Whitecaps and Sounders – Cascadia Rivalry – North American Soccer History

11 06 2011
The Cascadia Rivalry

Cascadia Rivalry - Portland Timbers, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps

Out of the Fire and into Cascadia.  Last week, Kasey Keller, Seattle’s Goal Keeper extraordinaire pulled out another brilliant performance from his satchel of well aged magic.  His effort was key in bringing Sounders FC a well-earned point for their nil-nil draw in Chicago. This week Seattle hosts its Canadian Cascadia rival, Vancouver Whitecaps.

Saturday at Qwest Field is another historic milestone for the Sounders and US Soccer. A rivalry since 1974, the Cascadia Clash with Vancouver and Seattle has been promoted to its most prominent level yet.  With Vancouver Whitecaps FC joining Major League Soccer this year, along with Portland, the complete Cascadia Rivalry is now more than ever an international experience.  If you’re hooked on tweets, this week is #Vancouverweek on Twitter.  And with the rapture behind us, one would think little could capture our social network attention more than babies and cats on You Tube. The complete release of Cascadia unleashed on North America is officially a strong competitor.

If Portland is our backyard, mudslinging half-brother, Vancouver is our gentlemanly, and worldly cousin.  At first glance, Sounders and Whitecaps cause a gentler Cascadia rumble than the more eruptive Sounders and Timbers edition.  With Vancouver’s sporting brethren, the National Hockey League, Vancouver Canucks vying for the Stanley Cup.  Vancouver fans are well versed in bone crushingly intense team sport.  Seeing usually gentlemanly and courteous athletes be complete sportsmen one minute, then drop gloves, fight, and bite fingers the next, is more common in Vancouver than Seattle.  In Vancouver, they know their sport.

Alan Hinton

Alan Hinton - From Derby County to Cascadia

If you ever want an amazing athlete, coach, and entertaining sports personality to emulate, or influence future youth athletes, then Alan Hinton is my personal recommendation.  His Cascadia legacy in the Vancouver-Seattle rivalry extends both sides of the border.  He is one man standing above all others in making the Whitecaps and Sounders rivalry what it is today.  He knows the rivalry inside out, having been on both sides.  A natural-born storyteller, he retells many of the rivalries great stories and has played many of its most significant roles.  Including playing for Vancouver, coaching for both, and now as a TV and Radio Analyst with Sounders FC.

NASL

North American Soccer League - 1968-1985

Both teams formed in 1974, joining the NASL (North American Soccer League).  Alan Hinton joined Vancouver in 1978.  Originally from England, he played for arguably one of the greatest English Premier League coaches, Brian Clough at Derby County.  His 30 assists for the Whitecaps in 1978 are still a high level achievement even by current soccer standards.  In 1980 he joined the Seattle Sounders earning 25-wins 7-losses.  If you want insight, intellect, and great humor, then you want to know Alan Hinton.  ”When the season schedule is released the first thing you do is look for when you  play the Whitecaps”.  ”When I was at the Whitecaps we almost always beat the Sounders.  When I was at the Sounders we always beat the Whitecaps”.  

Sports are events bringing large numbers of diverse groups of people together.  People hungry to find some tiny bit of soulful commonality.  Something that truly binds us all together.  Soccer is our worlds best team sport example.  Alan Hinton is the wise and colorful voice who has made this regions best sports rivalry one of its best long-standing sporting events.  He has helped transform this rivalry into a can’t miss event.

On Saturday night, the rivalry turns 37.  So, on Twitter I gave this rivalry week another hash-tag name.  Instead of #VancouverWeek, I prefer #AlanHintonWeek.

In the three team Cascadia rivalry, Vancouver has the only league title.  In 1979 they won Soccer Bowl ’79 and were NASL Champions.  The Timbers and Sounders both reached NASL finals but neither won.

Vancouver Whitecaps - NASL logo - Soccer Bowl '79 NASL Champions

Finding success in Major League Soccer will be a bigger challenge for Vancouver than in the NASL.  Parity in the league makes matches tightly contested, so no one team has dominated the sport since Houston winning repeat MLS Championships in ’06 & ’07. Sounders FC set a high bar winning back-to-back US Open Cup titles in its first two seasons.  Vancouver would like to feed off that energy.  Some first season issues have posed challenges in their transition to MLS.  Coaching changes and ticketing issues with supporters have been two obstacles.

