Brad Evans converted the first penalty kick of the season as Sounders FC defeated the Houston Dynamo 2-0 in front of 38,304 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. Michael Gspurning notched the first clean sheet of his MLS career to help Sounders FC go to 2-0-0 in their debut on NBC Sports Network.

Sounders FC (2-0-0, 6 points) remain unbeaten on the young season and have improves to 3-2-2 in the all-time regular season series with Houston.

Houston (2-1-0, 6 points) lost for the first time in 2012 and will resume MLS play on April 15 at Chicago.

Estrada's goal came on a volley after Houston cleared a Seattle corner kick in the 23rd minute. The low, hard shot deflected off Houston defender Geoff Cameron and into the right side of the net after keeper Tally Hall dove left.

The goal gives Estrada four goals through the first two games of the season, a first for a Sounders FC player.

Seattle made it 2-0 just three minutes later when Evans converted a penalty kick after Patrick Ianni was pulled down in the box as he rose to head a corner kick. Evans' shot went low and right, and despite guessing correctly, Hall couldn't make the save.

Evans is now 4-4 in his career on PK's, all coming with Seattle (3-3 in 2011).

The win marks the first time since their inaugural season in 2009 that Sounders FC has started 2-0-0. They have scored five goals through their first two games, also tying a record set in 2009. They have eight goals through four games across all competitions.

The result marks the first MLS clean sheet for Gspurning, the six-foot five-inch Austrian keeper in his first year with Sounders FC. In the 17th minute, Houston forward Will Bruin slammed a hard shot from the top of the box, but Gspurning jumped and punched it over the crossbar.

Despite only having two shots on goal, Houston put pressure on the net all game. Dynamo midfielder Brad Davis put multiple crosses accurately in the box, but Gspurning continually reached out or rose up to punch them clear.

Alvaro Fernandez, who had two assists in Seattle's opener, almost added to his total on a couple occasions. In the 40th minute, Marc Burch led Fernandez up the left side before he accurately crossed to a streaking Estrada, but a Houston defender was able to make the clearance. In the 53rd minute, Fernandez crossed to a wide-open Roger Levesque, starting for the injured Mauro Rosales, but his shot went wide.

Servando Carrasco and Christian Sivebaek made their second MLS appearance as substitutes when they came on for Brad Evans and Fredy Montero, respectively. Leo Gonzalez made his 2012 MLS debut when he came on for Levesque in the 81st minute.

MLS Reserve League: Seattle Sounders FC 1 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC 1 - March 26, 2012

Seattle Sounders FC kicked off the 2012 MLS Reserve League with a 1-1 draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps FC at the University of British Columbia's Thunderbird Stadium on Monday morning.

Alex Caskey gave Seattle a 1-0 lead but a stoppage time equalizer from Vancouver's Carlyle Mitchell left the final score level.

Sounders FC controlled most of the play in the first half and had their best chance when Andy Rose slid in on a ball across the goal mouth by Caskey in the 37th minute, but the ball barely eluded him and the teams went into halftime scoreless.

In the 72nd minute, Caskey gave the Sounders the lead. Sounders FC U-18 forward Dominique Dismuke got the ball to Leo Gonzalez on an overlapping run into the box. The Vancouver defense clamped down on Gonzalez, but the ball fell to Caskey, who knocked in a thunderous shot to put Seattle up 1-0.

Seattle held the lead into stoppage time when Mitchell got on the end of a cross from Omar Salgado and hammered the header for the equalizer. Salgado retrieved a ball that was headed clear by Jeff Parke, then chipped a left-footed cross in from the left side, finding Mitchell streaking to the middle of the box for a header to the top left corner.

Sounders FC held the best record in the MLS Reserve League in 2011 at 8-1-1.

Seattle will host the Portland Timbers in their next Reserve League match on April 10. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. PT at Starfire Stadium in Tukwila, Wash. There is no charge for admission at Sounders FC Reserves home matches. However donations will be accepted at the gate ($5 suggested) with proceeds directed toward the Sounders FC community partners. Parking is $5 or free with a Starfire membership.

Academy Update: Winless in Cali

Sounders FC Academy U18 and U16 teams traveled to Southern California this weekend and came home winless against non-divisional opponents Strikers FC and Pateadores. Saturday's games against the Irvine-based Strikers were played at Orange Coast College, while the games Sunday against Pateadores were played at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, Calif.

The U18's led off Saturday with a narrow 2-1 loss to the Strikers FC. After falling down 2-0 early in the second half, Sounders responded quickly with an Austin Schweitzer goal assisted by Dom Dismuke. Despite continual pressure the rest of the game, the Rave Green were unable to equalize. The U18's lost on Sunday 4-1, the lone goal coming late from Ike Crook.

The U16's lost 4-0 to the Strikers-all goals coming after halftime-and played most of the second half a man down after Ryan Harbor picked up a red card on an off ball foul. On Sunday, two second half goals were the difference as Pateadores won 4-2. First half goals from Miguel Medina and Jacob Hauser-Ramsey sent the teams into halftime tied 2-2 before the home squad was able to separate.

The U18's (8-9-3, 6-4-1 NW Division) have now lost five of their last six, but remain second in the Northwest Division.

The U16's (13-5-2, 8-2-1 NW Division) still sit atop the Northwest Division. Before this weekend, they had not surrendered four goals in a match all season.

Both teams return to action April 14-15 when they host the San Jose Earthquakes and Cal Odyssey at Starfire Sports Complex.

Throw-ins

Midfielder Christian Sivebaek will be at the Pro Shop at CenturyLink Field on Tuesday, March 27 from 6-7 p.m. to sign autographs...Fredy Montero, Alvaro Fernandez, David Estrada and Leo Gonzalez will participate in a two man Xbox FIFA charity tournament against fans at the downtown Bellevue Microsoft Store on April 3 from 7-9 p.m. The event will benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society...Sounders FC and L.A. Galaxy are the only MLS teams that have not played on the road yet this season. L.A. also plays at home this weekend and will hit the road for the first time on April 7 at Sporting Kansas City...Eddie Johnson turns 28 on Saturday, March 31...The Sounders U-23's will play eight home games - two at Cheney Stadium, five at Franklin Pierce High School and one at a Pierce County venue yet to be determined...The Sounders Women announced the signings of USWNT star Megan Rapinoe and Mexican international Veronica Perez.

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from March 26, 2012


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