MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News and Notes

Published on May 4, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Unbeaten in its last three games overall and owning the second-highest point total in MLS, the Seattle Sounders FC (4-2-1) returns to play before another sellout crowd for a Mother's Day game on Sunday, May 10, against the Los Angeles Galaxy (1-1-4). Kickoff on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field is 12 noon PT.

The match will be aired live on KONG 6/16 and News Talk 97.3 KIRO FM. Kevin Calabro will call the action with analysis from Greg Vanney. The game will be aired nationally in Spanish on TeleFutura. It can also be heard locally on 1210 AM Ke Buena with Rene Aleman, Noe Menendez and Victor Hernandez.

Sounders FC is off to the best start by an MLS expansion team. It is 2-0-1 in its last three games overall, including last week's 1-1 road draw at Chicago and a 4-1 home win over Real Salt Lake in a U.S. Open Cup play-in. Seattle's four victories and 13 points are second only to Western Conference leader Chivas USA (6-1-1).

Los Angeles Galaxy is undefeated in its last five matches, and earned its first victory last Saturday, 1-0, over New York. The Galaxy is in sixth place in the West with seven points. It faces Real Salt Lake on Wednesday in Utah before traveling to Seattle for Sunday's contest.

Seattle's next five MLS home games through the June 28 game with Colorado are also sold out. There are tickets on sale for the other remaining home dates. To purchase, call 1-877-MLS-GOAL or visit www.SoundersFC.com.

Upcoming Competition Schedule (All times Pacific)

Sunday, May 10, 12:00 p.m. - Los Angeles Galaxy; Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field

Saturday, May 16, 5:30 p.m. - at FC Dallas; Pizza Hut Park, Frisco, Tex.

Saturday, May 23, 6:30 p.m. - at Colorado Rapids; Dick's Sporting Goods Park, Commerce City, Colo.

Saturday, May 30, 7:30 p.m. - Columbus Crew; Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field

Saturday, June 6, 7:30 p.m. - at Chivas USA; The Home Depot Center, Carson, Calif.

Upcoming Training Schedule, May 5 - 14 (subject to change):

Tuesday, May 5 - Reserves vs. Seattle University, Starfire Sports Complex, 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, May 6 -Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Thursday, May 7 - No Training

Friday, May 8 - Training at Qwest Field, 10 a.m.

Saturday, May 9 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Monday, May 11 - Reserves vs. Vancouver Whitecaps PDL, Starfire Sports Complex, 12 noon

Tuesday, May 12 - No Training

Wednesday, May 14 - Training at Starfire Sports Complex, 10 a.m.

Gold Cup Tickets on Sale

The two-time defending champion USA will play a first-round match of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup on Saturday, July 4, on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. The U.S. will face Grenada at 6 p.m. PT in the second match of the Gold Cup double header. The first match will feature Haiti and Honduras at 4 p.m. PT. For ticket purchases and information visit www.Ticketmaster.com, www.GoldCup.org and www.CopaOro.org.

Chelsea Tickets On-Sale May 11

Tickets for the Sounders FC-Chelsea match on July 18 will go on sale May 11 at 10 a.m. PT. To purchase, call 1-877-MLS-GOAL or visit www.SoundersFC.com.

Chasing History

With four wins in the first six games, Seattle is off to the best start in MLS expansion history. No expansion team has been at or above .500 through seven games. Miami and Chicago are the only expansion teams to reach the playoffs, with the Fire winning both the MLS Cup and the U.S. Open Cup in its first season (1998).

Previous Expansion Starts

Team 7 Games 8 Games 1st Season Notes

Chicago Fire (1998): 2-5-0 3-5-0 20-12/MLS Cup, U.S. Open Cup

Miami Fusion (1998): 3-4-0 4-4-0 15-17/1st round playoffs

Real Salt Lake (2005): 2-3-2 3-3-2 5-22-5/5th, West

Chivas USA (2005): 1-5-1 1-6-1 4-22-6 /6th, West

Toronto FC (2007): 2-5-0 2-5-1 6-17-7/7th, East

San Jose Earthquakes (2008): 1-5-1 2-5-1 8-13-9/7th, West

Seattle Sounders FC (2009): 4-2-1

Attendance Record

With a crowd in excess of 28,000 for the match against San Jose, Sounders FC became the first franchise in MLS history to have 28,000 or more fans at four consecutive regular season or postseason home games. In 2007, Houston Dynamo had more than 30,000 for their final regular season game (vs. Los Angeles) and first two home playoff games.

