MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News & Notes

Published on August 13, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Cascadia Rivalry Comes to Seattle

The 38-year rivalry between the Sounders and Whitecaps will be reignited on Saturday afternoon as Seattle hosts its first home Cascadia Cup fixture of the season. A crowd of more than 50,000 is expected for the battle between Seattle and Vancouver. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.

Saturday's match will be televised live on KING 5 with Ross Fletcher and Kasey Keller on the call, and can be heard on 97.3 KIRO FM. ROOT Sports will broadcast the match live out of market. The game will also be carried live in Spanish on KOMO2 and La Gran D 99.3 FM.

The busy stretch of five games in 15 days concluded in heartbreaking fashion last week as Seattle narrowly missed its fourth straight U.S. Open Cup title, falling to Kansas City in a penalty shootout, and lost its first league match since June 24 with a late loss at San Jose.

Fredy Montero once again came off the bench to contribute for Sounders FC, scoring the stoppage time equalizer at San Jose - his third goal in the past four matches. The Rave Green then conceded a late corner that Steven Lenhart headed in for the winner as Seattle's MLS-best six-game unbeaten streak was snapped.

Sounders FC (10-6-7, 37 points) sits third in the West, five points behind second-place Real Salt Lake with two games in hand. The team now readies for a month of road trips as five of the next seven contests are away from home, including trips to Trinidad and Tobago and Honduras for CONCACAF Champions League group play.

Sounders FC returns to the Pacific Northwest after last week's two-game road trip to take on the Whitecaps in the 128th all-time meeting between the Seattle and Vancouver sides in a rivalry that dates back to the North American Soccer League in 1974.

The teams met earlier this season on May 19 at BC Place with Montero scoring a dramatic late equalizer as Seattle remained unbeaten in MLS play against the 'Caps. It will be the first Cascadia Cup contest of the 2012 season at CenturyLink Field, where Sounders FC is unbeaten in its past seven (6-0-1) home games across all competitions, dating back to May 23.

The resurgent Whitecaps have overhauled the group from its inaugural campaign, and have added four impact players since the two sides last met in May. Designated Players Barry Robson and Kenny Miller have joined the group as well as MLS veteran Dane Richards and Irish centerback Andy O'Brien. Vancouver downed Salt Lake at home on Saturday, 2-1, to move into a tie with Seattle at third in the West.

MLS Reserve League action continues at Starfire Stadium on Sunday against the LA Galaxy. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. PT. 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.

Sounders FC travels to Los Angeles for its next league match against Chivas USA on August 25. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. PT at The Home Depot Center in Carson, Calif.

Sounders FC Fast Facts

* Seattle is 4-3-5 in games against teams in current playoff positions with a plus-five goal differential. Sounders FC is unbeaten against playoff teams in the East and still has five games remaining against West playoff teams (Vancouver twice, LA Galaxy, Salt Lake, San Jose). All three losses against playoff teams have been by one goal.

* Wednesday's Open Cup final marked the first time in seven outings that Seattle did not score multiple goals. Sounders FC has been held scoreless five times in 31 games this season. The last time the team was shutout was July 4 at Real Salt Lake.

* Sigi Schmid has used 22 different lineups in 23 MLS games this season

* Eddie Johnson has scored seven goals in his last nine league outings, and has scored seven of the team's last 15 goals in MLS play. Seven of Johnson's 10 goals have been headers, including his past five, and six of his goals have been assisted by Rosales.

* Seattle's Michael Gspurning (0.63) ranks first in goals against average. There has never been a keeper from outside the CONCACAF region to lead MLS in GAA at season's end.

* Aside from Johnson (tied-fifth with 10 goals) and Mauro Rosales (tied-fifth with nine assists), Fredy Montero ranks in the Top 10 in several categories, including shots (84; 2nd), shots on goal (30; T-5th), fouls committed (41; T-9th) and fouls suffered (49; T-4th)

* Only three players have scored over 40 goals in MLS play since 2009: Chris Wondolowski (56), Dwayne De Rosario (47) and Fredy Montero (41)

* 21 of Seattle's 32 goals have been scoring in the second half

* Seattle is still searching for its first win when allowing the first goal. The team is currently 0-6-4 when conceding first.

