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Sounders home opener this weekend

May 3, 2007 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Seattle Sounders News Release


The Seattle Sounders open their 2007 USL First Division home campaign Saturday May 5th, 7pm at Qwest Field against their arch-rivals, the Portland Timbers.

The rivalry promises to be heightened this year by the off season acquisition of the Timbers all time assist leader, Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar by the Sounders and the defection of Sounders midfielder Andrew Gregor back to his hometown to play for the Timbers.

Both players have made immediate impacts for their squad, with Alcaraz-Cuellar tallying two assists and a USL First Division Team of the Week selection for his efforts in Miami and Puerto Rico last weekend and Gregor scoring two goals and missing two penalties in the Timbers opener on April 21st.

The Sounders season began with difficult road matches against Vancouver, Miami and Puerto Rico and they will gladly return to the friendly confines of Qwest Field to seek out their first win at the expense of the Timbers.

Portland has played only one match this season, a 3-1 victory over Puerto Rico in Portland on April 21. Portland finished 2006 with a sub .500 record of 7 wins, 15 loses and 6 draws, the worst in the modern era of the squad. On September 26, 2006 general Manager and Coach Chris Agnello left the organization after only one season and was replaced by Gavin Wilkinson.

Only nine of the 23 players on the Timbers 2007 roster where on the roster at the end of the 2006 campaign. Wilkinson has brought in talent from England, Major League Soccer and various places within the USL to bolster his squad and attempt a return to the upper echelon of the USL First Division.

Sounders fans have witnessed a similar, though less drastic talent search after their team failed to make the playoffs in 2006 for just the second time in 13 years. Saturday night will be their first chance to see the likes of forwards Nathan Knox, Andre Schmid and 2000 USL Rookie of the Year Greg Howes, former LA Galaxy midfielder Josh Gardner, rookie left back Adam West, Honolulu native Kenji Treschuk and Alcaraz-Cuellar in regular season competition.

French midfielder Sebastien Le Toux is questionable for the match because he is still waiting for his work Visa to be approved. Midfielder Leighton O'Brien is doubtful with the same hamstring injury that kept him out of the trip to Miami and Puerto Rico and forward Colin Rigby has still not recovered from a groin injury suffered in pre-season.

The Sounders follow up the home opener with a trip to PGE Park in Portland six days later on Friday May 11 in a nationally broadcast match on Fox Soccer Channel, followed by a match against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Qwest Field Saturday May 12.



USL First Division Stories from May 3, 2007


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