Can Sounders Write History vs Tigres

12 03 2013

Tigres UANLWhen was the last time you heard of fans celebrating a loss?

That could happen Tuesday night if Sounders FC defeat Tigres UANL at CenturyLink Field in the second leg of the CONCACAF Quarterfinal series. With Tigres leading 1-nil after the first leg last Wednesday in Monterrey, Mexico, Sounders FC will need two goals to make the near impossible become strange reality.

Seattle was outshot 18-3. But a veteran defensive effort from Leo Gonzalez and Djimi Traore, along with a stand-on-his-head effort by Keeper, Micheal Gspurning, kept the final score close.

Djimi Traore is the Sounders most recent acquisition. Most noted for his European Champions League title in 2005 with Liverpool.

The first leg was hard-fought. In the end, right back, Leo Gonzalez simply couldn’t make enough spectacular goal line clearances. None more notable than his third minute kick save on the line.

The lone goal for Tigres came in the 73rd minute. Alberto Acosta placed a set piece over Seattle’s defense to Lucas Lobos. His strike on frame was again knocked away by Gspurning. Unfortunately, Alan Pulido was able to push forward and head home the first leg winner.

The Sounders came home only a goal down. Facing Tigres in the second leg Tuesday, they have everything to play for. A pair of goals, OT miracle, or PK (Penalty Kick) glory are all possible.

If the Sounders win Tuesday night against Tigres, pulling off the undisputed upset of the 2013 CONCACAF Champions League, then last weeks first leg loss could go down in sports lore as one of the greatest, most celebrated losses.

If a publisher is reading, and the Sounders win Tuesday, we can discuss a deal for the book,

“The time we went to Mexico, fought to a loss, and came home a champion”

© 2013 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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LA Confidential part-two, The Boogie Team; Sounders vs Galaxy

4 08 2012

“Sometimes you just have a boogie team, you know, a team that just, for some reason, it just doesn’t work for you. And right now, they’re that team for us. I think they know that in their locker room.” 

Sigi Schmid, after 2010 season opening loss, 1-nil to LA Galaxy, March 16, 2011
(The Seattle Times | Sounders FC Blog, Joshua Meyers, Sounders vs Galaxy 3/16/11)

2011 MLS Champion LA Galaxy. Sounders 4-5-2 vs Galaxy in all competitions. 2-5-2 in MLS (including playoffs)

For this LA Confidential sequel, don’t go looking up IMDB (Internet Movie Database) when you have SOS (Sales on Sounders).

Seattle Sounders finally defeated LA Galaxy May 2nd, 2-nil. Stopping a winless streak dating to the 2009 inaugural season. Including regular season and 2010 MLS Playoff matches the Sounders record over that stretch 0-wins, 5-losses, 1-draw. The win in May was worth 3-points for the season, but without LA’s complete star-driven lineup it felt anticlimactic.

Sure, Sounders managed two US Open Cup wins over the Galaxy during that period. But at best the Galaxy were only giving 80% effort in those matches. Which ordinarily would be questionable behavior. If it weren’t for the fact the Galaxy made it clear winning MLS Cups are their priority. They backed that up convincingly winning the 2011 MLS Cup.

LA, Where the Wild Things are.

The Galaxy are loaded with international talent causing nightmares for MLS clubs.

No Galaxy name registers more attention than midfielder, David Beckham. With 6 goals and 9 assists, Beckham has been bending it the way only Beckham knows how. He has been directly involved in 15 of LA’s 39 goals. He’ll be nightmarish for the Sounders on set pieces.

Robbie Keane will make his first appearance for the Galaxy at Century Link Field. Although he has struggled to find the back of net this year, he has registered 52 shots, and tied with Donovan for 9 goals, leading the Galaxy. His struggles were only due to expectation for him to have scored 15-18 goals. He’s also recorded 6 assists. The Republic of Ireland National Team captain, is indeed the kind of nightmare the Sounders defense will have to challenge themselves to survive. His threat to score is as deadly as his ability to score.

When the Galaxy drifted to the bottom of the table earlier this season, all eyes turned on captain, Landon Donovan. Coach, Bruce Arena didn’t panic. Confident he had players with talent and will to pull through a sluggish start. Recently Arena pulled Donovan aside for a brief 1-vs-1. No surprise the Galaxy started climbing the table soon after. With a win over the Sounders, LA would rise to third place in the Western Conference.

“Struggling”, is a relative term in the world of defending champion, LA Galaxy. Landon Donovan continues to lead his team in scoring with 9 goals. He’s also recorded 7 assists, only 2 behind Beckham. It is easy to see why Donovan is the most prolific goal getter the US has produced. Even when he struggles, he’s a difference maker that finds ways to remain on the pitch contributing to the Galaxy’s success.

When LA struggled early on, one key player was absent from their championship squad, Omar Gonzalez. As the Galaxy slowly work back into championship form, it is his presence on defense that haunts opposing clubs.

LA’s three Designated Players: Robbie Keane, Landon Donovan, and David Beckham

Juninho is already known as a goal scoring thorn in the Sounders side. Playing at Century Link wont rattle this Brazilian’s football-brain.

Mike Magee doesn’t initially strike fear in opponents. He’s deceiving. Seems like a good guy. Defendable. Then, in the closing minutes of matches, who’s the guy on the end of so many Beckham bending blasts?  Magee, Magee, and Magee.