A Rivalry Revisited

Saturday will mark the 128th meeting between Seattle and Vancouver teams in league, cup and friendly play since the Sounders and Whitecaps first collided on June 9, 1974 at the old Empire Stadium in a North American Soccer League match.

Seattle holds the all-time advantage at 61-46-20. Following the demise of the Sounders after nine years in the NASL, a new club, FC Seattle, made its debut on June 10, 1984 at Memorial Stadium against the Whitecaps. FC Seattle earned a 2-2 draw in the first match with Vancouver and scored its first victory against the 'Caps, 2-1, on August 4 at B.C. Place. After the NASL folded Vancouver also formed a club around its plentiful native talent. The 86ers began play in the Canadian Soccer League in 1987, and faced FC Seattle in seven friendlies beginning that season through 1990. The rivalry was renewed in 1994 when the Sounders joined the 86ers in the A-League. Vancouver adopted the Whitecaps brand once again beginning in 2001, and soon after supporters groups from Seattle, Portland and Vancouver founded the Cascadia Cup, a three-way competition to determine Pacific Northwest supremacy amongst the Sounders, Timbers and Whitecaps.

Seattle vs. Vancouver Series

1974-83: NASL - Sounders 13 wins; Whitecaps 17 wins; 1 draw

1984: Friendlies - FC Seattle 1 win; Whitecaps 0 wins; 1 draw

1987-90: WSL/Friendlies - FC Seattle 3 wins; 86ers 3 wins; 0 draws

1994-08: USL-1 - Sounders 43 wins; 86ers/Whitecaps 25 wins; 16 draws

2011-present: MLS/Friendlies - Sounders 1 win; Whitecaps 1 win; 2 draws

Totals: 127 matches played - Seattle 61 wins, Vancouver 46 wins; 20 draws

The Late, Late Show

For the first time in club history, Sounders FC scored and conceded a goal in second-half stoppage time in the team's 2-1 loss at San Jose. It was the third match this season that featured a stoppage time goal. Previously, Fredy Montero pulled Seattle level with Vancouver and Diego Fagundez scored the equalizer for New England. Overall, Seattle is 8-2-5 in games when a goal was scored or allowed in stoppage time with a plus-eight goal differential. Sounders FC has scored 13 goals in second-half stoppage time and has allowed five. Five of Seattle's 13 stoppage time goals won the match and four proved to be the equalizer. On four occasions the stoppage time strike did not affect the result. Montero has scored five all-time goals in stoppage time, including two winners and one equalizer.

All-Time Stoppage Time Goals

Date Opponent Result Stoppage Time Goals Scorers

4/10/10 at Real Salt Lake D, 2-2 Alvaro Saborio (91')

4/17/10 Kansas City W, 1-0 Mike Fucito (92')

4/22/10 at Dallas D, 2-2 Jeff Cunningham (94')

6/10/10 D.C. United L, 3-2 Own Goal (90'), Fredy Montero (91')

8/28/10 Chicago W, 2-1 Fredy Montero (92')

9/1/10 Chivas USA W, 3-1 Nate Jaqua (92')*

10/15/10 Chivas USA W, 2-1 Jesus Padilla (92')

4/16/11 at Philadelphia D, 1-1 Alvaro Fernandez (91')

5/21/11 Kansas City W, 1-0 Jeff Parke (93')

6/18/11 at Toronto W, 1-0 Fredy Montero (90')

8/13/11 at Kansas City W, 2-1 Mauro Rosales (90'), Lamar Neagle (92')

10/4/11 Chicago W, 2-0 Osvaldo Alonso (96')*

5/19/12 at Vancouver D, 2-2 Fredy Montero (90')

6/30/12 at New England D, 2-2 Diego Fagundez (94')

8/11/12 at San Jose L, 2-1 Fredy Montero (91'), Steven Lenhart (93')

*Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup

There's No Place Like Home

The packed stands at CenturyLink Field are a welcomed sight for the Rave Green after playing six of its last eight league matches on the road. Sounders FC is unbeaten in its past seven (6-0-1) home matches across all competitions, most recently a dominant 4-nil win over the LA Galaxy. The home unbeaten run stretches across three different competitions and dates back to May 23. Seattle will play three of its final four league matches at home, as well as the final Champions League group stage match against Marathon on October 24.