Stadium seating location and pricing for their Southsiders Supporters group caused an initial stir.  Much of which Vancouver’s front office has resolved.  But it has left lingering communication concerns between the teams Front Office and its Supporters. More recently their coaching change has been the bigger issue.

As bright and entertaining as the Whitecaps have been on the pitch, they have struggled in getting results that satisfy their ownership.  Teitur Thordarson was the coach that helped build the Whitecaps into a successful USL team on its way to Major League Soccer.  Tom Soehn, former DC United coach was brought in as their Director of Soccer Operations.  In Vancouver’s first three MLS months, Thordarson delivered a 1-win, 5-loss, 6-draw record.  A thrilling 4-2 inaugural victory over Toronto FC didn’t yield more wins.  Continual close matches were ultimately not the result their Front Office wanted.  Tom Soehn is now the interim coach.

1974 - 1983

With high expectations to turn things around, and little room to fall further, the Whitecaps come to Qwest Field hungry to prove they are the talented high-flying team everyone witnessed in its inaugural match.  The first edition of the MLS Cascadia Rivalry between the two historic clubs in front of a sold out stadium, and national audience is the best chance they will have.  The Sounders are in equal need of joy for recent efforts and fan support.  So the match is sure to be the most hotly contested weekend match.

Off the pitch, Vancouver Week has been more nostalgic than the backyard mudslinging building up to the Portland match.  Come game time, that politeness will disintegrate. Vancouver’s Designated Player, Eric Hassli has accumulated 3 red cards.  The Sounders wont try to antagonize him into a 4th, but they wont stop him from losing his cool either.  That threat of his boiling intensity will keep fans on their seats wondering if Vancouver shows its dangerous potential.  An upset in front of 36,000 at Qwest field would put their season right in one match.  Sounders FC is fully aware, but can not afford to sit back and defend from that happening.  Sounders FC needs all 3 points for a win.  A single point for a draw is no help.  They will play for the win, which will defensively give the Whitecaps opportunities to counter attack.  Tonight could be a tightly contested 1-0 victory for one lucky team or it could turn into an eruption of Cascadia goals.

I’ll spill my bias:  3-2 Sounders FC.

Contributions:  Jacob Cristobal,  http://www.critiqulous.com/   For a little added excitement, here is the new “All In” Adidas commercial featuring the Portland-Seattle edition of the Cascadia Rivalry.

Sounders FC, weekly feature, “Round Table”, hosted by Tony Ventrella, with guests Matt Gasch, Alan Hinton, and Emerald City Supporters President, Greg Mockos.

© 2011 by Ryan Sales – http://www.salesonsounders.com


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Cascadia Clash – When Rose City Meets Rave Green

13 05 2011

The Portland Timbers come to Seattle.  The Cascadia Rivalry comes to America.  The rumble you feel is not Mt Hood, or Mt Rainier ready to blow, like St Helens.  That is the sound of Timbers coming to Qwest Field, for a nationally televised match with Sounders FC.  When Rose City meets Rave Green this Saturday, it’s no ordinary Spring Garden Show.

Calling out for national attention, this clash between Portland and Seattle is hosted by Major League Soccer.  For a show stopping spectacle, look past the match on the pitch to the supporters in the stands.  Both clubs colorfully fervent supporters promise displays not common to any usual American sport.  If you own an H-D with 3-D, ultra intense vibration, surround sound-mega-TV, then this match is custom made for your home viewing pleasure.  Either that, or be there.

The Cascadia Rivalry

Cascadia Rivalry: Timbers Army, Seattle Sounders, Vancouver Whitecaps

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The History

NASL

North American Soccer League - 1968-1985

Saturday night’s match introduces the three-way Pacific Northwest rivalry to America’s growing Major League Soccer television audience.  Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps, and Seattle Sounders form a rivalry brewing since Seattle and Vancouver formed in 1974, with Portland a year later.  Neighborly soccer ended in only the fourth match between Portland and Seattle on August 12, 1975.  In a playoff match in Portland, with 31,523 soccer passionate fans a taste of everything to come spilled onto the pitch.  Tied 1-1, the teams went to overtime.  Portland earned a corner that Seattle defended but couldn’t clear.  Portland worked the ball out to the left flank, where it was crossed into the top of the penalty box meeting a leaping Timber, who arched it in for a game winning header.  Announcers barely had time to call the winning goal when fans began spilling onto the field in celebration.  Thirty-six years later the passion is not only still brewing, it’s about to start a new chapter in US Soccer History.  Anticipation for this weekends match has become national attention more for the passion spilled into the stands as the play on the pitch.

