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Sounders Take On The Atlanta Silverbacks At Starfire

September 12, 2008 - USL First Division (USL-1)
Seattle Sounders News Release


(Seattle, Wa)- The Seattle Sounders (10-9-9) play the Atlanta Silverbacks (8-11-8) Saturday, September 13 at Starfire. Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. PT.

The Sounders failed to secure a playoff spot Wednesday losing to the Montreal Impact 2-1. Montreal's Tony Donatelli's header in the 59th minute from former Tacoma-area star Joey Gjertson gave the Impact the lead. Yousouff Kante tied the game three minutes later, but Montreal's Antonio Rabiero answered in the 70th with the winner. The loss was the second of a season-ending seven-game home stand (2-2-1). The three points for Montreal (40 points), playing in the CONCACAF Champions League next week, confirmed their playoff hopes.

Two regular season games remain--Saturday with Atlanta and the following Saturday against Vancouver, both at Starfire--and the Sounders need a single point to assure playoff position. The Sounders are in sixth place (39 points), and can still finish as high as third.

Next up is the Atlanta Silverbacks (32 points), a team sitting just one point back of playoff position behind Minnesota (33) with three games remaining (@Seattle, @Puerto Rico and @Miami). Atlanta has lost five straight, all without star striker Macoumba Kandji (high-ankle sprain suffered in 0-0 tie against Charleston on August 16), the most recent to Rochester, 1-0, on Saturday, August 30. Kandji, third in USL-1 with 25 points and fourth with 10 goals, will be a game-time decision.

Atlanta will be looking for their first win this year against Seattle in the third and final match between the two squads. Earlier this season, the Sounders defeated the Silverbacks, 2-0, on May 2 at RE/MAX Greater Atlanta Stadium. The one-two combination of Leighton O'Brien and Sebastien Le Toux provided the scoring punch in the Sounders first win of the season. At Starfire on May 18, two goals from Josh Gardner and one each from O'Brien and Le Toux gave the Sounders a 4-2 win. In the 2007 USL-1 Championship played at Starfire, Seattle defeated Atlanta, 4-0, to take the title.

PLAYOFF OUTLOOK

Berth 1 - Vancouver Whitecaps clinched playoff berth August 29.

Berth 2 - Puerto Rico Islanders clinched playoff berth August 29.

Berth 3 - Rochester Rhinos clinched playoff berth September 8.

Berth 4 - Montreal Impact clinched playoff berth September 10.

Berth 5 - Charleston Battery clinched playoff berth September 11.

Berth 6 - To be determined.

Berth 7 - To be determined

* Regular Season Commissioner's Cup winner receives bye to Semifinals

RANKINGS REMAINING GAMES

1. Puerto Rico (49 points) @Rochester, Atlanta, @Montreal

2. Vancouver Whitecaps (47) Montreal, @Seattle

3. Montreal Impact (41) @Vancouver, @Minnesota, Puerto Rico

4. Charleston Battery (40) @Minnesota, Carolina

5. Rochester Rhinos (40) Puerto Rico, @Carolina, @Miami

6. Seattle Sounders (39) Atlanta, Vancouver

7. Minnesota Thunder (33) Charleston, Montreal

8. Atlanta Silverbacks (32) @Seattle, @Puerto Rico, @Miami

9. Portland Timbers (31) @Carolina

10. Carolina RailHawks (30) Rochester, @Charleston, Portland

11. Miami FC Blues (28) Rochester, Atlanta

ARRIVE EARLY FOR SEASON'S FINAL GAMES!

Don't miss your chance to see the Sounders final run in their storied history starting this Saturday at Starfire against the Atlanta Silverbacks, tickets are available at www.ticketmaster.com. Don't miss the final regular season match against the Vancouver Whitecaps on September 20 in the regular season finale and Cascadia Cup deciding match. SEATING AT STARFIRE IS LIMITED AND ON A FIRST COME FIRST SERVE BASIS; ARRIVE EARLY AS LARGER CROWDS ARE EXPECTED FOR THESE HISTORIC MATCHES.

BUDWEISER BEER GARDEN

The Budweiser beer garden debuted last Saturday and will be open during the final two Saturday matches of the season, September 13 and September 20. Stadium gates open at 5:30 pm.

SEPTEMBER 20 POSTER GIVEAWAY

The Saturday, September 20 match against the Vancouver Whitecaps is Team Poster night at Starfire. Fans in attendance will receive a complimentary team poster at the main entrance as they enter the stadium. After the game, Sounders players will be available to sign posters on the main field at Starfire.

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