Six Sellouts and Counting

Seattle has played to capacity crowds in each of its first four matches on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field. More than 118,000 fans have watched the first four home Sounders FC games. A throng of 32,523 had watched the inaugural home match versus New York. The last three home games have also sold out: Real Salt Lake (28,548), Kansas City (28,746) and San Jose (28,838). In addition to this week's game with the Galaxy (May 10), the next four dates are also sold out: Columbus Crew (May 30), San Jose (June 13), D.C. United (June 17) and Colorado Rapids (June 28). Stadium capacity for the remaining MLS matches is listed as 27,700. The average attendance through four home dates is 29,664.

Former USL Sounders Ignite in USOC Win

Six former USL-1 Sounders led the way for Sounders FC in its 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake on April 28. Played at Starfire Sports Stadium, the home field of last year's USL side, the U.S. Open Cup play-in lineup featured Chris Eylander, Taylor Graham, Zach Scott, Sebastien Le Toux, Roger Levesque and Sanna Nyassi, all former USL-1 Sounders players. Le Toux scored twice and added two assists. Nyassi provided support with a goal of his own and Levesque had three assists. Graham, Scott and Eylander helped hold RSL to a single goal following a record 6-0 win in its previous game. Last year, Eylander had held U.S. Open Cup opponents scoreless for 453 consecutive minutes en route to the semifinals.

Via the play-in process, four MLS teams remain and vie for two berths in the U.S. Open Cup's Round of 16. Seattle will face Colorado for one of those slots at Starfire on May 26 at 7 p.m. PT. D.C. United hosts New York in the other play-in on May 20.

The six clubs with the most points at the end of the 2008 MLS regular season (Columbus, Chicago, Houston, New England, Chivas USA, Kansas City), automatically earned a spot in the 2009 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Opportunity to Shine

The Open Cup play-in victory provided an opportunity for several Sounders FC players to present their case for first-team consideration. Sebastien Le Toux scored two goals and assisted on two others in the 4-1 win and, four days later, was Schmid's choice as the first tactical substitution against the Fire in the 56th minute. Stephen King, who started at attacking central midfield and also scored versus RSL, was Schmid's other substitute, coming on for Freddie Ljungberg in the 81st minute. It was King's first MLS action of the season. Earning a spot on the list of reserves for the first time was central defender Taylor Graham, who had been sidelined with fractured bones in his left foot since February, played the entire 90 minutes of the play-in.

Recap: Sounders FC 1, Chicago Fire 1

Tyrone Marshall's goal in the 74th minute earned the shorthanded Seattle Sounders FC a 1-1 draw with the unbeaten Chicago Fire. Seattle played the final 42 minutes with 10 men following a red card to top scorer Fredy Montero. Chicago took a 1-0 lead in the 68th minute on an 18-yard shot by Marco Pappa.

Marshall's goal, the first in two years by the central defender, came from close range as his outstretched left foot poked home a corner kick from Freddie Ljungberg. It was Ljungberg's first MLS assist and it was also Seattle's first goal off a set piece this season.

Pappa's goal was a first-time hit following a pass by Cuauhtemoc Blanco from the right side of the box. It was Pappa's third goal of the season and the first goal allowed by Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller after a record 457 scoreless minutes to begin the season.

Montero was ejected in the 48th minute after his elbow struck Chicago's Gonzalo Segares as the two battled for a header. Montero will miss Seattle's next match.

Keller made four saves as Chicago finished with a 15-4 advantage in shots, including 5-1 on goal.

A Good Draw

The first Sounders FC draw of the season was a victory of sorts. Despite being down a man for 42-plus minutes following Fredy Montero's red card and down a goal, Seattle scrapped and fought its way back to score the equalizer and then hold off some intense Fire attacking pressure in the final minutes to earn a point.

