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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Shalrie and the Giant Road Trip – Sounders FC at New England Revolution

1 10 2011

Steve Nicol Juggling Water Bottle - after losing 3-nil in Seattle 2010

Trips to New England for Sounders FC have always started with excited hopes of bountiful returns. Yet both trips ended yielding no gains. In fact, Sounders suffered disappointing losses in both.

The inaugural season jaunt started with a stunning Montero 6th minute strike from long-range. Shalrie Joseph, their tall attacking midfielder, eventually beat down the Sounders and knocked in two second half goals.

Shalrie Joseph is at the center of everything good, bad, and ugly that New England Revolution bring against the Sounders. Sliding a cheeky ball past Keller while falling, slapping Patrick Ianni on the neck out of the sight of referees, or rifling in perfectly timed headers. He is their catalyst. If he is in form, Sounders will struggle. If he is quiet, as in his visit to Seattle in June, they will likely be the one’s suffering a loss.

In the Sounders 2010 trip, they again took a 1-nil lead on the strength of a Steve Zakuani goal. Then proceeded to meltdown from the 70th minute on. Instead of finishing strong, or even holding on for a draw, they conceded three late goals.  A result they would rather reverse than repeat.

Sounders silenced Shalrie in their first meeting in June. He was ineffective. The Sounders then went on to do to the Revolution what they have done to Sounders in the first two seasons. Give up the first goal, then come back and win. Tyson Wahl leveled with a perfectly placed free-kick and Fernandez gave the Sounders the finishing lead in the 40th minute.

Lets’s take a road trip.

Every match has one good storyline. A long road trip is the one for Sounders FC in this match.  Starting last Saturday, the Sounders began a near 10,000 mile road trip with a bus to Vancouver, then flew to Guatemala, caught a plane to play in New England, and finally fly back across the country to Seattle for a Tuesday Championship match in the US Open Cup Final against Chicago.  It is a self-imposed journey, but enormous undertaking nonetheless.  For starters, I love Vancouver, and I would love to visit Guatemala City.  But next time I take a one week vacation you can be sure it wont be doing both in one week.

Seattle Sketcher, Gabi Campanario

Sales on Sounders by Gabi Campanario - 8/5/09 at Barcelona Friendly

The Sounders have prioritized Champions League and US Open Cup competitions from the clubs inception. Succeeding in these competitions has made the team one of the most successful soccer clubs in North America in short order.  But it has a price that players pay in travel. It also clarifies why head Soccer Coaches are referred to as Managers and not Coaches.  Sigi Schmid has so far successfully managed this road trip, but the final evaluation wont be in until after New England and the US Open Cup final. Managing players and playing time alone is difficult enough, but who he can and can not beat at a game of cards must also be weighed.

Speaking of story-lines, if the cliché, “third time is a charm” is true, then miles and miles aside, this will be the Sounders third attempt in New England.  No doubt the lineup will look like a colonial patchwork quilt, but maybe that is exactly what it takes to survive the Revolution in New England.

© 2011 Sales on Sounders by Ryan Sales


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The Heat Is On – Sounders FC at Houston Dynamo

30 07 2011
Seattle Sketcher, Gabi Campanario

Sales on Sounders by Gabi Campanario - 8/5/09 @ Barca Friendly

With Manchester in the Rave Green rear view mirror, and a vital CONCACAF Champions League match coming up quickly, Wednesday’s second-leg CONCACAF qualifier against San Francisco, from Panama, Sounders FC rejoins regular season Major League Soccer play tonight in heavy-heat Houston against the Dynamo.  Where their strong mid-season run will be hotly tested.

Over the last nine league matches, Seattle has looked among the best of MLS. In terms of developing form for the fall playoffs, Sounders FC have looked the best early prospect. The positive run of form includes a team personal best nine game undefeated streak. (6-wins to 3-draws). Houston and heat may pose the toughest challenge in the last 10 matches. A win would secure Seattle’s confident run of form. It would also press them closer to LA for the league’s top record. A draw would be happily acceptable. A loss would pose tough questions for a recently shaky defense.

During their strong midseason run, Seattle has scored an outstanding 17 goals. They have also conceded an unacceptable 11 goals. The defensive lapses have gone largely overlooked because of beautiful free kicks, amazing comebacks, and fanatic goal celebrations. The winning entertainment has rained more than Seattle precipitation. So few have noticed the potential mudslide. Seattle needs to dry its slippery defensive goal rush in the hot Houston heat.