The Pacific Northwest regional rivalry was named, Cascadia Cup in 2004.  The history of the rivalry itself dates to the clubs first meeting, May 2nd, 1975.  What makes the rivalry unique?  Large, consistent numbers of passionate supporters.  Seattle’s attendance averaged 16,830 in 1975 while the entire 2010 MLS average was 16,675.

All three teams originally formed in the NASL (North American Soccer League).  It was not structured and ran as well as Major League Soccer, but it had many big-time names.  The most notable player in NASL history was one of the most notable in soccer history.  Pele.

Less Pele and more Levesque.

The NASL folded in 1984, but Pacific Northwest soccer continued.  Sometimes from comedic creativity.  Club names like Stars and Seadogs played in various types of leagues from indoor to speed soccer.  Yet Timbers and Sounders never faded away.

In 1994 the Sounders were on the doorstep of joining the inaugural Major League Soccer season.  One issue preventing that was the perceived conflict of having two teams named “Sounders” playing in both an A-League and MLS status.  Many people talked about the relationship like a “farm club”.  The idea was rejected.  Interesting note:  MLS added a Reserve League for 2011.  From 1994 to 2008, Seattle played in A-League/USL-1 soccer leagues winning 4 championships.  Brian Ching and Marcus Hahnemann are two notable players during that era.  Yet one name stands above all for assisting in the growing intensity of Saturday’s match.  Levesque.

Roger Levesque.

Roger Levesque

At the end of the 2007 season with Seattle in process to move to Major League Soccer, Roger took a short exhibition stint with Vancouver and Portland.  His one game with Portland brimmed with animosity.  Fans “booed” him every time he touched the ball.  Sending the message to Timbers owner, Merritt Paulson that he was not a real Timber. “True Fans Hate Levesque” read the banner hanging over the rail of the Timbers Army.

Strong words for a player known as one of the hardest working players in MLS today. Did he intentionally kick a fallen Timbers keeper in the face in 2003?  Did he kick warm-up shots into the stands where Timbers Army supporters stood?  I asked Timber fans.  I have yet to have two similar answers.  What I know for certain, Levesque scores goals against Timbers.  Most notable is his 2009 US Open Cup goal scored in the first minute.  After scoring on Portland, Levesque ran to Sounders teammate Nate Jaqua, who proceeded to chop him down and fall to ground.  A third Sounder joined the choreographed celebration and along with Jaqua carried Roger away like cut lumber.  Timbers supporters haven’t forgotten the celebration on their home pitch. How does that one song go?  ”R-E-S-P-E-C-T”?  Or, is it R-E-V-E-N-G-E?

The Fans

There were no Timbers Army or ECS (Emerald City Supporters) in 1975.  But there were large volumes of fans.  Fans, like yours truly, ready to promote this unique American rivalry into a third generation.

There may be no recipe for making soccer fans out of sports fans, but there is a recipe for being a soccer fan.  Start with a pint of any preference.  A simple recipe includes drums, rhythmic clapping, a hint of sulfur infused smoke, sparkling flares layered with a guttural wash of continuous chanting.  Add *tifo and the scene is complete.

1974 - 1983

The Rivalry

The first Super Bowl I paid attention to was Super Bow XIII, in 1979 between the Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers.  I watched sitting next to my Granddad in his TV room.  He was a huge Cowboys fan.  He had to be.  He was a rancher boy from Texas.

Growing up, when the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks played everything stopped.  All you could do was make plans with friends and family to see the game. Climbing Mt Hood or Mt Rainier were the only alternative activities.   Every game was close.  Never a clear favorite.  Season records never mattered when the Seahawks faced the Raiders.  Intensity and national ratings were always high.  It’s how a rivalry should be.  It’s only about one game.  It’s “all in”.  Chips only come in two values.  Complete exhilaration or pure disappointment.