Roadmasters

After a quick visit home for the Cascadia Cup match, Sounders FC will head back on the road for five of the next seven games across all competitions. Overall, half of the team's remaining 14 games will be played away from home, including the longest trips of the year to Trinidad and Tobago (4,351 one-way) and Honduras (3,309 one-way). Sounders FC will travel another estimated 20,000 air miles before the season's end, bringing the season total to just shy of 55,000.

Seattle has had two of the league's longest road undefeated streaks this season: five games from April 7 to May 26 and four games from June 30 to July 28 . The Rave Green currently ranks third in road goal scoring with an average of 1.33 goals per game.

Fredy the Super Sub

No matter the role, Fredy Montero will play the part. On Saturday night in San Jose, coach Sigi Schmid held Montero out of the Starting XI, hoping Seattle's goal scoring star could come off the bench and provide a spark in the second half. Schmid's plan proved successful once again as Montero entered the match in the 84th minute and brought Seattle level within six minutes. Previously this season, Montero entered in the second-half at New York and equalized within five minutes and at Dallas the Colombian striker tallied twice after entering at halftime. Montero has five goals in nine substitute appearances with Sounders FC. He is one of three players to score in the past two MLS matches.

Substitute Appearances: 9

Goals: 5

Assists: 2

Minutes: 208

Shots (on goal): 17 (7)

A Sight to See

The Sounders-Whitecaps rivalry games have always included raucous crowds and fanatical support. With the entire stadium open to supporters, Saturday's match is sure to feature another memorable crowd to watch the Sounders and Whitecaps battle. On June 20, 1983, a record crowd of 60,342 packed BC Place for the first sporting event, Vancouver's 2-1 victory over Seattle. Nearly 20 years later, on July 28, 2002, the first event at Qwest Field drew a USL-1 record 25,515 for the Sounders' 4-1 win over the Caps.

Raising the Bar

Sounders FC fans continue to set the standard in MLS, both in passionate support and sheer number. The crowd of 60,908 for the LA Galaxy match was the second-largest to see an MLS game at CenturyLink Field and marked the club's 61st consecutive sellout. All told, 456,278 supporters have watched MLS games at CenturyLink Field this season, and another 96,606 have attended a Champions League or Open Cup home match. Seattle's average attendance for an MLS match this season is 41,480 - nearly 18,000 more than second-most Montreal and nearly 3,000 more than Seattle's record-setting 2011 average.

Vancouver Series Notes

Saturday's Cascadia Cup fixture will be the second of three meetings between the Pacific Northwest rivals this season, with Seattle earning a dramatic late draw at BC Place on May 19.

The MLS series with the Whitecaps has been full of highlight goals and late drama. Seattle has scored at least two goals in all three meetings with Vancouver, and both Fredy Montero and Eric Hassli scored Goal of the Year candidates in the 2011 series. Sounders FC has comeback from conceding the first goal in all three meetings to earn one win and two draws. In the first match between the MLS sides, three goals were scored in the final 10 minutes as the teams tied, 2-2, after Hassli's stunning 85th minute equalizer. Sounders FC captured the Cascadia Cup in last season's road matchup as Montero scored twice in four minutes in the second half to complete Seattle's comeback. The trend continued last May as Montero scored the leveler in the 90th minute and Sounders FC remained unbeaten against their Canadian rivals.

Montero has led the way for Sounders FC in Cascadia Cup play. The crafty Colombian striker has scored five goals with two assists in six rivalry matches against Vancouver and Portland. He assisted on the first goal of the Cascadia rivalry in MLS play and twice scored a brace on the road, but is still searching for his first home goal in the derby matches.

About Vancouver

The Whitecaps FC pulled level with Seattle at 37 points with their win over Salt Lake on Saturday, tying the two clubs for third in the West and seventh overall. Vancouver has lost just once in its past four outings, and avenged that lone loss by beating Salt Lake on Saturday behind second-half goals from Camilo and Dane Richards. Eighteen of the team's 28 goals have been scored in the second half. The Whitecaps FC have struggled on the road this season, dropping six of 12 contests (3-6-3) with a minus-eight goal differential. Vancouver is middle of the pact in both goals per game (1.17) and goals against average (1.21), and the defense has recorded nine shutouts (third-most in MLS). The Whitecaps are the second-most cautioned team in MLS with 47 yellows, averaging nearly two cards per match.