The Sounders have produced a unique ability to win US Open Cups. Since the Sounders 2009 inaugural season they are the only club to touch the cup. Winning three in a row. The name of the trophy is on the verge of being renamed, The Rave Green, Emerald City Cup. Next Wednesday, Sounders travel to Sporting Kansas City to play for their fourth consecutive US Open Cup.

The same can not be said for the Sounders ability to win key Major League Soccer regular season and playoff matches. They continue to be one of the most successful, attack oriented MLS clubs. But they struggle in key MLS matches. LA is one of those teams the Sounders have yet to measure up to.

Keys for the Sounders to exorcise a Boogie:

Don’t give up silly set pieces within Beckham’s bending range. Mark Robbie Keane. If you lose him, then you will find him in the back of your net. Mark up Magee. You can let Magee wander a bit, but watch out for his late runs into the box. When Beckham’s behind the ball, Magee better be covered, or you’ll soon realize he was the target all along.

With Eddie Johnson fully in form, will he be able to find that inch of space he needs to score on Omar Gonzalez? The Omar Gonzalez vs Eddie Johnson matchup may prove to be the key to the match. Another key question, will Osvaldo Alonso be able to hold up LA in the midfield, as he has against so many clubs? Tactically, he surely will. But not allowing LA to get inside his head, which I guarantee is an LA Confidential objective, will be Alonso’s challenge.

There may not be a footy-priest available tomorrow to conduct a Sounders exorcist. But, there will be 60,000 faithful, rave green, screaming fans boisterously believing they can beat a LA Boogie.

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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And the journey begins, Champions League 2012; Sounders vs Caledonia AIA

2 08 2012

Caledonia AIA play in Trinidad and Tobago’s TT Pro League

Seattle Sounders FC return to Champions League Thursday at CenturyLink Field. Starting their third consecutive campaign in our regions international tournament. The Sounders host the Caribbean Football Union’s Club Champion, Caledonia AIA of Trinidad and Tobago’s TT Pro League.

The Sounders have reached Champions League three consecutive years. Winning the US Open Cup the previous three seasons qualified them for CONCACAF Champions League.

Our international soccer (football) region is the wonky acronym, CONCACAF. (The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football). Fortunately their website is easier to remember than their name.

Sounders in Champions League 2010:

The Sounders first plunge into Champions League was in 2010. The major accomplishment in their first international campaign was qualifying for Champions League on their first attempt. Joining MLS in 2009, they won the US Open Cup in their inaugural season. That first Open Cup title punched their Champions League ticket.

If reaching international competition in their first attempt was their high, the disappointing low was failing to advance beyond the group stages. They went 2-wins, 3-losses, and 1-draw. Their first campaign could be summed up in one match.

A long way to Mexico. In the Sounders home match with Monterrey they lost 2-nil. In the away-leg in Mexico, Sounders sought revenge. They held a surprising 2-nil lead going into the 70th minute. No MLS club had won in Mexico. Monterrey scored in the 74th minute rattling the Sounders excited nerves. Seattle proceeded to allow two more goals in less than five minutes. Suffering a disappointing 3-2 loss. But it prepared them for 2011.

Monterrey went on to defeat Real Salt Lake to win the 2010 Champions League.

Sounders in Champions League 2011:

Group stage ready, the Sounders didn’t simply hope to do well. They made advancing from group stage a priority. The Sounders improved to 4-wins, 2-losses, and 1-draw. Again, the big moment came in Monterrey.

A week before Sounders played Monterrey, FC Dallas defeated Pumas to become the first MLS club to win in Mexico. Sounders didn’t waste any time being second.

Thirty-eight minutes into the away match, Alvaro Fernandez scored the decisive goal. This time the Sounders stood tall. Earning their most prominent international victory to date. They defeated the reigning CONCACAF Champion, halted their thirteen match Champions League undefeated streak, and did it in Mexico. More importantly, the win helped propel the Sounders to the quarterfinal knock-out round.

2011 Quarterfinals vs Santos Laguna:

Club Santos Laguna, Primera División, Mexico

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Advancing from group stages for the first time the Sounders again faced a formidable Mexican club in a two-leg, knockout quarterfinal.

For the first leg in Seattle, David Estrada wasted no time giving the Sounders fans a chilling, March-madness goal in the twelfth minute. Santos equalized in the sixty-first minute with a goal from US National Team’s striker, Hercules Gomez. On a free kick two minutes later, Mauro Rosales sent a soaring kick dangerously into the box, where Brad Evans headed the ball over Santos outstretched and airborne goalkeeper into the right corner of his net.

The two-leg series is aggregate. Sounders traveled to Santos one goal to the good (2-1).

The Sounders were always up against it. They knew defeating Santos would take more than a one goal advantage. But giving up two goals in the opening ten minutes was more than eloquent foreshadowing. Sounders got one goal back in the thirty-seventh minute. At halftime of the second leg the aggregate score sat knotted at 3-3. But Santos put away four second half goals. The Sounders took home their worse competitive loss to date 6-1 for the night, and 7-3 aggregate.

“Why so serious”?  Joker asks Batman. With every MLS team struggling to keep players healthy without US Open Cup and Champions League matches, why take Champions League seriously? Doesn’t that potentially weaken your chances for winning an MLS Cup?