Rivalry passion is at the core of every sports fan.  You can love whatever game it is, with whomever is playing all you want, and feel neutral for your passion towards every great player and every exciting team.  That is, until your Granddad, spouse, friend. local grocery clerk, bar tender, boss, or guy on the bus asks you the one hardest question.  ”Who’s your team?”  There is no New York Red Sox, or Boston Yankees.  You ultimately pick one.  And your answer defines you.  Pick the right team and the grocery clerk says, “the ice-cream is on me”.  You receive hugs and high-fives.  Pick the other team, and find the nearest exit.

This is jargon you’ve read a thousand times before with teams from New York, LA, Dallas, Boston/New England and many more.  So, isn’t it time to try something new.  Add a new rivalry to the collection of great American sports rivalries.

Classic Greek Theatre

Are you Rave Green, or are you Rose City?  Whose chorus do you belong?

Portland Timbers old logo

Portland Timbers old logo

Yes, this answer defines you forever.  Like a marriage proposal to the gods, it doesn’t force your hand to become a sports fan, if that’s not your thing, but it evokes a curious nuance of life that lifts the soul, and lets you experience an event with the greatest commitment of spirit.  For 90 minutes there is no recession, no Afghanistan, no hedge fund scammers, and no terrorist insurgents.  The decision will lift your soul to something bigger than sport.  Your living and dying on every shot transcends normal behavior.  Your vaulted, vocal prayers and spirited hand waving burns calories and energizes your hopeful team to defeat the evil others.  Then, when the match is over, depending on the result, you boast your mighty brilliance or muse the conspiracies of ridiculous and underserved defeat.  Then you go home.  A few Sunday chores and your mind turns to the workweek ahead.

The beautiful thing about a rivalry, you don’t have to wait too long until it comes back again.

* * * * *

Terms & Notes

*Tifo - Tifo is a simple Italian term for banners or flags hung or waved by supporters at designated stadium sections, specific to sporting events.
*ECS – Emerald City Supporters.  Largest Sounders FC official Supporters Group.  Additional Note:  I joined in 2010.  For the 2009 inaugural season I was independent of any supporters group choosing an individual team identity and relationship before joining.
*Timbers Army – aka TA, is official Supporters Group of the Portland Timbers.

© 2011 by Ryan J Sales


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Season of the Rivalry

7 02 2011

January 25th, 2011, One month after Christmas.

Most people think one month after Christmas is too late to open Christmas presents, and far too early for next Christmas.  This Sounders FC fan celebrated Rave Green Christmas 2011 on January 25th.  Obama’s State of the Union speech, given the same evening, was a warm and jolly occasion, but nowhere near the kind of historical, all American present that soccer in the Pacific Northwest gave the same evening.  January 25th twas Christmas in the Pacific Northwest.  All three Pacific Northwest Major Soccer League clubs practiced.  Unwrapping the long-awaited Cascadia Rivalry to the sporting nation of the United States and greater footballing world.  A rivalry between Portland Timbers, Vancouver Whitecaps, and Seattle Sounders FC.  A rivalry over 35 years old, but dormant from top flight major league status for over two decades.  Not since Michael Jackson moonwalked us into a Billie Jean dance fever have these three clubs been together in a top-flight level professional league.  That was the NASL, which folded in 1984.  This is the much improved and growing Major League Soccer.  Santa has made his world tour delivering Christmas in January.  The big present under the tree?  Training camp has broken for all three clubs.  There is easily more love for the beautiful game in the Pacific Northwest, than in any other US region.  So delivery of the Cascadia Cup to Major League Soccer and a national spotlight is everything this sporting region has wanted and been waiting for.  There is no denying, this is the year of the rivalry.

