Psychology for a Lack of Sounders FC Goals: Sounders FC vs Chicago Fire

8 04 2011

 

Seattle Sketcher, Gabi Campanario

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

Last time Chicago’s Fire visited the Emerald City, it marked the return of Freddie Ljungberg. The passion for vengeance burned high. Fredy Montero‘s late winning goal was among the Sounders 2010 season highlights.  The Sounders won both games against the Fire in 2010. Their match with the Chicago Fire this Saturday becomes critical after yielding two season points from four matches, while only producing three goals.  Their record is 0-wins, 2-losses, and 2-draws.  All four matches were entertaining, but entertainment alone does not define a winning season.  One draw came at home against the Houston Dynamo.  The other last weekend in the thrilling 2-2 draw against the San Jose Earthquakes.  Losing this Saturday would not be fatal, but it would leave a heavy emotional burden for fans and team both.  A draw would be manageable, but a bitter and underlying level of frustration would creep into the club.  A win would not put the season right, but it would ignite momentum and confidence.

Last year Seattle traded Ljungberg to Chicago for six points in return.  The two wins helped propel the Sounders to a 10-win, 2-loss, 3-draw record in the second half of 2010.  That was the best record in MLS during that period leading up to the playoffs. That is the significant momentum possible from a Saturday win against the Fire. The Sounders have shown no lack of confidence only a lack of goals.  Thrilling as they are with improved play on the pitch, it is when they discover their need for victory, and not just an accumulation of shots that will earn them goals and wins.

With goals hard to come by in soccer, the Sounders FC have managed some interesting goal stats, or lack of goal stats, in their first four matches of 2011. Sounders FC have scored three goals in four matches, while allowing five.  At first glance those numbers seem soccer normal, right?  Under the microscope, those figures show Sounders FC amassing 64 shots, with 36 on frame.  Which works out to 9 shots-on-goal for every 16 shots taken per game.  What can be made from that?  It is generally considered normal for a club to score one goal per every ten shots.  Barcelona hits net at an astonishing pace of 1 goal per 7 shots.  At times even less.  The Sounders are scoring 1 goal for every 21 shots taken.  Troubling numbers considering the improved quality in their play.  (see last post, Rave Green Blues)

I don’t like statistics because they raise more questions than answers.  I live for the story.  Recent events have tickled the whiskers of my curiosity.  Now I have questions about these curious stats.
“Mr President, I know you are busy with Libya and Budgets, but regarding the Sounders, . . .  uh, no sir, they are a soccer club, like Landon Donovan, not a basketball team.   . . .  Oh, no, no, no we do not play in Oklahoma”.  Well, that didn’t go well.
Lionel Messi, is not answering my calls.  Pele, wont respond to my e-mails.  I can’t find Zidane on Twitter, and Zeus is “apparently” on vacation.  So, I have hired a private detective to explain the probabilities involved in tallying only 3 goals in 64 shots.
Breaking News:  My soccer private detective just quit.  Apparently, he was called away for a more pressing assignment to uncover missing Portland Timber’s midfielders.

 

Seattle Sounders FC

Seattle Sounders FC - 2009 & 2010 US Open Cup Champions

Statistics and kidding aside, if the Sounders, albeit miraculously, were to amass another 64 shots in the next 4 matches, they will score no fewer than 6 goals.  Even if half are own-goals scored by the other team.  I’ll put a pint on that!

What does it take to score in soccer?  Skill, patience, poise, precision?  All are good terms.  Do the Sounders lack these qualities in their strikers and forwards?  You could conjure up an argument for that.  Eventually, I believe you would come around to realizing the qualities in these Sounders players are more like league goal scoring leaders, than explaining their slump.  Any argument against them, would be hard pressed to get past the argument for them.  I wont defend their numerous missed opportunities, but there must be some strange manner to explain how so much creativity and opportunity has missed its home target.  Maybe the explanation comes from a willing need, or a little Luck.  if the Sounders shoot 64 shots in the next 4 matches, luck alone will muster no fewer than 6 goals.