You can’t avoid answering “yes”. But stopping there, you’d never see one of the beautiful, unique aspects of the game. The best teams, and only the best teams play in multiple leagues at one time. Barcelona, Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and AC Milan do this year in, year out.

These matches are not added to a clubs schedule for punishment. They add pedigree. They distinguish the elite champions from a regular list of the rest.

Seattle Sounders coach Sigi Schmid took a moment recently and gave some good insight into the importance of playing in, and taking our regions Champions League so seriously.

“It’s important because it’s our international tournament. It’s our Champions League. It’s our opportunity to show how good we are within our region. It gives us the opportunity to go to the World Club Championship”.

“I think you look at last year when we played against Santos, certainly the win at home was a big confidence booster for us, and the game down there was a big learning experience for us as well. But if we could have gotten past that game, matched up with Toronto, got into the final, it would have been a huge thing for our club. So, this is the beginning of that journey, and being recognized within your region I think is very important for our league as well. Because it’s definitely, I can say it’s a power struggle between Mexico and the US, as to who’s the dominant country in our region. That power struggle gets played out at the national team level, and then it gets played out at the club level as well, and the only place it gets played at the club level is in the Champions League”.

The group stage format is revised for 2012. In previous years each group, like the World Cup, had four clubs. The top two advancing. This year each group has three clubs, with only one advancing.

Winning the first match becomes more critical. In the past, clubs had wiggle room. They could settle for a couple draws advancing to the second round without exercising their full effort to win their group. This format change forces clubs to compete from the start.

To make other clubs want to reach Champions League, the new format offers some advantages over past formats. Two fewer games, which means less travel. But having less wiggle room means if you want to be a champion you have to win, or go home.

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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Sigi Schmid and the Curse of the Columbus Crew – Crew at Sounders

23 05 2012

Is there a Sigi Schmid curse over the Columbus Crew?  Does Drew Carey conjure “Ohio” spells every time the two clubs meet?

Sneaking back over the border from Vancouver with a thrilling, but fortunate 2-2 draw last Saturday. The Sounders will try to pick up their first win from the last 3 matches. Facing the Columbus Crew on Wednesday, 7pm at Century Link.

The Seattle Sounders took Sigi Schmid from the Columbus Crew in 2009 to help form the clubs inaugural squad. Sounders FC have not given anything to Columbus in return. In fact, the Sounders have selfishly continued to take points from the Crew whenever both clubs meet.

Saturday, August 27th, 2011. Sounders crus Crew 6-2. Lamar Neagle earns first career hat-trick. Second ever for Sounders. Photo by Ryan Sales

The Sounders and Crew have met competitively seven times.  Six regular season matches. Where Sounders are 3-W, 0-L, 3-D.  The other competitive match was a Sounders 2-1 win in the 2010 US Open Cup. Their second in a row at the time. Seattle has gone on to win three consecutive US Open Cups. Additionally, the Sounders have accumulated 16 goals. Their highest tally against any MLS opponent. While only allowing Columbus 6 goals.

Sigi Schmid helped manage the Columbus Crew to a 2008 MLS Cup Championship. With Seattle joining Major League Soccer the following season, the Sounders wanted a top-tier MLS coach to join the club. One who knew the ins-and-outs of the MLS game, and its players. A manager who came with proven success. No manager stood out more than Sigi Schmid. The Sounders put their sites on their man. Went for him. And got hin.

Crew fans weren’t happy with losing their coach. They haven’t been rewarded for their sacrifice. When both clubs meet, the best the Crew have been able to do is earn a draw.

On their first trip to Seattle in 2009, both clubs drew 1-1. Bad fortune met Columbus when they met in their second and final match of the 2009 season series. The Sounders were leading 1-nil on a Roger Levesque goal in the 36th minute. Levesque’s first MLS goal. Seattle gave up a penalty kick in the 83rd minute. Reigning MVP, Guillermo Barros Schelotto stepped up for a sure equalizer. Prior to the spot-kick, Tyrone Marshall deployed a little orchestrated gamesmanship. While the referee was organizing players to prepare for the penalty kick, Seattle’s sly veteran defenseman nonchalantly kicked away the turf where the penalty spot was located. Schelotto had to adjust the location of the ball. Enough of an adjustment off the spot, that it sent the ball wide of the goal. Either that, or Tyrone simply administered the Sigi curse into Crew Stadium pitch.

In 2010, Sounders Blaise Nkufo dealt the Crew a stinging hat-trick in a brutal 4-nil home loss to the Sounders. Only somewhat understandable considering Nkufo had just played for the 2010 Swiss National Team in the World Cup. Along with a historic career at FC Twente. But nothing prepared the Crew for Saturday, August 27th, 2011. A sunny summer afternoon in Seattle. Perfect for soccer. Unless you’re cursed. Lamar Neagle scored in only the 4th minute of the match. He went on to collect two more for the Sounders second hat-trick. Both against the Crew. While the club went on to tally 6 goals, and conceding only two. The Sounders most deviating thrashing of an opponent to date.

Coming in to Wednesday’s match the Crew have played 10 matches. Earning 12 points on the season from a 3-W, 4-L, 3-D record. Seattle has played 11 matches. Turning 23 points from a successful 7-W, 2-L, 2-D record.

