Sounders travel to Puerto Rico to face Islanders

Published on July 31, 2008 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Seattle Sounders News Release


(Seattle, Wa)- The Seattle Sounders (6-6-8) square off against the Puerto Rico Islanders (9-5-3) Friday, August 1, at Juan Ramon Loubriel Stadium. Kickoff is set for 5:00 p.m. PT.

This past weekend, the Sounders ended their two-game slide by beating the league-leading Charleston Battery (31 points), 1-0 at Starfire. In a preview of the August 12 U.S. Open Cup semifinals, Seattle forward Sebastien Le Toux scored the game winner in the 58th minute on a volley from 15 yards out. The goal was Le Toux's eighth of the season and earned him USL-1 Team of the Week honors.

But the victory came at a high price as central midfielder Leighton O'Brien broke his wrist and will miss 4-8 weeks of action. On Thursday, the Sounders brought in Leighton's brother Ciaran O'Brien, also a midfielder, and forward Kevin Forrest to reinforce a side that has been dealt numerous blows on the injury front. Both O'Brien and Forrest are available immediately.

Seattle currently sits in fifth place with 26 points coming into a match-up with the red hot Puerto Rico Islanders. The Islanders have climbed the table with five straight wins and now sit in second place with 30 points. Their last victory came Sunday, 3-2, over the Minnesota Thunder. Midfielder Edwin Miranda's goal earned him a place on USL-1 team of the week. Former Sounder, forward Josh Hansen leads the Islanders in goals with five.

The two sides last played to a 1-1 draw on May 30 in Puerto Rico. Islanders forward Taiwo Atieno's goal in the 38th minute was offset when Taylor Graham received a cross from midfielder Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar and headed home the equalizer in the 79th minute. The score was the first and only of the season thus far for Graham.

Puerto Rico comes to Seattle, Friday, August 15, in the third and final regular season match between the two teams.

The Sounders play at Portland in a nationally televised game on Fox Soccer Channel next Thursday, August 7, followed by a game at Minnesota, Sunday, August 10. The team will travel from Minnesota to Charleston to challenge the Battery in the semifinals of the U.S. Open Cup, Tuesday, August 12, for the right to play the winner of D.C. United and the New England Revolution.

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USL First Division Stories from July 31, 2008


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