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MLS Seattle Sounders FC

Sounders Play Thunder Sunday In Minnesota

August 8, 2008 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
Seattle Sounders FC News Release


(Seattle, Wa)- The Seattle Sounders (8-6-8) travel to Minnesota to face the Thunder (6-9-6) Sunday, August 10 before traveling to Charleston to play the Battery in U.S. Open Cup semifinals Tuesday, August 12. Kickoff at the National Sports Center is slated for 3:05 p.m. PT.

The Sounders won their third straight Thursday, 1-0, over the Portland Timbers in potentially the final match of the storied rivalry. The game, played in front of 12,332 people was the largest attendance at PGE Park this year. Sebastien Le Toux inked the winner in the 20th minute on a rebound from a Ciaran O'Brien shot that hit the post. The goal was Le Toux's tenth of the season, putting him in a tie with Atlanta's Macoumba Kandji and Miami's Alex Afonso for the league lead in goals.

Seattle jumped one spot into sole possession of fourth place in the USL-1 with 32 points. The victory also lifted the Sounders into first place in the Cascadia Cup standings with two matches remaining against Vancouver, who are tied for first place in the league with Charleston Battery (34 points). Puerto Rico sits in third with 33 points.

Next up is the third and final match with the Minnesota Thunder. In the last game played between the two sides July 24, Minnesota prevailed 2-1 at home. Sounders midfielder Youssouf Kante gave the Sounders the early lead, but Thunder defender Brian Kallman tied the match in the 78th minute and forward Melvin Tarley scored the winner three minutes later in the 81st. Previous to that game, Seattle defeated Minnesota at Starfire on June 7, 3-1 behind goals from Leighton O'Brien, Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar and Sebastien Le Toux.

Minnesota is currently tied for seventh place with 24 points. The Thunder defeated Sounders Open Cup semifinal opponent Charleston Battery Thursday, 2-1. A penalty kick from Alen Marcina in the 82nd minute secured the win.

The Sounders will travel from Minnesota to Charleston to challenge the Battery in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup, Tuesday, August 12 at 4:30 pm (PT), for the right to play the winner of D.C. United and the New England Revolution. If the Sounders are able to get past the Battery, the Open Cup final will be played at Qwest Field in Seattle.

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