There is no such “sure thing” in soccer. The sport is far from having it. The closest you can get perhaps to a soccer sure thing is the Seattle Sounders FC’s dominance over Columbus Crew. I’d never say bet your house on it, but I’d recommend placing fair money on Seattle to walk away midweek winners. If for no reason, than I completely believe in Sigi’s curse over the Crew.

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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Bayern, Blues and Border Crossing – Bayern Munich vs Chelsea and Sounders vs Whitecaps

19 05 2012

Cascadia Rivals – Vancouver Whitecaps vs Seattle Sounders FC – Image by Kelly Dews from Cascadia Trifecta

Harmonica. Lederhosen. And a tour bus.

Driver wanted for greatest heist since Pink Panther. Objective:  Champions League, and Cascadia Cup trophies. From Vancouver to Munich. Cross Atlantic travel required, not optional.

Last time Seattle Sounders FC crossed the border to Vancouver, Canada the trip included a memorable 3-1 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps. The stellar performance earned a priceless Cascadia trophy for the Rave Green faithful to take home.  So dramatic, the loss caused the Whitecaps to close their home pitch.  Forever.

The Major League Soccer era for the Cascadia Cup began in 2011. The first year with all three Cascadia rivals in Major League Soccer. Seattle joined MLS in 2009, with Portland and Vancouver launching in 2011. Seattle won the first MLS edition of the Cascadia Cup. Including two thrilling draws at home followed by highlight worthy wins from both road matches in Portland and Vancouver.

The first Cascadia Cup winner came down to the match with Vancouver. Their final appearance at historic Empire Field. The Sounders pulled together a stellar 3-1 performance against the Whitecaps. The win was enough for the Sounders to go undefeated throughout the Cascadia Cup. It was also the last match for the Whitecaps at Empire field before moving to their current home at BC Place. Which they opened a week later in a 1-nil loss to Portland.

All rivalries are fun. Some are epic. Dedicated Timbers Army supporters drove the Cascadia Cup from Pottland to a match their club wasn’t even participating in. Sounders fans showed how exciting and passionate all three clubs are in traveling to away matches as much as being at home matches. Emerad City Supporters voices were loud and easily heard in Vancouver

Vancouver and Seattle Cascadia ties have a French connection.

Le Toux and Nowak – City of Brotherly Love no more

Sounders FC’s first player signing was Seabastian Le Toux. Le Toux joined the Sounders in 2007 while the club still resided in the USL. Fans latched on to the Frenchman attempting to find an American soccer home. Philadelphia snatched him away in their 2010 Expansion Draft. Le Toux was left unprotected by the Sounders. Clubs can protect eleven players. The rest are available for expansion clubs. Philadelphia made no hesitation in grabbing Le Toux for his tenacious work rate. He immediately became a Union fan favorite. Helping the Union to a successful 2011 season. Making their first playoff appearance.

Union coach, Peter Nowak shocked the MLS nation. Trading their leading goal scorer Le Toux to the Whitecaps before the season. The trade was not popular in Philadelphia but has worked well in Vancouver. Now paired with fellow Frenchman, Eric Hassli, they make up one of the more dangerous tandems in the league. Likely the most difficult attacking assignment the Sounders steady-7 defenders have faced all season.

The French tandem  haven’t connected for much yet. But if Wednesday’s wonder-volley by Hassli is any sign of what the Sounders may face, a potential firestorm of French connected goals are on the way for the Whitecaps.

Hassli scored a pin-point volley against Toronto, in Wednesday’s first leg of the ACC (Amway Canadian Championships). The second leg of the Amway Canadian Championship final is next Wednesday. The score from the first leg is 1-1. The winner plays in the CONCACAF Champions League.

2012 Champions League Final – Chelsea (Premier League, England) vs Bayern Munich (Bundesliga, Germany)

Prior to Saturday’s first installment of the 2012 Cascadia Cup, and across the Atlantic, with a french step-over to Germany is the 11:45 am (PST) kickoff of the UEFA Champions League Final. The Bavarian region of Germany is the site of the largest football match in the world so far in 2012.  The UEFA Champions League Final features English Premier League power Chelsea against Bundesliqa juggernaut Bayern Munich. The match site is in Munich. Bayern’s home stadium, the Allianz Arena.

During the 2006 World Cup in Germany, I looked for a player I didn’t know.  One I had never heard about. I looked for a player to captivate my attention. During the Group Stages, I noticed the French kept deploying some guy out on the right-wing. Nothing fancy. Just hustle and finesse. The guy kept beating midfielders and defenders in 1-vs-1 challenges for no more apparent reason than he wanted it more than the other guy.

I found my man.  Franck Ribery.

I wasn’t alone in noticing Ribery. Bayern wasted no time in luring him from Southern France’s, Ligue-1 club, Olympique de Marseille. Ligue-1 is the top league in France.

In short order, Ribery has gone from being a relatively unknown player to one of the top performers in Europe over the last 6 years.  All with Bayern Munich.

Everyone has a favorite player. Ribery is mine. Whether you are in Chelsea Blue, or Bavarian red-and-white gingham, Ribery is a player to watch. He plays more from Bayern’s left-wing than his French National Team right side. Watch for how positive his possession of the ball is. Always gliding forward. Leading teammates into attacking spaces. Sandwiched with as many as three opponents, don’t be surprised to see him work the ball free, or safely pass the ball out. Goals?  He is one of Bayern’s best goal getters. And still looks for the assist first. His goals, if he gets one, always have flare. The kind that launch every sporting viewer into the air. You may root for Chelsea, but you must watch Ribery.