Not to overshadow Obama’s State of the Union speech, I thought I’d incorporate some of his key points and put them in a more easily understandable soccer supporter chant translation.  If Obama had consulted the Timbers Army, or Emerald City Supporters, the State of the Union speech would have had a much different tone.  Leaning over the podium, Obama’s “smoked salmon” one-liner would have generated a cooler chill of fear than laughter.  The 2011 Cascadia version of his speech may have gone something like this:

“Who are ya?  Who are ya?  Who are ya?
I scorn, at a congress of no finance reform.
I take no pity for fear of tackling social security.
I burn a flare for every vote against healthcare.
I accept no excuses for indignation, when all I want to hear are solutions for education.”

Then tifo would be raised.  Flags waiving all around.  Colorful smoke engulfing the air with sparkling flares shining through haze.  Ah yes, Christmas in January.  Fortunately, Obama’s State of the Union speech focused on our core values of Healthcare, Education, and mining all our nations cumulative efforts and resources to fuel our country’s greatest potential for returning to diversified prosperity.  Nonetheless, my native grunge for first blood of Cascadia Rivalry is so excited, I happily drifted during his speech to the one I imagined above.  My fellow Americans, passionate Cascadians, and all Major League Soccer supporters, this finest day in the year of our beautiful game, 2011 is the beginning of the Season of the Rivalry.  So, bare your colours, waive your tifo, ignite the flares, light the smoke, drink a pint, and for the love of sport, cry out from your gut . . .

“Take ‘em all, watch ‘em fall,
Put ‘em up against a wall
and shoot ‘em.
Short-n-tall, watch ‘em fall,
Come on Boys take ‘em all.”

Major League Soccer has come to a crossroads never imagined by its 1996 founders.  The previous attempt at professional soccer in the US was the NASL (North American Soccer League), which lasted from 1968-1985.  Like Major League Soccer today, most of the NASL teams never passed 15,000 in average season attendance.  Not a problem for our Cascadia fellows.  The NASL Sounders often topped 20,000.  My

NASL

North American Soccer League - 1968-1985

first professional soccer match was in the Kingdome in 1983.  The Sounders hosted rival Vancouver with an attendance over 21,000.  Not much influence from the NASL remains with our regions teams or soccer in America today.  Only a few team names and use of a penalty shootout to decide certain matches has survived.  Decline from over expansion, 24 teams at its height, was a major contributing problem.  Worse was the complete under valued use of domestic college draftees and overpaid international veterans nearing retirement.  Whereas Major League Soccer after starting in 1996 remained cautious and protective in expanding.  The double expansion of Portland and Vancouver in 2011 is a big step for the league which has pushed expansion annually since 2006.  What is different this time?  Major League Soccer has taken a big step in requiring domestic or “homegrown” players.  International or high-priced “Designated Players” are limited to 3.  The league owns all player contracts and uses a salary cap.  What separates the league more now is an increased effort to develop relationships with advertisers and sport broadcasting networks.  Especially local/Regional TV/Radio stations.  Major League Soccer has also become one of the more popular sport attractions on all social networks.  All that said, with 18 clubs, the league still has many teams consistently below an average attendance of 15,000.  Solution?  The league needs an intense colorful rivalry with all matches sold-out.   How about a threesome?  This seasons Cascadia couldn’t come at a better time for Major League Soccer.  Portland and Seattle began their derbys in 1975, so the matches wont feel like they are new or made for TV.  They will be the authentic real deal.  An example for all existing and future MLS franchises to see what American Soccer Derbys look like.  The success of the Cascadia Cup could be the open door to the leagues bright future.

 

The Cascadia Rivalry

Preseason Cascadia Summit, March 4-6 2011.

In case anyone needed proof of the intensity of this 3-way rivalry, the offseason has supplied plenty.  Kasey Keller joined the Sounders in 2009, signing a 2 year contract.  Before playing a single match for Sounders FC he said he wanted to add a third season before retiring to take part in the Cascadia Rivalry.  Sounders FC ownership made that priority one this off season.  At the end of last season Portland Timbers supporters purchased ad space on a Seattle billboard advertising their teams expansion.  The most significant evidence of multi-team rivalry intensity and influence on Major League Soccer was from supporter negotiations for away match ticket allotment to traveling supporter groups.  Initially the allotment was set at 150.  Supporter groups for all 3 clubs joined forces and pushed up the allotment to 500.  Even with that increase, most supporters wont be satisfied until that number is likely increased to 1,000 next year.  All the blogs, forums, tweets and social network posts must have caught the attention of the league.  This preseason, from March 4-6, the three Cascadia Rivals face off in a weekend Cascadia Summit.  Tickets went on sale 2/1/2011 and sold-out the same day.  Preseason!  In addition to each team facing the other, there is a Coaches and Supporters meeting on the last day of the summit.  I believe this is one of the more intriguing preseason sport spectacles I’ve heard of.  It is also an opportunity for the league to figure out how to feature fully sold-out matches with 90 minute pint drinking, and loud chanting supporters.  Welcome to soccer in America.  Welcome to Cascadia, the season of the rivalry.