“Put the ball in the net”.  Screams a Sounders fan standing in front of my brother-in-law, Thomas Breuler, and myself.  No ringing endorsements for this to become a regular chant.  It does sum up everything fans and team alike want to see change soon.  What is keeping the ball out of the back of the net?  Need?  Some all-encompassing need?  When the Sounders finally need to, they will find a way to score goals.  Some teams play with momentum, energy, passion, or various skills, and so-on.  Some clubs are just lucky.  Other times in sports, the gods of games burden you with the challenge to become something more than what you are. Saturday, Sounders FC face their own fire.  They are on the cusp of a self sacrificial barbecue, or a heroic surge.  If the 2011 Sounders FC are to become a team seeking a deep need to win, then Saturday is when that desire needs to show on their home pitch.

Sounders FC players and staff appear encouraged and upbeat.  Fans are still singing, “The Rave Green Blues”. Yes, I’m being over dramatic here as Saturday is only game five.  Yet four of the next five matches are on the road.  So, I don’t feel it’s too early to quote my good Sounders friend, Todd Hodges, who commented that “April is becoming a do-or-die month”.

It is time for the boys in Rave Green to need victory.

 

Chicago Fire

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

For, Luis Sanchez, a faithful Chicago Fire supporter.  Our passions support opposing teams.  Our respect is mutual.  Together from separate cities we support MLS and the growth of soccer in the US.  One day we’ll meet at Al’s Italian Beef.

 

 


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Rave Green Blues: Sounders FC Review, Matches 1-3

1 04 2011

 

 

Seattle Sounders FC

Seattle Sounders FC - 2009 & 2010 US Open Cup Champions

What can you take away from Sounders FC‘s first three matches of 2011?  The Sounders record looks more like an expansion squad than an experienced one.  No wins, two losses, and a draw.  Is it time to sing the Rave Green blues? Reflecting on results from last year, the Sounders 2010 season low came against LA Galaxy on Independence day. Losing 3-1, the loss dropped Sounders FC to 4-wins, 8-losses, and 3-draws.  The Independence Day collapse also sealed the fate for, Freddie Ljungberg.  That was the low in a 30 game schedule.  With the addition of two Northwest teams in 2011, MLS has expanded its schedule to 34 games.  The Sounders are still nowhere near that 2010 low.  Losing doesn’t polish any gold brick-laid road, but the first three matches of 2011 offer more hope for glory than reason to sing the blues.

“It’s always too soon to quit”, said Cliff McCrath, in his Sounders weekly video, “Nubs Nuggets”. His successful coaching career at Seattle Pacific University is not lost on Sounders FC and coach, Sigi Schmid. Sounders FC have a weekly video featuring McCrath’s coaching perspective, and his nuggets of advice in handling adversity while challenging yourself to be successful.  Sigi, has taken the same approach, saying a slow start like this is no reason for “doom and gloom”.

Soccer is often more about a mentality of how you play, than it is winning.  Success is no doubt critical to a teams viability, and winning the best drug.  Yet, isn’t winning important in all sports?  A “winning” mentality in sports is just a nice way of saying that winning rights all wrongs.  Soccer forces that type of thinking to go outside the box.  It starts with how teams earn one point for draws.  Draws give teams incentive to keep level with an opponent.  Earning its first point last week in a draw against Houston, Sounders FC and fans felt the winning mentality move toward more positive results.  Notwithstanding, it is important to review the first two losses.  More significant than the draw with Houston, or disappointment in their losses, was the quality of play on the pitch in the first two matches.  In Seattle’s previous two seasons, a common criticism was how often they allowed teams more possession.  Attacks came in strong frenetic bursts sandwiched between stretches of defending.  Against LA and New York, Seattle showed an improved focus on owning possession.  More quality passing gave way to better buildup in their attacks.  In the first two years, attacks often petered out without any shots.  This year has seen no lack of shots, just a lack of luck.  Sigi brought this point home saying, “I’d rather have bad luck than no luck at all”.  When you are creating exciting chances then it’s only a matter of time before results match up to your effort or a little luck.

