MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders FC News and Notes

Published on February 21, 2012 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


Rave Green Visit Cancun before Returning Home

A week of fun in the Florida sun concluded on Monday as Seattle Sounders FC began the transition to the final phase of preseason preparations. With just two weeks until the showdown with Santos Laguna in the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals on March 7, the Rave Green will travel to Cancun, Mexico to meet Atlante FC on Wednesday night.

Seattle spent 10 days in the Sunshine State, continuing to build fitness and develop style of play with four training games. Sounders FC (3-0-2) remains unbeaten in preseason play as they rattled off three straight wins after earning an early draw in Florida.

The club also made noise off the field late last week with the acquisition of U.S. international Eddie Johnson. The 27-year-old forward joined Sounders FC in Florida on Saturday and will travel with the team to Mexico.

Seattle wraps up preseason travel on Thursday with a late night flight back to the Pacific Northwest, where they will stay for nearly three weeks until they travel to Torreon, Mexico, for the away leg of the CCL quarterfinals on March 14.

Seattle will host Mexico's Jaguares de Chiapas in the annual Community Shield match on Wednesday, February 29 on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. There is no charge for admission, but the Sounders are accepting donations to benefit the club's community partners.

Season tickets can be purchased by visiting www.SoundersFC.com or phoning 1-877-MLS-GOAL. Tickets for the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinal are available at www.SoundersFC.com, by calling 800-745-3000 and the CenturyLink Field Box Office as well as all Ticketmaster outlets.

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

Wednesday, March 7, 7 p.m. - Sounders FC v Santos Laguna, Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field, Seattle, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals - first leg

Wednesday, March 14, 5 p.m. - Sounders FC at Santos Laguna, CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals - second leg

Saturday, March 17, 7 p.m. - Sounders FC v Toronto FC, Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field, Seattle

Fresh-Squeezed EJ: Eddie Dons the Rave Green

Sounders FC brass have never been shy to make moves, and last week was no different. Seattle added a new piece to the puzzle in U.S. international forward Eddie Johnson. The 27-year-old, six foot forward has scored 12 goals for the USMNT and 41 goals in MLS play. A native of Daytona Beach, Fla. Johnson joined the team in training on Saturday and scored 11 minutes into his first training game with the Rave Green on Sunday. Johnson will travel with the team to Cancun, Mexico on Tuesday and will return to Seattle with the team later this week.

Preseason Poise: Rave Green Finding the Winning Touch

The winning touch always evokes confidence, even if it's in preseason training. With three consecutive wins in Florida, the Rave Green have begun to plant the seeds for a successful 2012 campaign, and Seattle hopes to continue its fine form in preparation for Santos Laguna on March 7.

Sounders FC has averaged 2.4 goals per game, outscoring their opponents 12 to two in five games. Not only have goals come at a rapid pace but the defense has held strong, as well, holding opponents scoreless in the past three matches.

Sammy Ochoa and David Estrada have each scored two goals and forwards Fredy Montero and Eddie Johnson have each added one. Midfielder Christian Sivebaek has also had an impact throughout training games, totaling a goal and assist.

Wednesday Special: Atlante Next Up on the Menu

Head coach Sigi Schmid will emulate the start of the season with three preseason training games on consecutive Wednesdays with the hope of getting the team into a game playing rhythm. After downing Columbus Crew last Wednesday, Seattle's starters next face Atlante FC in Cancun, Mexico on Wednesday afternoon. The closed-door scrimmage will help Seattle become accustomed to playing on Mexican soil against Primera Division opposition. The match will be Seattle's final preseason road match as the team returns to Seattle to host Jaguares on February 29. With the Santos series on March 7 and 14, the Rave Green will have played games on five consecutive Wednesdays before opening MLS play on Saturday, March 17.

Mexico's Finest: Santos Continues Top Form

Santos Laguna remains atop the Mexican Clausura after earning a draw against CF Monterrey last Saturday. After suffering its first loss of the season at Monarcas Morelia, Santos bounced back to draw Monterrey at home, equalizing in the 82nd minute. Santos is now tied-first with Tigres and Morelia with 14 points through seven contests.

One of Mexico's top clubs, Santos finished fourth in the Mexican Apertura and lost to the Tigres in the final last December. They will play two more matches before the March 7 contest in Seattle, including March 3 versus San Luis. Santos also has a game in between the two legs on March 10 against Puebla.