The Sounders come off a tough loss at home to Real Salt Lake. They still bring fresh confidence. Their 1-nil loss to Real Salt Lake was preceded by a quick succession of 5 matches in 15 days. Over the previous six matches, the Sounders went 5-wins and 1-draw.

Coming into BC Place, Saturday’s 2pm (PST) match with Vancouver Whitecaps, the Sounders have a 7-W, 2-L, and 1-D record. Third in the west with 22-points. Vancouver is 5-W, 3-L, and 2-D.  Fourth in the West at 17-points.

The Western Conference is heating up.  Real Salt Lake and San Jose Earthquakes lead the way. With Seattle and Vancouver working close behind. Colorado Rapids, and FC Dallas chase steadily in the 4th and 5th spots respectively. Either is capable of moving higher in short order. The western table fills out with LA Galaxy, Chivas USA, and Portland Timbers. Defending champions, LA Galaxy, have yet to show a defense of their 2011 title. That is no doubt a dormant monster waiting to attack this Summer. Chivas USA made player acquisitions this past week to show they are working to improve as much as rebuild. Portland rests at the bottom. In my humble, and only slightly scientific opinion, they are a hibernating team. If their defense solidifies, shoring up leaks, as seen in the two previous draws, then combined with their offensive knack for early leads, they may become the 3-D creature that shocks the standings.

The unbalanced 2012 MLS schedule means Cascadia rivals will face off six times this year. Sounders travel to Portland and Vancouver twice each. Hosting both only once. A tough road to defend their inaugural MLS Cascadia Cup.

While Europe celebrates a new champion, Cascadia will feature two offenses heating up.  One distinctly French, and the other more South American. Don’t move your UEFA chair. Order another pint and take in the nervy and wild 2012 Cascadia Cup ride.

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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Steady Seven – Can Sounders 7 defender rotation march to victory over Real Salt Lake? Take Tops in MLS?

12 05 2012

Seattle Sounders FC, inaugural season 2009, US Open Cup Champions 2009-Present

Sounders FC‘s steady-seven defender rotation have only allowed 3 goals.  Helping Keepers Michael Gspurning and Bryan Meredith earn 6 shutouts.  Including 3 in a row, with over 270 shutout-minutes.  They are the back-line foundation of the Sounders early success.  The best defensive unit in Major League Soccer through 9-matches.

All that defensive prowess and early success for the club will be tested tonight, 7pm at Century Link.  Real Salt Lake bring their physical, but slick attacking style to Seattle.  Kyle Beckerman and gang are as adept at scoring as any club in Major League Soccer.  They have played 12-matches and stand top-of-the league with 23 points.

With a win tonight, Sounders have an opportunity to rise up and takeover the top spot in Major League Soccer.  Doing so against Real Salt Lake would build the clubs only missing element of competitive success.  Playoff confidence.

These are the types of matches the Sounders must begin to win if they want playoff success.  In order to have confidence to march to the dream of hoisting the MLS Cup.

The Sounders have wrestled 12 points in their last 4 matches.  The maximum possible.  Part of a schedule as compact as a Mariners schedule.  Featuring 5 matches in 15 days.  Overall, the Sounders have won five in a row and are unbeaten in their last six matches.  But none have been as significant, not even the 2-nil win over LA, as this match tonight with Real Salt Lake.

Claret and Cobalt – Inaugural season 2005, MLS Cup Champions 2009

The Claret and Cobalt of Salt Lake City are the Sounders first real test of 2012.  If a winner emerges, they could move to the top of the Western Conference.  Even tops in MLS.

Last season the Sounders traveled to Salt Lake, braking Real Salt Lake’s 29-match home win streak.  RSL countered in the playoffs with a 2-leg, 3-2 aggregate goal, heartbreaking playoff series victory over Seattle.

Is it a rivalry?  Nothing like a Cascadia rivalry, but as Sigi said, “Is Manchester United Arsenal’s biggest rival?  No, but it’s a rivalry game.”

“Any time you have two good teams playing each other and want to compete for top of the table, there’s always going to be a little bit of a rivalry there,” – Sigi Schmid, Sounders FC 

*****

Here are the Sounders Steady-Seven defensive rotation.  Only 3-goals allowed.  6-shutouts.  270+ minutes of scoreless soccer.

#12 – Leo Gonzalez, #4 – Pat Ianni, #34 – Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, #5 – Adam Johansson, #8 – Marc Burch, #20 – Zach Scott, #31 – Jeff Parke

*****

 Western Conference standings:

1 – Real Salt Lake, 23-pts, 7-W, 3-L, 2-D, (12 matches played)
2 – San Jose Earthquakes, 22-pts, 7-W, 2-L, 1-D, (10 matches played)
3 – Seattle Sounders FC, 22-pts, 7-W, 1-L, 1-D, (9 matches played)
Sporting Kansas City, 21-pts, 7-W, 2-L, 0-D, (9 matches played)  - SKC play in the MLS Eastern Conference.
3-pts Win, 1-pt Draw, 0-pts Loss

Title by Hannah J Breuler, 9 year-old niece of SOS
She got the idea while sitting on oranges and reading the blog. 

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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From Frisco With Depth – Sounders at FC Dallas

9 05 2012

Three up, three down.  What’s next?  Wednesday in Frisco, Texas with FC Dallas.