Tifo

2010 prematch tifo vs LA Galaxy with Emerald City Supporters.

Something Old, Something New:  A few NASL notes:

When Sounders FC joined Major League Soccer in 2009 a new competition started.  The Heritage Cup.  No new matches were added.  Regular season results are used.  The Heritage Cup is played by former NASL teams.  For 2009 and 2010 the two competing teams were the San Jose Earthquakes and Sounders FC.  San Jose won in 2009, and Seattle in 2010.  Starting this year the Heritage Cup will be between all four former NASL teams, Portland Timbers, San Jose Earthquakes, Vancouver Whitecaps, and Sounders FC.  The Heritage Cup will gain a little more attention this year, but nowhere near the media spotlight of the Cascadia Cup.  San Jose already participates in the California Classico with LA Galaxy.  As I write this, rumor has it the most famous NASL team, which featured Pele, the New York Cosmos are making a bid to become the 20th MLS team.


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The Pacific Clash

20 05 2010

Who are the San Jose Earthquakes?  With the Sounders, currently San Jose is the only other former North American Soccer League (NASL) team.  The NASL folded in 1984.  After the US World Cup in 1994, soccer momentum cooked up enough steam to launch Major League Soccer in 1996 with 10 teams.  Nike swooshed everything in the fledgling league.  They pushed the name “Clash” onto San Jose.  Here is the result of that early MLS effort.  I think it’s fair to say this is one of Nike’s few failed efforts.

Clash - RIP 1995-1999

I have no idea what team or what sport would benefit from this logo.  I mean the claws are upside down.  The luck of the team slipped out of its grasp before San Jose ever took the pitch.  An artistic, fun example of a successful coastal soccer logo is FC Lorient.  FC Lorient plays in

 

FC Lorient - old badge

Classic, simple, soccer specific badge. Unusual, but easily recognizable to team and region.

Ligue 1.  The top-flight football league in France.  This sly but slick fish hugs the ball tight, like a right footed striker curling a shot into the waiting yawn of an onion bag (goal).  This plate of delicious goal, for a team badge, goes back to 1926.  It’s weird but works.  Nike doesn’t make everything better.  What San Jose has going for them, like Sounders FC is heritage.  Last year was the inaugural Heritage Cup between Seattle and San Jose.  As original NASL teams they square off for this regular season bragging right each year.  It is decided by aggregate goals of the teams regular season matches.  Portland and Vancouver will join the Heritage Cup next season.  Seattle held the edge over San Jose, until getting clawed 4-nil on the road.

San Jose, is a little slice of the best and worst you find in sports.  A flunked team name and badge from 1995-1999.  In October 1999 they reclaimed their NASL heritage, and were renamed Earthquakes.  The fortune in name change coincided with the arrival of coach Frank Yallop (current).  Along with Yallop, along came a young American, Landon Donovan.  They won MLS Cups in 2001 and 2003.  In 2005 they won the Supporters Shield for best overall league record.  The reward, they were dumped from San Jose and moved to Houston.  Like the Cleveland Browns, Houston could not keep any of the teams San Jose history.  This allowed for the re-expansion of the San Jose Earthquakes in 2008.  Unfortunately, all their talent stayed in Houston and went on to win back-to-back MLS cups in ’06-’07.  Now with all name changes, badge failures and moving vans parked, San Jose are determined to rise once again from their strange history of success and misfortune.


With “The Boys in Blue” a reassembled sum of their odd and traveled past, San Jose is ready to rise up again.