Road to Glory: How Seattle, Santos Reached Quarterfinals

Both Sounders FC and Santos began their title chase in the preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions League. Seattle downed Panama's San Francisco FC, 2-1 on aggregate, while Santos flew past Olimpia of Honduras, 5-2. In the group stage, Seattle finished second in Group D behind the reigning champions Monterrey, who Sounders FC beat 1-nil in Mexico. And Santos finished atop Group B with 13 points, the most of any team in the group stage this year.

Seattle is vying to become the top soccer club in North American, Central America and the Caribbean. The winner of the CONCACAF Champions League earns a berth to the FIFA Club World Cup where the top clubs from each region around the world compete to earn the title of the world's top soccer club.

The quarterfinals are structured in a two leg (home and away) aggregate goal series. The eight quarterfinal teams include four from the Mexican Primera division, three MLS clubs and one team from El Salvador. The other quarterfinal matchups are LA Galaxy versus Toronto FC, Morelia versus Monterrey and Metapan versus Pumas.

In-and-Out: Busy Offseason for Sounders FC

The signing of Eddie Johnson continues a season of change for Sounders FC with six new players and 11 departures. A number of trialists and draft picks are also still in camp, including goalkeeper Andrew Weber, defender Andrew Duran, midfielder Andy Rose and forward Babayele Sodade.

In: GK Michael Gspurning, DEF Adam Johansson, DEF Marc Burch, FW Cordell Cato, MF Christian Sivebaek, FW Eddie Johnson.

Out: GK Terry Boss, MF Erik Friberg, FW Mike Fucito, DEF Taylor Graham, FW Nate Jaqua, GK Kasey Keller, MF Miguel Montano, MF Lamar Neagle, FW Pat Noonan, DEF James Riley, DEF Tyson Wahl.

Sounders FC Trades for Eddie Johnson

Seattle Sounders FC has traded for U.S. international forward Eddie Johnson, the club announced Friday. Johnson was selected by the Montreal Impact with the No. 1 pick in Major League Soccer's allocation process.

In exchange, Seattle sent forward Mike Fucito and midfielder Lamar Neagle to Montreal.

Johnson, 27, signed with MLS earlier this week after spending much of the past five years with Fulham of the English Premier League.

A member of the U.S. National Team since scoring in his debut in October 2004, Johnson has made 41 appearances with 12 goals for the senior team. He has scored eight goals in only nine FIFA World Cup qualifying appearances, and is the only U.S. player to score a hat trick coming off the bench (October 13, 2004).

Johnson became the first player in national team history to score in each of his first four appearances, three of which were 2006 World Cup qualifying matches. He is one of the most prolific scorers in U.S. Youth National Team history, tallying 37 career goals in 51 international youth games with the U-17s, U-20s and U-23s.

A native of Daytona Beach, Fla., Johnson returns to MLS where he began his professional career. He played four seasons for FC Dallas before joining Kansas City for two seasons, scoring 41 goals with 13 assists in 127 MLS appearances.

The six-foot forward spent four seasons with Fulham, signing with the EPL side in 2007. He made 19 appearances with the senior team. Johnson was loaned to English League Championship side Cardiff City for the 2008-09 season where he appeared in 30 games and scored two goals. In 2009 he was loaned to Aris of the Greek Super League, appearing in 12 games with one goal. Johnson's stint in Europe ended with a loan to Championship side Preston North End where he scored one goal in 16 appearances.

Johnson joined the team on Saturday in Florida.

Fucito, 25, was selected by Seattle in the fourth round (46th overall) of the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. In his three seasons with Sounders FC, he scored three goals with two assists in 23 appearances. Fucito added five goals with one assist in the 2010 and 2011 CONCACAF Champions League and also scored two goals in the 2011 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup.

Neagle, 24, was signed by Sounders FC on March 2, 2011. A native of Federal Way, Wash. he scored five goals with two assists in 23 league appearances in 2011, and added a goal in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Neagle was named MLS Player of the Week in August for his hat trick against the Columbus Crew.

Sounders FC hosts Mexico's Santos Laguna in the first leg of the CONCACAF Champions League quarterfinals on March 7. Seattle opens MLS play on March 17 against Toronto FC on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field.

Sounders FC Announces Reserve League Schedule

Seattle Sounders FC will play 10 reserve matches in 2012, kicking it off on the road against Vancouver on Monday, March 26 at University of British Columbia. Seattle will play each team in the Western Conference twice (once home and once away). Sounders FC will play five home matches, starting off with Portland on April 10.