Sounders successfully march on to challenging May schedule – March to the Match vs Philadelphia Union 5/5/12 – Photo by © Paul Kahl

The last time Sounders traveled to FC Dallas Stadium, they were facing eight matches in August.  The most challenging portion of their 2011 schedule. How did they do?  Sounders went 7-W, 0-L, 1-D.  Including a rare Champions League win in Mexico.  Only the second MLS squad to succeed in Mexico.  The only other is FC Dallas, who did it one week before Sounders FC.

The Champions League win was followed by a 1-nil win over FC Dallas.  Zach Scott took on growing US Men’s National Team star, and FC Dallas playmaker Brek Shea.  Scott was impressive in shutting down the rising US star.

Currently In the middle of their first scheduling challenge of 2012 the Sounders are rising to the occasion.  They are turning into a club with a well oiled baseball like player and lineup rotation.  And a skipper with a nose for who needs to be on the pitch.  If you accurately predict the Sounders starting XI for Wednesday, buy a lottery ticket.

The Sounders baseball like player rotations and lineup changes have produced three wins in a stretch of five matches over 15 days.  Sounders Coach, Sigi Schmid continues to show his Lou Piniella like sharpness with his defensive rotation.  About his defenders, Sigi said, “I think we’ve got seven starters.  Any of those seven, we don’t miss a beat in the back”.

Seattle is undefeated in its last five matches.  Winning four in a row.  MLSSoccer.com took note of the Sounders recent success in their current power rankings. There is not much to glean from power rankings while you are in the midst of a tight regular season schedule.  That said, they make for fun talking points.  If you’re winning, then you’re climbing the ladder.  While the teams you defeat, like the LA Galaxy fall.  Which is kind of fun to watch.

Early success can be completely forgotten by the time the Sounders hit the showers after Real Salt Lake on Saturday.  The Sounders are 6-W, 1-L, 1-D and 19 points on the season.  (3 pts = Win, 1pt = Draw)  In the West, they are third behind San Jose Earthquakes and Real Salt Lake.  Both with 22 points.  Sounders have played two fewer matches than San Jose, and one fewer than Salt Lake.  If they enter the Century Link locker room on Saturday after facing a second loss in 4 days, momentum and power ranking talking-points will reverse against them.  That is the downside of any short-term success in a compact schedule.

It’s not one position, or one tactical grouping of players going through rotations. It’s the entire squad.  Sounders starting Keeper, Michael Gspurning left after the first half of the LA Galaxy match last Wednesday.  Brian Meredith stepped in to finish the shutout win.  Meredith got the start last Saturday against the Philadelphia Union. Earning his first win and complete game shutout.

Some rotation decisions are tactical, and some like Meredith coming in for Gspurning are for injury.  Meredith is likely to finish the May schedule for Gspurning.

As the Sounders continue to roll through their tight May baseball schedule, they continue to roll through their rotation.  The brightest star for the club is perhaps the depth of their bench.  If the entire club continues to buy into shared minutes throughout the full season, there could be a healthy reward at the finish.

Pre-match Warm up vs Philadelphia Union 5/5/12 - Photo by © Paul Kahl

Please welcome Paul Kahl to Sales on Sounders for his photography contributions.

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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Sounders Play Full 90 or Full 9 Innings In May? Sounders at Fire Saturday

27 04 2012

Coming into a rapid succession of matches, Sounders FC begin the American League West baseball portion of their 2012 Major League Soccer schedule.   On Saturday, Sounders FC travel to Bridgeview, Illinois.  South of Chi-town to face the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park at 5:30 PST.  A rematch of last October’s 2-nil US Open Cup match in Seattle.  The Sounders third consecutive US Open Cup.

Sweet Lou, can you hear me now?  I don’t imagine former Mariners manager, Lou Piniella will be available to help Sigi Schmid figure out the Sounders upcoming rotation for their spit-tight schedule in May.  But I don’t think his dry-wisdom on the matter would be overlooked either.

 Me:   (My imaginary brief interview with Sweet Lou about the Sounders):   Lou, with numerous matches coming up, and players having little recovery time, how do you decide who to bring up and use in your rotation?  Especially with some guys just coming back from injury and others still recovering?

Sweet Lou Piniella:    “Whoever the organization wants to bring up is fine with me”.

Sigi’s options show more promise than Sweet Lou’s “whoever” answer.  Mauro Rosales is likely to start Saturday.  Adding a more dangerous attacking element to the Sounders goal-slacking offense.

Since the Sounders 2009 inaugural season they have built a deep and talented bench. That depth and talent will be thoroughly tested in May’s matches.

With their first five matches completed, the Sounders have a 3-W, 1-L, 1-D record. Ten points in five games, averaging two points per match is a good start.  (3 pts per win, 1 pt per draw)

Through those first five matches the Sounders have used 19 starters.  They will certainly add to that in May.  Likely within the next five matches over a compact 14 day stretch.

You see, it’s not just me.  That really reads like a MLB Manager’s rotation issues in a compact summer baseball schedule.

Here are the fast and furious five upcoming matches from Saturday, April 28th to Saturday, May 12th.