What stands out so far, is the Sounders playing style and momentum of their first two home matches.  More completed passes, more positive

Current San Jose badge

Los Terremotos de San José - 2001 & 2003 MLS Champions

touches, more possession, more shots.  Possession against LA and Houston strongly favored Seattle.  Shots on target, twenty-six against Houston, have decisively gone the Sounders way.  Both goals given up to LA and Houston came from single momentary lapses in concentration.  Correctable moments as the season progresses.  Soccer is a long season.  The Sounders are well within striking distance of all playoff positions.  So the key to survival during this challenging early stretch, is maintaining a positive mentality and repetition. Recognizing an improved team through a losing record is hard work.  It’s like trying to pick out hand-packed sausage in a supermarket world of coupon hotdogs. Winning is the easy abundance we strive for.  If you’re not first, you’re last.

Going up against a quality team like, San Jose Earthquakes is a tough way to turn things around. What the Sounders can do is continue to out possess through quality passing.  Use the possession to build attacks and keep the shots flying.  Twenty-six shots against Houston?  I guarantee another effort like that will earn a second goal.  Even dumb luck agrees.

When Seattle plays with this entertaining quality it has demonstrated so far this year, then win or lose against San Jose, that mentality will build future winning results in 2011.  Even when listening to heavy blues as it reaches its pining climax, it makes you want to raise your hands and dance.  What the Sounders are playing right now is a quality that entertains the eye, and challenges the soul.  It is the aching beauty of sport.  The Rave Green blues.

Well, well, well, it’s a little after three,
and I’m on my way to San Jose.
I feel something down inside,
it’s pointing me this way.

Oh, I’ve got the Rave Green blues.  Oh yah-Oh yah.
Oh, I’ve got the Rave Green blues.  Ah-ha-Ah-ha.

Well, I’ll curl, I’ll whirl, I’ll hurl
To get a shot on frame,
and if I don’t get a goal
I’ll never lose this pain.

Oh yah, I’ve got the Rave Green blues.  Uh-huh-Uh-huh.
Oh yah, I’ve got the Rave Green blues.  Alright-Alright.
Oh sweet Pele I’m crazy ’bout my Rave Green blues,
if we don’t score a goal
I’ll be buried in these blues,
these Rave Green blues.


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Dear Santa, It’s a Sounders Christmas Wish

1 09 2010

Imagine it is Christmas Day.  Then imagine you are 7 years old, or 5, maybe 6, even 4 will do.  Your “Dear Santa”, Christmas wish letter, written in crayon scribbled clarity surely reached the North Pole by now?  You ache for Christmas morning.  Despite a short dream of marshmallows, candy canes, mom singing Christmas carols, ninja reindeer, and a rocket bobsled.  It was a sleepless night.  Your aching for morning reaches climax.  You explode from your bed into spirals of clothes.  In a single thrust and splat you are downstairs.  Is there proof he came?  The cookie you left him?  Oh yes, it is gone alright.  The sprinkled crumbs over a short scribbled note written on the napkin you left him, are absolute proof.  ”Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas”.  Presents are stacked, wrapped in sparkle, flicker, and bows all around the tree.  Definite absolute proof.  He was here.  Now that his presence delivering presents has been proved, it is only about one present.  The one you cast your wish for.  The one you took time to specifically write him for.  The one you wish for above all others.  Did he get your letter?  Did it get to the North Pole in time?  Was it lost in a blizzard?  You lost sleep over this one.  Over everything else, you want this one.  Concept of space and time is useless.  You feel swirled and stuck, captured in still life with Christmas tree and aching desire.  Then comes the joyful misery of outrageous and extensive morning ceremony.  You die a little with each firework-flashbulb-snapshot of pleasantry.  Nothing.  Your letter was lost.  Your letter didn’t matter.  Santa never even read it.  It is over as quickly as it came.  Your wish got lost up the chimney.  Then, through the blur of misery and spectacle a voice says, “did you see the one in the corner?”  Nothing was missed.  This thought confuses you.  Is this ridicule?  With your cosmic accurate radar, ultra powered precision laser beam, and brain inserted sonar present detector there is no possible way you missed, “the one in the corner”.  Like a police officer on duty, you oblige the voice, turn to the corner and walk toward it like a cowboy in a sundown showdown.  There will be no ridicule here.  A child’s lost wish is on the line.  Bundles of bows and torn sparkle paper from the other, mostly fun presents, are pushed aside.  Static electricity, hair standing, you are frightened by the impossibility there is one left in the corner.  You surge forward, “could this really, truly be the one”?  You muse the possibility, for an instant.  Shreds of ribbon and paper fly.  In thrill and delight you reveal, a box.  A box?  Death by ridicule.  You faint.  You have lost all desire to ever, ever wish for anything ever, ever again.  Again the voice.  ”Well, aren’t you curious what’s inside”?  No decorations and lots of heavy tape.  The plainness disappoints you.  The words “Dining Room Dishes” in thick black marker confuses you, especially in a morning of super fantastic spectacular.  In certain defeat you stare down the box.  You poke and pick at the tape with one finger.  Then two. three, both hands join in the sudden scratch and tear of fury from lost hope.  The last shred of tape torn away.  The flaps of the box pulled back.  Christmas tree lights shine inside the box like hundreds of flashlights pointing the way in a dark cave.  Peering inside, doubt and icecap like disappointment slowly melt away.  Something larger than love swells all around you.  It is come true.  This is your Christmas wish.