Finally, Game On

Last week's draw with Chicago marked the first Seattle MLS match in which both teams scored. All four Sounders FC wins had been by shutout and Seattle was blanked in both losses. All four wins have featured Sounders FC scoring first-half goals and the defense has allowed only one first-half goal this season.

Without Fredy

Sounders FC won its only other game playing without Fredy Montero. At Toronto on April 4, Freddie Ljungberg replaced Montero up front and scored the opening goal of a 2-0 win.

Speaking of Fouls

Fredy Montero's red card was the second shown to Sounders FC this season; Kasey Keller was issued his on April 11. Over the course of the season, Montero has actually suffered the second-most fouls (17) and Seattle has suffered more fouls (89) than all but FC Dallas. Sounders FC is one of five teams which has yet to earn a penalty kick. The Galaxy is the only MLS team to be awarded two penalties to date.

Keller's Record Scoreless Streak

Goalkeeper Kasey Keller set an MLS record for consecutive scoreless minutes to start a season (457 minutes). The old record was 375 minutes, set by Ronald Waterreus of New York in 2007. Keller, who surrendered his first MLS this past Saturday, is the only goalkeeper in league history to post three complete shutouts to start their MLS career. Keller has 20 saves on the season before conceding a goal, including four against Chicago.

Clean Sheets at Home

Kasey Keller's record scoreless streak ended at 457 minutes against the Fire, yet he still has clean sheets at home. Keller has not allowed a goal in 299 minutes over four games at home, including three shutouts. Combined with games played for the U.S. National Team, Keller is 6-0-0 in career games played in Seattle, and he has not allowed a goal in 569 minutes.

Getting Defensive

Sounders FC ranks No. 2 in MLS in fewest goals allowed (4); two of those goals were scored while playing shorthanded. Chicago, which had scored seven times in its previous three matches, was held to a single goal. Kasey Keller rates first among keepers with a GAA of 0.19. He is No. 2 in shutouts (4) and wins (4).

Coming & Going

Seattle started the same lineup for consecutive games for the first time at Chicago, however there is bound to be a change for the next outing. Fredy Montero's red card results in a suspension for the L.A. Galaxy game, meaning Sigi Schmid must alter his forward line for the first time since April 4 at Toronto, when Freddie Ljungberg started along side Nate Jaqua.

Donovan in Seattle

Galaxy forward Landon Donovan's past Seattle visits have proven very productive. In his four appearances with the U.S Men's National Team he scored six goals. In 2002 at Safeco Field, Donovan scored twice in a 4-0 win against Honduras. In 2003 against Venezuela at Qwest Field, he came off the bench for a goal in a 2-0 win. During the 2005 Gold Cup Donovan scored twice as a substitute in 4-1 win over Cuba and once again in a starting role against Canada, both at Qwest Field.

While with the San Jose Earthquakes, Donovan played in two U.S. Open Cup matches against the USL-1 Sounders. He came on as a substitute in a 4-3 overtime win in 2002 and a 1-0 loss in 2003.

Arena's Roots in Puget Sound

The Galaxy's Bruce Arena is returning to the region where his head coaching career began. Arena served as coach for the University of Puget Sound in 1976. He had originally come west to play for the Tacoma Tides of the American Soccer League earlier that year. Arena's next collegiate appointment was at Virginia in 1978. Over the course of 18 seasons he led the Cavaliers to 295 wins and five NCAA championships. As U.S. Men's National Team coach he has returned to Seattle to coach four games between 2002-05.

Sigi's Galaxy

After 19 years at UCLA (1980-98), current Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid began his MLS coaching career with Los Angeles in 1999, serving as head coach for six seasons (1999-2004). Schmid's L.A. Galaxy teams won four major competitions: 2002 MLS Cup, 2002 MLS Supporters' Shield, 2001 U.S. Open Cup and the 2001 CONCACAF Champions Cup. He was voted the MLS Coach of the Year in his first season, 1999. Altogether, his Galaxy teams were 79-53-32 and reached the MLS Cup final four times and won three division crowns.