Whitecaps Notables

Vancouver's attack is led by the league's leading Rookie of the Year candidate, Darren Mattocks. The second overall selection in the 2012 MLS SuperDraft, Mattocks leads the 'Caps with seven goals in just 14 games. Two Scottish Designated Players have recently joined Vancouver in midfielder Barry Robson and forward Kenny Miller. Robson, the focal point of Vancouver's midfield, has two goals in eight appearances. Miller made his debut on July 22 and is still waiting to make his first start. Brazilian forward Camilo helps anchor Vancouver's attack with four goals and five assists in 12 starts. Speedy midfielder Dane Richards joined the 'Caps in a midseason trade with New York and has scored twice in five games, including the winner on Saturday against RSL. Jay DeMerit, Vancouver's captain and MLS All-Star, has already appeared in an MLS career-high 23 games this season. Along with defenders Lee Young-Pyo (2,160) and Martin Bonjour (2,052), DeMerit (2,006) and his backline partners have logged the most minutes of any field players for the Whitecaps this season. Newly acquired Irish centerback Andy O'Brien was rushed into his club debut on Saturday, entering in the 21st minute for the injured DeMerit. Joe Cannon was forced to sit out last Saturday to serve a one-game red card suspension. He started the previous 23 outings with a 1.26 goals against average.

'Caps Connections

Eddie Johnson and Jay DeMerit played together for the U.S. National Team. In 2007, Johnson and DeMerit played for the USA squad that won the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Both Johnson (2008-09) and Kenny Miller (2011-12) played for Cardiff City for in England's League Championship. Seattle captain Mauro Rosales and 'Caps defender Martin Bonjour are both from Argentina. Vancouver keeper Joe Cannon is from nearby Sun Valley, Idaho. Two Vancouver players attended Steve Zakuani's alma mater Akron. Zakuani played with Michael Nanchoff for two seasons and barely missed playing with Mattocks, who won the College Cup as a freshman in 2010. Michael Tetteh and Gershon Koffie both hail from Ghana. Jeff Parke and Dane Richards played together at New York (2007-08).

Sounders FC broadcast analyst Alan Hinton has been on both sides of the Seattle-Vancouver rivalry, both in the NASL and A-League days. In 1978 during his final season as a player (and his first year as an assistant coach), Hinton established a league record with 30 assists and scored his penultimate goal in a win over Seattle. In 1980, Hinton became head coach of the Sounders, leading them to a NASL-record 25 wins that season, the Trans-Atlantic Cup title in 1981 and a Soccer Bowl appearance in 1982. Two years later Hinton took over as head coach in Vancouver and his Whitecaps played the first game against FC Seattle.

MLS: Sounders FC 1 at San Jose Earthquakes 2 - August 11, 2012

Fredy Montero and Steven Lenhart traded stoppage time goals as Seattle Sounders FC fell 2-1 to the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday night at Buck Shaw Stadium.

After over an hour of scoreless play, San Jose went up in the 70th minute when Simon Dawkins scored after a long Earthquakes throw-in was cleared right to his feet. Dawkins spun and whipped the ball into the near post from 10-yards out.

Just minutes after entering the match, Fredy Montero pulled Seattle level in the first minute of stoppage time when Brad Evans' long throw-in bounced in a scrum in front of goal. Montero charged the loose ball and headed in the equalizer from six-yards out.

It was the seventh goal of the season for Montero, who has now scored three goals in his last four games.

Two minutes later, Lenhart headed in the game-winner on a corner kick from Shea Salinas for San Jose's fifth win or tie in second-half stoppage time. It was the second consecutive stoppage time goal from Lenhart after equalizing with Chicago on July 28.

The loss snapped Seattle's league-best six-game unbeaten streak and is the team's first road loss since June 24.

New designated player Christian Tiffert made his first MLS start and created a number of scoring chances. In the 16th minute, the German midfielder curled a free kick from 25-yards out that barely missed wide of the post for a goal kick.

In the 50th minute, Tiffert's free kick from outside the box on the left side was on target, forcing Jon Busch to punch it away. Ten minutes later, he found Andy Rose for a diving header in the box, but Busch made a diving save.

Also making his first MLS start for Seattle was forward Sammy Ochoa, who has four goals across all-competitions in 2012. In the 32nd minute, the striker's overhead kick hit the crossbar after Tiffert flicked it on in the box. He hit the crossbar for the second time in the 60th minute when Jeff Parke headed a corner kick back in front of the goal and Ochoa's header hit the frame.