I have not had the glorious pleasure of celebrating the passing of that moment to a son or daughter.  Challenges in having children has been a dark life challenge.  Yet, in this 41-year-old frame, I’ve found my child’s age in my own unique sports franchise.  No imagining or wishing. It is real, and I am part of it.  I didn’t inherit an existing team.  One entrenched in the local community for generations.  Instead, I’ve been part of starting one.  In Seattle, there is a long settled belief that we are a likely candidate for Soccer Capitol of America.  Our fan base was tops when the Sounders joined the NASL in 1974, and the entire league was crumbling in certain decline when we left a decade later in 1984.  We have been ready and waiting ever since.  Waiting for our Christmas wish to have a “top flight” club.  No “A-League”, no “USL“.  We have wanted only what we felt was the right kind of soccer.  ”Top Flight”, “Premiership”, “Major League”.

2010 US Open Cup

Finally, unwrapped in confetti and fireworks in March 2009, the Sounders jumped out of a plain box sports league, Major League Soccer.  From the start Sounders FC leapt in with international expectations never sought by any US team from any US sport.  Success in Seattle is a self-imposed demand stated above even the most hopeful wishes other franchises have started with.  Winning an MLS Cup league title is not good enough.  Sounders want to be number one in the world.  The first US team to win a FIFA Club World Cup.

As the Sounders battled through the 2009 US Open Cup, every owner and supporter sweated with grasped scarves and crossed fingers.  Would we have winning action to support our wishful words?  In the Sounders final two USL seasons leading up to MLS expansion they made their presence felt in the US Open Cup.  Reaching the semi-final in both 2007 and 2008.  Knocking out a handful of MLS teams in the process.  Then came the start of the 2009 inaugural Major League Soccer season.  Sounders FC started league play going 3-0 and were swept up in a whirlwind of Rave Green hysteria.  Quietly, they began US Open Cup Play-In qualification rounds.  With none of the same excitement and press as the inaugural matches the Sounders qualified for the 2009 US Open Cup.  The matches were played at 5,000 seat Starfire in Tukwila.  The matches sold out but didn’t have the same newsworthiness.  Plus the team was really copying its previous USL achievements.  They pushed all the way to a third straight semi final.  The opponent was the powerful Houston Dynamo.  It appeared a pat on the back was all that was in store for our young MLS franchisee.  Late in stoppage-time, tied 1-1, his head wrapped like a wounded soldier, Nate Jaqua scored the winning goal.  ESPN did not show Nate’s dazzling winning goal on Sports Center.  It should have.  Because forget that it is soccer, forget it was in Tukwila, forget it is only the US Open Cup, it was one of the more entertaining and exciting highlight worthy sports finishes.  After heated debate over where the final would be played, a slighted Sounders FC ownership had to bow to the whims of Major League Soccer’s lovechild DC United.  They would fly to RFK stadium to face the leagues most beloved and storied franchise on its home pitch.  Seattle went on to win 2-1.  Two hundred Sounders fans flew to DC and nearly out roared United’s 20,000.  Winning the 2009 US Open Cup trophy in our inaugural season sent a message to the league that Sounders is more than talk.