Current San Jose badge

Los Terremotos de San José

Round 10 vs San Jose EarthQuakes, keeps the Sounders hands full.  San Jose is currently sitting 4th place in the West at 13 points, 1 more than Seattle.  They are boasting an improved 4W-2L-1T record after 7 games.  San Jose has 2 games in hand on the Sounders, a possible 6 season points.  So Seattle can ill afford to lose.  A draw could be survivable, but a win is needed to keep playoff pace.

Bobby Convey had been knocking on the door of the US National team.  Many felt after the US failure to get out of the ’06 World Cup Group Stages in 2006 that Convey would be a starter for the 2010 US World Cup Team.  However he fell out of form after 5 years with Reading in the English Premier League.  Reading were relegated for the 2008 season to the lower English Championship League.  At 26 the Quakes became a good home for his revival.  I still say, he is a player to watch for the 2014 World Cup.

The Sounders should have speed and possession going for them, but San Jose is tough and will hit.  So, the boys in rave green will have to keep their heads on.  San Jose would love to make the Sounders see red and play a man down.  On offense, San Jose are something the Sounders want to be, a good finishing team.  Chris Wondolowski, as you would expect with a name like that, is well known for his eye pleasing wonder strikes.

Sounder ’til I die

If the Sounders grab some Red Bull inspiration and keep last weeks momentum going, an early goal looks likely.  San Jose lost both games here last year and were ill prepared for the Rave Green storm.  I am expecting an inspired 2-1, 3-1 victory.  San Jose is showing improved results in every category and playing inspired football.  They want back in the playoffs.  The Sounders can win this match, but they will have to prove it.  They will have to play more inspired, smarter football, finishing a first half chance on goal.  The defense will need to play another New York style lock down game.  One goal for San Jose is all they feel they need to do no worse than draw on the road at Quest.

It is time for the Sounders to shine at home!

Post Match

The sun shined, but the Sounders did not.  Seattle had more of the game but San Jose’s Wondolowski had the lone goal.  His 11th minute strike amazingly stood up for more than a draw, and became the game winner.  Wondolowski placed a quick hit one-timer past Keller.  The play came from a throw-in just above Seattle’s penalty area.  The ball was headed across the face of goal and Wondolowski smashed in from the far post.  Offside?  Put it this way, when you consider the offside calls Sounders FC have received this year, it would have been justly called and more than due in fairness to the Sounders.  That said, sports are not about fairness, and credit is due to San Jose for creating and capitalizing on a heads-up play.

The large picture reason this “offside” complaint must be left at the door is that if you want to be a playoff team, then an 11th minute goal against you can not be a game winner.  Right now, Seattle has no offensive threat.  Until that changes, the San Jose like results have become all too familiar this season.  With Colorado up next, this type of frustrating result may occur again.  Defeating Colorado on their home pitch at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park seems a daunting task.  One Sigi has addressed.  Unfortunately, words don’t speak louder than actions in sports.  At the end of the San Jose match, John Kennedy Hurtado was taken off the field for a torn ACL.  Likely the end of his season.  The Sounders are deep at Central Defense, but Hurtado is an All-Star.  Injuries sometimes seem the outward manifestation of a teams struggles.  Added to Nate Jaqua’s absence due to injury, so far this season team struggle over team successes has become the message.

There is time for this team to get turned around.  Overcoming difficult obstacles is what draws us to sports.  Year two is turning into test number one for Sounders FC who are fast becoming the underdog.  An underdog praying for a draw in Colorado.  Maybe taking on this new, more deceptive role will allow for the element of surprise.  Helping to turn regular frustration into unexpected intensity, and sneaky speed on the wings.  Maybe this will catch Colorado off guard.  Or maybe the injection of Jeff Parke, an experienced Central Defender, will give Seattle a much-needed energy boost.  Then again, maybe the Sounders will listen to Sigi, and put more than 3 of 18 shots on frame.  Creating chances is critical, but making a keeper work for saves is necessary to make those created chances become finished strikes.  Soccer is frustration, simplicity, sloppiness, heavenly beauty, complete chaos, and perfected skill all bundled together.  What the Sounders need is to put all their frustration and intensity into using any and all of those elements to force the ball into Colorado’s net.  That one goal could become the symbol of the effort needed to climb up to the distant height of the 2010 playoffs.


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Categories : 2010


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