Eddie Johnson came on for Ochoa in the 68th minute, and nearly equalized five minutes later when Adam Johansson's cross found him for a strong header, but the shot sailed just high of the crossbar.

USOC: Sounders FC falls to Sporting Kansas City 3-2 in Penalty Kicks

Sounders FC fell to Sporting Kansas City in penalty kicks, 3-2, in the 2012 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Final at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. Zach Scott scored the lone goal in regulation for Seattle as the club's attempt at a record fourth straight Open Cup title was denied.

After Brad Evans and Marc Burch converted the first two penalty kicks, Sounders FC failed to convert their final three attempts. Seattle goalkeeper Michael Gspurning appeared to save Sporting's final attempt by Paulo Nagamura, but was whistled for coming off the line and Nagamura netted the retake.

Kansas City scored first in the 84th minute on a Kei Kamara penalty kick after Seattle was whistled for a hand ball in the box. Kamara converted low and to the left to give Sporting a 1-0 lead.

Just two minutes later, Seattle equalized when a Mauro Rosales free kick found Scott in the box, who rose in traffic and headed it into the back of the net. It was Scott's first goal in 11 Open Cup games for Sounders FC and the first career assist in Open Cup play for Rosales.

Following 30 minutes of scoreless extra time, Seattle advanced to penalty kicks for just the second time in franchise history. Seattle defeated Portland, 4-3 in penalties, in the third round of the 2010 Open Cup.

Kamara converted Kansas City's opening kick despite Gspurning getting his hands to it. Roger Espinoza's low shot was smothered by Gsrpurning, Matt Besler converted, and Graham Zusi's sailed high before Nagamura was able to convert his second of two chances.

After Evans and Burch converted, Osvaldo Alonso sailed his shot over the crossbar. Sporting keeper Jimmy Nielsen then stopped Christian Tiffert's low attempt, and Eddie Johnson blasted his attempt over the goal.

The last Open Cup final decided by penalty kicks was in 1997 when the Dallas Burn topped DC United in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Gspurning made five saves in addition to not allowing an open play goal. In the 94th minute, Kamara got off a hard shot from outside the box on the left side, but the six-foot-five Austrian punched it away.

MLS Reserve League Update

Seattle Sounders FC dropped to 1-4-1 in MLS Reserve League play this season with a 3-0 defeat at San Jose on Sunday afternoon. The Earthquakes scored three second-half goals and Seattle was unable to capitalize on three shots on goal. Overall this season, Seattle reserves have allowed 12 goals, seven of which were scored in the final 45 minutes, including Vancouver's 91st minute equalizer and the Galaxy's 90th minute winner.

Despite going 8-1-1 in reserve league play last season, Sounders FC has used the system to continue to develop young players and help injured players return to full fitness. Perhaps the brightest spot of this year's reserve league has been winger Steve Zakuani, who played the full 90 minutes on Sunday for the first time since April 16, 2011. Previously, Zakuani had played the first 45 minutes in a reserve match versus Vancouver on June 1, and made a four-minute appearance against Colorado in MLS play on June 7.

Backup goalkeeper Josh Ford made his first competitive appearance in goal this season for Sounders FC on Sunday, playing the full 90 minutes in his first reserve league action since a 3-1 win over San Jose on October 10, 2011. On Sunday, Ford was unable to thwart San Jose's first two one-on-one opportunities, and the Quakes added a third goal from a free kick. Ford's only other action for Sounders FC this year was 45 shutout minutes against Chelsea on July 18.

Seattle is currently at the bottom of the West Division of the MLS Reserve League. The only other team to secure fewer points than Sounders FC is the Central Division's Real Salt Lake. Sounders FC has four reserve league games remaining, three of which are at home with the lone road match in Portland.

Throw-ins

Servando Carrasco celebrates his 24th birthday on August 13...Eddie Johnson and Cordell Cato attend Family Fitness Night at the Bellevue Boys and Girls Club on Tuesday, August 14. Visit SoundersFC.com for more information...Osvaldo Alonso will meet fans at an hour-long autograph session at the Pro Shop p.m. Tuesday, August 14 from 6-7 p.m....Andy Rose went three games without receiving a yellow card and will now benefit from the good behavior incentive as his yellow card total will be rolled back to three.

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 13, 2012


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