With the 2009 US Open Cup victory, Sounders FC gained its first opportunity at international glory.  A 2010 CONCACAF Champions League Play-In match vs Isidro Metapan.  A decent stepping stone for a franchise entering only its second season.  Sounders defeated Isidro Metapan in a 2-leg play-in series for CONCACAF Champions League qualification.  Winning at home 1-0, and drawing away 1-1.  The Sounders won on aggregate goals 2-1.  This placed Seattle into the CONCACAF Champions League group stages.  The Sounders drew Group C with Saprissa, Marathon, and mighty Monterrey of Mexico.  Easily the “group of death” of the 2010 Champions League.   How delicious.  How wishful.  Only season two, and the Sounders play their first meaningful international matches.  The US Open Cup may be as plain-box a tournament as we have in the US.  Little exposure, and “dining room dishes” written on top of the box.  Yet, if you have an ounce of competitive passion in you and believe you know what love for sport is, then this tournament is the best American Christmas wish US Soccer has to offer.

The US Open Cup started in 1914.  One of the oldest tournaments of its type in the world of soccer.  However until Major League Soccer started in 1996, when DC United won the US Open Cup, no team you or I ever heard of had won the tournament.  It allows professional and amateur teams to compete.  Since 1996 when MLS joined, only one non MLS club has won.   The Rochester Raging Rhinos won in 1999.  The Sounders were close in 2007 and 2008.  No other professional American team sport has a competitive tournament like this.  Tournaments where, let’s say, Durham could potentially face the Yankees.  In soccer it happens each year in the US Open Cup.

I wished for this.  An imagination gift.  A plain box club in a plain box league.  Add a Rave Green shirt, a few fireworks and confetti to the sheer magic of 35,000 + fans.  It became everything I wished for.  That one hidden gift in the corner.

In November 2007 I paid $100.00 to become approximately the 670th supporter to reserve 2 seats to a team with no name.  No colors, no players, and not even a completed ownership group.  Drew Carey, while not the primary owner, brought a spark of personal touch rarely seen.  The “Scarf Seattle” campaign turned the concept of a brown box start-up franchise inside out.  Even when Beckham plays, no MLS attendance reaches 30,000.  With the second season completed, the Sounders are closer to an average attendance of 40,000 than most MLS teams are to 25,000.  The Sounders are closer to 40,000 than the LA Galaxy are to 30,000.  The Galaxy even have Landon Donovan and David Beckham.  Yet this Sounders team grows on something bigger than love.  It is connected from city to owner to player to supporter, and anyone who has waited on an unopened wish.  The team loves its fans back.

(Below section was written prior to the the Sounders 2nd US Open Cup Final appearance in as many years against the Columbus Crew.)

Tomorrow, the Sounders have a chance no team in American sports history has ever had.  The chance to open that surprise, wished for package in the corner.  The Yankees have not opened anything like it.  The Cowboys never even looked to see if such a wish was there.  The Steelers have long since had their heads down counting rings.  The Red Wings, all too often thawing octopus.  The Blackhawks still dazed and confused by the end of their Stanley Cup drought.  The Giants are more excited about a possible future Super Bowl in winter in New York, and Red Sox folk are all still writing and publishing stories about how bad things were before they got so great.  Even Jordan never found this plain brown package in the corner.  Tomorrow, Seattle Sounders FC, in year two make their fourth straight US Open Cup semi-final appearance against Chivas USA.  A win for Seattle not only gives them a chance to defend their 2009 title, but to do it playing in front of 36,000 Rave Green supporters at Quest Field.  An additional match not on the schedule at the start of the season.  This could be the cake match.  The wished for gift that only seems to appear as a child.  A childish franchise, the Sounders have an opportunity to play for Everything any team could ever hope for.  Wednesday, September 1st 2010, could be the day.  Why?  A second US Open Cup is a second ticket to international competition in Champions League 2011.  Reach the Knock-Out stages after Group play and the sky is the limit.  World supremacy could be achieved.