Last year, Seattle finished first in the Western Conference, posting an 8-1-1 (25 points) record.

The league will again be divided into Eastern, Central, and Western conferences with each team playing all games within their conference. At the conclusion of the Reserve League season the team with the most points out of all three conferences will be determined the Reserve League Champion. As in Major League Soccer, three points is awarded for a win, one point for a draw and no points for a loss.

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.

Seattle Sounnders FC third annual "Community Shield" match will take place on Wednesday, February 29 at 7 p.m. on the Xbox Pitch at CenturyLink Field. Seattle will face the Jaguares de Chiapas of the Primera Divisi�n de México in a preseason match. This year's match will be free of charge but the team is encouraging fans to pay it forward. Donations will be accepted at the gates for the team's charity partners. Proceeds from the match will benefit the team's five community partners: America SCORES Seattle, Boys & Girls Clubs (King Co. & Bellevue), Special Olympics Washington, Washington Global Health and Washington Youth Soccer.

For the full schedule, visit www.SoundersFC.com.

Preseason Training Games Recaps: Seattle Wins Three in Florida

Seattle Sounders FC 5 vs. Florida Gulf Coast University 0 - February 19, 2012

Newly signed U.S. international forward Eddie Johnson scored as Seattle Sounders FC beat Florida Gulf Coast University, 5-0, in their fifth training game of the 2012 preseason at IMG Academy on Sunday afternoon.

Sounders FC (3-0-2) scored three goals in the first 30 minutes, including tallies from Johnson, Christian Sivebaek and David Estrada. The training game consisted of three 30-minute periods.

Johnson scored the game's first goal in the 11th minute. He controlled a ball from Zach Scott at midfield and, with his back to goal, spun his defender and brought the ball to the goal box. Once inside the box, Johnson cut to the middle with a step over and lofted the ball to the top corner of the net with his left foot.

Minutes later, Sivebaek sprinted after a loose ball in the box and was brought down by the keeper. On the ensuing penalty kick, Sivebaek, who celebrated his 24th birthday on Sunday, stepped up and converted a right-footed shot to the lower left corner.

Seattle added a third tally in the 28th minute. Johnson beat his defender with a step over just outside of the box on the right flank and found Cordell Cato in the box. Cato's shot bounced off the crossbar and David Estrada converted the rebound with a diving header at the back post.

The fourth goal came in the 73rd minute after Alex Caskey's free kick bounced in the box and the unnamed trialist scored with his left foot.

The fifth and final goal was scored in the 84th minute after the keeper deflected Babayele Sodade's shot and a defender mis-kicked the ball into the net.

Seattle Sounders FC 3 vs. U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team 0 - February 16, 2012

Three Seattle Sounders FC players scored as the Rave Green beat the U.S. Under-17 Men's National Team, 3-0, in their fourth training game of the 2012 preseason at IMG Soccer Academy on Thursday afternoon.

The training game consisted of two 35-minute periods with all three Sounders FC goals coming in the first period. Seattle's starters from the previous day did not play.

David Estrada struck first with a goal in the 24th minute. Estrada made a run up the left side, collected a pass from Sammy Ochoa and beat keeper Paul Christensen for the game's first goal.

Ochoa scored in the 32nd minute when he collected a loose ball outside of the box, dribbled past his defender and beat the keeper with the outside of his right foot from just inside the 18-yard box.

Zach Scott added the final tally in the 34th minute after Cordell Cato's shot was deflected by a defender. Scott ran onto the loose ball in the box and finished inside the far netting.

Moments before his goal, Estrada hit the post with a header in the 23rd minute after Amadou Sanyang found him at the back post.

Seattle Sounders FC 2 vs. Columbus Crew 0 - February 15, 2012

Fredy Montero and Cordell Cato scored as Seattle Sounders FC beat the Columbus Crew, 2-0, in their third training game of the 2012 preseason at IMG Soccer Academy on Wednesday afternoon.

It was Seattle's first win of the preseason after drawing their first two contests. Montero and Cato recorded their first goals this preseason and goalkeeper Michael Gspurning played 90 minutes, recording his first clean sheet.

The 120-minute training game consisted of two 45-minute periods followed by a 30-minute period. Seattle fielded a group of mostly returning starters for the first 75 minutes.