Whenever Houston Dynamo and Sounders FC meet, it feels like a long distance rivalry. Only the Sounders third season in Major League Soccer and memories lay out like entries in a log book:

Season one, Seattle:  Patrick Ianni’s winning bicycle kick.  Or, as Assistant coach Brian Schmetzer said, “If you would have told me before the game that we were going to win on a bicycle kick and ask me which player would kick it, he would have been about No. 9″.
Season one, Houston:  Nate Jaqua hits 70th minute equalizer, for late 1-1 draw.
Season one, Playoffs, first-leg, Seattle:  Pat Onstad hit Montero’s head in the penalty box for what appeared to be a red card. Montero was shown yellow for faking injury.
Season one, Playoffs, second-leg, Houston:  Brian Ching scores heart breaking winner in overtime.
Season one, Seattle:  Steven Waibel bouncing a ball on Ljungberg’s head.
Season two, Seattle:  Keller earns clean sheet, and an assist.  In the 64th minute, Keller found Montero for a long punt, which Montero controlled, turned the defender around, and blasted home.
Season two, Houston:  Zakuani, on a breakaway last year was tripped up by Houston’s rookie Keeper, Tyler Deric, for what appeared to be a sure penalty-kick. Instead Zakuani was shown yellow for simulation (diving). The last laugh was the surprised look on Deric’s face that Zakuani was carded and not him.
Season three, Seattle:  In March Seattle hosted the Dynamo ans served up 26 shots. In the end Seattle only converted one of its many chances to come from behind and salvage a draw.

Houston Dynamo 2006-2007 MLS Cup Champiions

Heat will play a factor. Overstated, it will be an advantage for Houston.  With all of Seattle’s recent success, it is only mid-season.  Including tonight’s match, Seattle has 12 league matches, 1 CONCACAF, and 1 US Open Cup match to go.  With both CONCACAF and the US Open Cup matches will hopefully be added as they win and advance in those competitions. Packed with many scheduled challenges, Sounders FC also face the potential for an equal amount of reward for overcoming those obstacles.  In all, Seattle has the potential to win a Manchester United sized trunk of trophies. Five in all. A take home, Sir Alex Ferguson, would be proud of.

I’ll leave you with one last log. The potential booty the Sounders could plunder.

Cascadia Cup:  Beat Vancouver in Vancouver and take it home.
US Open Cup:  Defeat FC Dallas at Starfiere in Tukwila on August 30th and play for third consecutive US Open Cup.
CONCACAF Champions League:  Defeat San Francisco this Wednesday in Seattle and advance to the CONCACAF group stages.  Advance from group stages and laying ahead would be a possible first ever MLS team CONCACAF Champion.
Supporters Shield:  Keep winning.  Team with best record in MLS regular season play earns top spot in league and takes the Shield.
2011 MLS Cup:  Make the playoffs in top six positions, earn bye for first week and go on a late season ride to earn a first ever title.

© 2011 Sales on Sounders by Ryan Sales


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Face the Fire – Seattle Sounders FC play Goliath, to Chicago Fire’s David

4 06 2011
Seattle Sketcher, Gabi Campanario

Sales on Sounders by Gabi Campanario - 8/5/09 @ Barca Friendly

Face the Fire.  Sounders FC travel to Chicago Saturday to face the Chicago Fire. Realistically the Sounders should feel a swell of momentum in their favor from the remarkable win against Real Salt Lake at their fortress, and home pitch, Rio Tinto Stadium.  On the road last week in Salt Lake City, another heavy downpour match, Sounders FC ended Real Salt Lake‘s 29 match unbeaten streak at Rio Tinto Stadium.  A 2-1 win from unexpected heroes Patrick Ianni and Lamar Neagle.  Goals from unexpected heros means momentum is building for Seattle.  Right?

Adding confidence to the Sounders momentum is a Chicago Fire season record smoldering at 1-win, 4-losses, 6-draws.  Chicago Fire coach, Carlos de los Cobos was dismissed last Monday for the poor season results, with Technical Director, Frank Klopas taking over for an interim basis.

Two trains running.  One headed East, and the other standing still.  Sounders look poised for victory.

If we have learned anything by now, it is that the existence of confidence in this particular sport has less an impact on the final result than any other.  The only way to prepare for a match like this.  Tear up the records, discard momentum, forget last weeks heroics, and be afraid.  Be very, very afraid.

Prove and excite.  It is possible every player for Chicago, instead of feeling down, is seeing opportunity.  A clean slate.  Prove to your new coach, your team, your fans, even yourself what it was that brought you to become a professional soccer player. Create, assist, defend tough, score, and win.  Excite your home fans and reignite a fading season.

Chicago Fire

Chicago Fire - Founded 1997, MLS 1998, 4 US Open Cup Titles

So much for confidence and momentum. Soccer is a bizzaro-world team sport.  A week after defeating Manchester United to win the UEFA Champions league, and cement themselves as one of the greatest clubs in the history of soccer, Barcelona would appear to be a more favored opponent for Seattle this week than the Chicago Fire.  Chicago will fight with a harsh bite for every ball.  The first 15-20 minutes for Seattle may need a boxing like rope-a-dope strategy.  Take punches.  If Sounders FC are still standing by halftime, then chances will come.  Otherwise, it could be a long ride home Chicago.

It’s hard not to root for the underdogs.  With Chicago down, yet built with likable talent, it is hard not to hope they do well.  Most of the non-bias fans will take their side.  Sound familiar?  This was not unlike the Sounders position going into their match with Real Salt Lake last week.  The unlikely David going into Goliath’s mansion.  Good luck getting out alive.  The Sounders are from being a Rave Green Goliath, but that is precisely how they will be perceived facing the Fire.  We already know how that story ends.  In fact, the Sounders saw it played out to their satisfaction last week.  David and Goliath, part II:  Meet Karma.  Sounders face the Fire.

© 2011 by Ryan Sales – Sales on Sounders


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