Chicago Fire, Saturday, April 28th – Away
LA Galaxy, Wednesday, May 2nd – Home
Philadelphia Union, Saturday, May 5th – Home
FC Dallas, Wednesday, May 9th – Away
Real Salt Lake, Saturday, May 12th – Home

One week later, Sounders travel across the northern border for their first Cascadia rivalry match of 2012 with the Vancouver White Caps.

Winning expectations are high for the Sounders in 2012.  Injuries always test any teams resiliency and ability to adapt and find ways to win.  Last August the Sounders made a strong playoff push with an outstanding 7-W, 0-L, 1-D record.  So, there is a precedent for stepping up when it counts in their short MLS history.

The Fire through five matches have 8 pts, with a 2-W, 1-L, 2-D record.

While the Sounders will feature faces recovering from injuries.  Chicago will feature newly acquired Forward, Chris Rolfe.  Rolfe previously played for Chicago from 2005-2009.  He left in ’09 for Danish club, Aalborg BK.  He will strengthen their already potent attack with Marco Pappa, Patrick Nyarko, and Dominic Oduro.

Sounders defense will have their hands full.  The potent midfield pairing of Brad Evans and Osvaldo Alonso will again be heavily relied upon to disrupt Chicago’s attack, push the ball through the midfield to Rosales, who the Sounders will count on heavily to assist in finding the scoring touch for Eddie Johnson, Fredy Montero, or David Estrada.  Who have all been silent for the Sounders the last few matches.

Sigi should be able to find a rotation from the depth of his Sounders bench.  Their aim over the next five matches should be to put up no less than 9 pts from 15 possible.  If Sigi can’t find players in his rotation to close 9 pts from 15, then someone may need to buzz Piniella to find a closer from the bullpen.

“Our pitchers aren’t pitching very well and our hitters aren’t hitting very well.  Outside of that, we’re OK.” — Lou Piniella 

More Sweet Lou - Who isn't nostalgic for a little Lou in Summer? Those entertaining post game comments to send you to sleep.

Notes:

Saturday’s match with Chicago Fire is the Sounders 100th since the inaugural match, March 19th, 2009.  Amassing a 47-W, 25-L, 27-D record, including 3 consecutive Lamar Hunt US Open Cup titles.  The only club with a better record through its first 100 matches is none other than the Chicago Fire.  Going 52-W, 30-L, 18-D.  Including an inaugural season MLS Cup and US Open Cup title in 1998.  They have won 3 more US Open Cup since ’98.

Chris Rolfe, according to MLSsoccer.com is not expected in the lineup vs Sounders on Saturday.  Even in supporting the Sounders he’s a player that delights the soccer eye.  Just as it has been frustrating for Sounders to have Mauro Rosales out, it is unfortunate for Fire that Rolfe is out.  The will be the only Fire v Sounders match of 2012.

 © 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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Much ado about Mullan; Zach Scott Steels Spotlight

20 04 2012

Brian Mullan received Seattle’s most sporting welcome for visiting the Sounders at CenturyLink last Saturday. He was given a proper loud greeting.  The kind of traditional Seattle sports greeting reserved by fans of the Seahawks 12th Man, Mariners fans at Safeco, and Sounders Emerald City Supporters for players who’ve become villans of Supersonic City.

Who is Clay Bennett, and who are the Oklahoma City Thunder?  For the “Daily Double”, Alex?

There was a large media build up to Mullan’s visit.  Yet for all the hype, there wasn’t much to report between Seattle’s fans and Mullan.  Except noise.  It wasn’t a situation you would characterize as, “much ado about nothing”.  But the boo-jeering of Mullan remained tame.  Even expected.

From player introductions, to every touch of the ball, until exiting the pitch, Brian Mullan was greeted and jeered with boos for his slide tackle last April, that broke Steve Zakuani's right leg, nearly ending his career.

Mullan strolled into Seattle from the rocky mountains of Commerce City, Colorado. Home of the Rapids.  From the edge of town to every turn of the street he was reminded of the sad and heavy-handed incident with Zakuani a year ago.  Fans came, fans saw, and fans booed.  There were no surprises.

America’s western ethos is alive and true in Major League Soccer.  At least when it comes to the Rave Green supporters of Seattle.

How the match was won. Heroes and villans.

Seattle’s fans did what good sporting fans are supposed to do.  From lineup introductions for the purple-clad visitors from Colorado, fans picked out the one true villan.  Brian Mullan was given more than a traditional “who?”, during player introductions.  ”Who?”, is a pre-match jeer for visiting soccer players as their names are announced.  For Brian Mullan, the usual “who?” was followed by a bravado-chorus of “boo”.  That greeting echoed the entire match whenever Mullan touched the ball.

Brian Mullan had other plans.  In the 33rd minute Omar Cummings shot a solid strike at Seattle’s goal.  The ball deflected off Sounders’ Keeper, Michael Gspurning’s hands. Mullan swooped in from his right-wing post and worked his way into the center of the Sounders 6-yard box.  Seeing the deflection, he raced forward, knocking the loose ball into the net.

Alex Rodriquez was almost set free.  For an instant, Seattle’s most disliked sporting-villan appeared to be released.  This vision was quickly vanquished by the assistant referee who flagged the play offside.

In all fairness to Mullan, he was one of the more positive, forward moving playmakers on the Rapids during the match.