Montero struck in the 54th minute. Mauro Rosales brought the ball up the right side and rolled it to Adam Johansson who lofted a high cross into the box. Montero, who was just inside the six-yard box, elevated and hammered a header past keeper Andy Gruenebaum.

Newcomers Christian Sivebaek and Cato combined for the second tally in the 114th minute. Sivebaek brought the ball up the left side and chipped a cross to Cato who headed it past Crew keeper Matt Lampson.

There were three ejections and seven yellow card cautions issued in the game. Jhon Kennedy Hurtado was issued two yellow cards in the first 13 minutes of action and was replaced by Patrick Ianni. Amadou Sanyang was shown a red card in the 82nd minute for a high challenge. Lamar Neagle replaced Sanyang and Roger Levesque was moved to right back.

Columbus' Bernardo Anor was shown a red card in the 60th minute for a challenge on Osvaldo Alonso and was replaced by Shaun Francis.

Seattle Sounders FC 1 vs. Orlando City SC 1 - February 13, 2012

The Seattle Sounders FC tied Orlando City SC, 1-1, in their second training game of the 2012 preseason at IMG Soccer Academy on Monday afternoon.

Sammy Ochoa scored for Seattle and Dennis Chin recorded Orlando City's goal.

The game consisted of three 30-minute periods. Seattle fielded a group of mostly returning starters in the first period with a second group playing the final hour. Orlando City substituted a group of nine players at the 45-minute mark.

The first 30-minute period ended with Orlando City up 1-0. Dennis Chin scored in the 27th minute after he beat keeper Michael Gspurning to a through ball and converted from the right side of the box.

Seattle equalized in the 53rd minute on a goal from Sammy Ochoa. Christian Sivebaek brought the ball up the right side and found Lamar Neagle in the box. Neagle passed to Michael Seamon at the top of the box who rolled the ball to Ochoa. Ochoa beat the keeper with a shot to the top corner, inside the far post.

Seattle had two shots that hit the post. In the first 30-minute period, Mauro Rosales found Osvaldo Alonso in the box and his shot ricocheted off the bottom of the crossbar, bouncing off the line before being cleared by the defense.

In the 87th minute, Servando Carrasco was taken down in the box by the keeper after beating him to a loose ball. Carrasco's ensuing penalty shot hit the crossbar and was cleared by the defense.

Orlando City defense cleared a ball off the line in the 29th minute when Adam Johansson's cross from the right flank deflected off a defender and nearly crossed the goal line.

Academy Update: Pre-Academy Comes Away With Group Win in San Jose

Sounders FC Pre-Academy 96-97 team traveled down to San Jose this weekend for three MLS-only games, coming away with two wins and a draw. On Saturday and Sunday, the Rave Green swept the two San Jose Earthquake 96-97 squads in dominant fashion, then played the Portland Timbers 96-97 team to a scoreless draw on Monday morning. The Pre-Academy's 2-0-1 record for the weekend was good enough to win the group.

In Saturday's matchup, the Sounders defeated the first of two Earthquake 96-97 teams 2-0 behind the Elliot Havens-Sean Bowman connection. Bowman assisted Havens on the first goal, before Havens returned the favor and set Bowman up to make it 2-0. On Sunday, Sounders FC dominated the second San Jose 96-97 team with a 9-0 thrashing. Mohamed Dukuly led the way with a hat trick and an assist. Monday morning the Sounders clinched the group win when they played Pacific Northwest rival Portland Timbers 96's to a 0-0 draw in a hard fought, even game that saw both teams pushing hard for a goal.

Throw-ins

Eddie Johnson will wear the No. 7 jersey...Adam Johansson turns 29 on February 21 and Mauro Rosales turns 31 on February 24...Sounders FC U23 schedule was release last week, including home games against the Portland Timbers U23s on June 2 and Vancouver Whitecaps U23s on June 3. Other opponents include the Kitsap Pumas, Washington Crossfire and North Sound SeaWolves... Former Sounders FC goalkeeper Terry Boss has been hired by his alma mater, the University of Tulsa, as an assistant coach for the men's soccer team...The Sounders women signed goalkeeper Hope Solo and forward Sydney Leroux...Sounders FC academy alum Sean Okoli has been called into the Under-20 U.S. Men's National Team camp in Florida...Sounders FC trialist goalkeeper Andrew Weber participated in this year's The Amazing Race with his twin brother, Elliot, which debuted on CBS last Sunday.

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Major League Soccer Stories from February 21, 2012


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