SFC and the 2002 Galaxy MLS Cup Champions

Sounders FC has three former players from Sigi Schmid's 2002 MLS Cup champion Galaxy team: assistant coach Ezra Hendrickson played for the Galaxy for seven seasons (1997-2003); before coming to Seattle; Tyrone Marshall played six seasons for the Galaxy (2002-07); and midfielder Peter Vagenas spent his first nine MLS seasons with the Galaxy (2000-08). Vagenas, recovering from offseason knee surgery, has yet to play this season.

Where It All Began

It was against the Galaxy when the Sounders FC first donned their rave green kit back on February 9. In its preseason debut, Seattle got second-half goals from Roger Levesque and Sanna Nyassi to win, 3-1. Fredy Montero pulled Sounders FC level at 1-1 in the 17th minute on a penalty kick after Steve Zakuani was taken down in the box. Both teams changed their entire lineups at the break. Levesque broke the deadlock in the 80th minute and Nyassi added insurance in extra time. Eddie Lewis had staked the Galaxy to a lead in the opening three minutes.

Getting Involved

Nine players have been involved in the 10 goals scored by Seattle to date, including six different goal scorers: Fredy Montero (3), Steve Zakuani (2), Brad Evans (2), Nate Jaqua, Freddie Ljungberg and Tyrone Marshall.

Sigi's Final Countdown

Sigi Schmid is approaching the summit of two MLS coaching categories. The league's active leader in wins (117), Schmid is seven wins shy of Bob Bradley's MLS record 124 victories. New England's Steve Nicol is No. 2 among active coaches in wins (89) and No. 3 overall. Schmid (263) is nine matches away from surpassing Bradley's MLS record of 272 career games coached.

More About Schmid

Schmid against the Galaxy is 3-1-2; all with Columbus.

About Los Angeles

Despite having lost only one game this season, Los Angeles begins the week in sixth place in the Western Conference. Landon Donovan, who has either scored or assisted on all seven Galaxy goals this season, scored on a penalty kick to give his team its first win last week, 1-0 over New York. The Galaxy earned draws in each of its previous four games. Donovan is tied for second in MLS with four goals this season. Los Angeles will play against Seattle without its designated player David Beckham, who is on loan to AC Milan and will be eligible to play in MLS games for the Galaxy when the international transfer window re-opens on July 15, 2009.

SoccerPalooza Hits Seattle

This Saturday, May 9, will be Washington Youth Soccer's annual day-long celebration, SoccerPalooza. Held at the Hilton Seattle Airport & Conference Center, SoccerPalooza is a free event featuring workshops, vendor booths and culminating with the awards dinner in the evening. Gary Wright, Sounders FC senior vice president for business operations, will deliver the dinner's keynote address.

SFC Mother's Day Brunch - Sunday, May 10

Prior to Sunday's game will be the inaugural Sounders FC Mother's Day Brunch at the Qwest Field Event Center. The brunch is Sunday, May 10, beginning at 9:30 a.m. and tickets are required. Sounders FC insider Tony Ventrella will serve as emcee. Owner and general manager Adrian Hanauer and his mother will also take part in the short program, which concludes at 10:45 a.m.

Current Training Squad

The following players begin the week training in Seattle: Goalkeepers (2): Chris Eylander, Kasey Keller; Defenders (9): Evan Brown, Taylor Graham, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, Tyrone Marshall, James Riley, Zach Scott, Nathan Sturgis, Tyson Wahl; Midfielders (7): Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans, Stephen King, Sebastien Le Toux, Freddie Ljungberg, Sanna Nyassi, Peter Vagenas; Forwards (6): Kevin Forrest, Nate Jaqua, Roger Levesque, Fredy Montero, Jarrod Smith, Steve Zakuani.

Reserves Schedule (subject to change)

May 5 - vs. Seattle Univ., at Starfire Sports Complex, 1:30 p.m.

May 11 - vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC (PDL), at Starfire Sports Complex, 12 noon

Note: All reserve team games are closed to the public

Check out the Seattle Sounders FC Statistics

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Major League Soccer Stories from May 4, 2009


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