In the end, it was one of the more unlikely Sounders who stepped forward into the role of hero.   Zach Scott turned a 63rd minute corner from fellow newcomer, Alex Caskey into the far corner of Colorado’s net.  Scott’s snap-flick header, came from Caskey’s left-sided corner. As the ball curled in to the box, Scott escaped his defensive marker.  Creating a seam of space to run towards the near post and meet the ball before it could be whipped away by Colorado’s defensive grinders.

The game winner was Scott’s first goal in Major League Soccer.  The hard working, and longtime Sounders veteran defender had coach, Sigi Schmid contemplating after the match if any Sounder would be more unlikely to score.  ”Michael Gspurning.  (Sounders Goalkeeper)  I think he’d probably be a little more unlikely”.

Scott started playing for the Sounders in 2002 before they were promoted to MLS in 2009 from their A-League/USL-1 days.  Teammate Roger Levesque, and Assistant Coach, Brian Schmetzer are the other two standouts from the clubs older era.

Zach Scott’s “Man of the Match” reward was shared with longtime fans.  Sending 38,000 riding home into the happy sunset.

You can also find my work at SeattlePI.com in The Seattle Sounders Fan Blog section.

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales

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Wonder-Striker Wondolowski – Earthquakes at Sounders

31 03 2012

Two home matches, two wins.  Is there much more that could be, or should be made from the Sounders taking six points out of six possible in the first two matches of 2012?

if this MLS season is a Marathon potentially lasting until December, then I’m more concerned about the Sounders accumulating early injuries than points from victories.  On paper, the start is an improvement over the 0-W, 2-L start the club had at this time last year.  But injuries temper short-term success in a long season.

Collin Lamont (@ChamberECS on twitter) made an interesting observation about a “formidable lineup” of Sounders.  A nearly all injured lineup:  Josh Ford – Keeper, Adam Johansson – Defender, Mauro Rosales – Midfielder, Eddie Johnson – Forward, Brad Evans – Midfielder (game-time decision) Steve Zakuani – Midfielder, Michael Tetteh – Defender, Andrew Duran – Defender, Babayele Sodade – Forward

Names you don’t want to see on the injured list too long.

The talented Sounders depth will be pressed up against the wall.  That depth is often about season development, more than about being forced into action.  But the length of the Sounders current triage list will force many developing players into action.

With four of the Sounders first five goals in 2012, David Estrada is bringing Sounders depth to the surface.  As with Neagle and Fucito before him, there is a precedent in the Sounders camp for developing players rising to meet the challenge when injuries begin to mount.

Chris Wondolowski of San Jose Earthquakes - Most goals in MLS past two seasons.

If you are like me, when you are jumping and singing praise for your own clubs heroes, like Estrada, it’s hard to see any other players in MLS who deserve mention for their hard work and team-first work ethic.

Chris Wondolowski stands out.  The San Jose Earthquakes starting forward deserves the growing recognition he’s receiving.  He doesn’t take many days off.  When he’s not playing for the Earthquakes and tallying the most goals in MLS over the last two years, he’s working his way onto Jurgen Klinsmann’s, US Men’s National Team lineup.

Paired with the ever-present threat of Steven Lenhart, San Jose posses one of the more lethal 1-2 goal scorning punches in Major League Soccer.  The Sounders have the defensive strength and talent to stand tall to San Jose, but the challenge can’t be taken lightly.

Wondolowski has graduated from proving his role each week as a starter.  Now he’s proving his place above other goal scoring names like, Henry, Donovan, Montero, and Shea.  He wants to prove his efforts can lift San Jose up as a playoff threat, while solidifying his spot on the National Team.

San Jose will test the Sounders depth.

The Earthquakes are the most complete challenge for the Sounders so far this season.  They possess some of the same threat the Sounders faced in the attacking height that Toronto and Houston had.  But they posses a more attacking midfield.  Sounders need to be alert to the constant threat of a quick San Jose counter attack.  Their defense has been their leaky faucet, but has improved.  They will come in with a chip on their shoulder from being the team that lost to Keller in his last regular season appearance before retiring.

Sideline Notes

 

The Heritage Cup - Original NASL Clubs in MLS

Heritage Cup:  NASL is still alive in spirit.  San Jose Earthquakes, Vancouver Whitecaps, Portland Timbers, and Seattle Sounders are all part of the continued history from their former NASL days.  Before Portland and Vancouver joined in 2011, the first Heritage Cup went to San Jose in 2009.  Sounders won the next two in 2010 and 2011.  Tonight is the first Heritage Cup match of 2012.

Last meeting:  The last meeting between San Jose and Seattle was the historic last regular season home match in front of goal for Kasey Keller.  October 15th, 2011, Sounders won 2-1 for Keller’s last home regular season match.  To mark the night as a historic date for the Sounders, there were memorable performances by the club and from Keller himself.  Sounders fell behind 1-0 to none other than Chris Wondolowski.  The lead would have increased had anyone other than Keller been in net.  Keller thrilled a crowd of over 50,000 by making of succession of 4 saves.  Diving, charging, going to turf, rising again, and knocking the ball away.  Rare to ever see many efforts like it.  Topping the night off, Sammy Ochoa and Fredy Montero scored two late Sounders goals to leave the crowd thrilled and give Keller a happy retirement memory.

Alonso = Honey Badger:  Osvaldo Alonso has had his tenacious style of winning balls back from quickly from other teams earn the midfielder the nick name “Honey Badger”.  For his efforts last week he earned a place on the Major League Soccer Best XI.

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan Sales


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