It is sport after all.  So from this plain brown box gift in the corner there could just as easily be a broken Christmas day child’s toy.  Or it could also be proof that as adults sometimes something bigger than love, or common understanding exists and springs true from the most unlikely places.  Tomorrow, I ask you to believe.  Even if it is for Chivas USA.  They are 5 years old, and they’ve never won anything.  Believe in this game tomorrow.  It is our country’s cup.  Our US Open Cup.  This is our history and be part of opening it up.  My 5 year-old nephew started Kindergarten today.  I want him to live his dreams.  Maybe I can set an example for him tomorrow in the most unexpected place.  The brown box sport in the corner marked in thick, dark marker, “Soccer”.

March to the Match with US Open Cup

2009 US Open Cup presented to supporters by owners in march to regular season match

This picture is from the Sounders 2009 US Open Cup.  Not an AP photo or from the Getty archive.  This is a photo from my Sounders photo album.  Our owners let us have it to march with in celebration of our 2009 Open Cup victory.  I think of it as Christmas Day 2009.  An average Rave Green match-day with a bunch of usual Sounder FC supporters, marching to an ordinary plain box regular season soccer match.

Love,
Sales on Sounders elf


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Categories : 2010

The Fucito Finish

17 04 2010

The following piece has been updated and edited since I originally posted it in April 2010.

Round 4 vs Kansas City Wizards

Sounder 'til I die

On Saturday, April 17th, Emerald City plays host to the Wizards of Kansas City.  Occidental Avenue becomes a brick road for Sounders followers lead by Emerald City Supporters (ECS).  The March to the Match will be accompanied by a marching band, Sound Wave, and a few thousand supporters with raised scarves singing and drinking loud pints of chants.   We are polite folk here in Emerald City.  Politely inviting visitors to our home pitch at Qwest Field.  What we refer to as the Soccer Capital of America.  Instead of a courteous welcome sign like, “home sweet home”, we have a respectful banner at the North End of Qwest Field with the welcoming words, “Welcome to Green Hell”. The banner hangs above the pitch displaying this slogan of sincere truth.  A theme gaining popularity.  Parents proudly point it out to their sons and daughters.  It sounds polite doesn’t it?  On match-day, in a sea of Rave Green supporters who welcome no one, Qwest Field transforms into Rave Green Hell.  This is Sounders FC, where the gates of Green Hell smile, invite, and await the Wizards.

Confession:  OK, deep breath, slight tremors of nervousness, beads of sweat . . . (whispering) . . . I like the Kansas City Wizards. Not like friends or anything.  Not like I really even know them or anything.  I mean I really don’t “know” them at all.  No one does.  Even the best Wizard supporters only know a few of their blue and black-collard players by name.  Even that is only because of rote memorization.  Not from actually, you know, “knowing them”.  The Wizards don’t even know each other.  Like the 70′s Batman TV series character, Riddler, who sported a “?” on his chest.  This should be on the front of the Wizards 2010 kits.  They are the biggest unknown in Major League Soccer.  Kansas City was the first team to defeat Sounders FC at Quest Field, 1-0 in its inaugural season.  That game featured another Sounders FC first.  The first red card. Handed to Kasey Keller for use of hands outside the box.  That win was the highlight of Kansas City’s 2009 season.  The Sounders later got revenge during a late season playoff run.  They won on the road in Kansas 3-2.  There were also rumors last year the Wizards could relocate to St Louis..  Their home field, Comerica Park, is a multi-use field.  One of the worst MLS home pitches.  It’s like playing soccer on a part Triple-A baseball, part football field.  Not acceptable.  So this unknown rag-tag team of Wizards needed something to settle their spirits.

. . . then came the big news.

The Wiz

In December, from behind a mysterious curtain appeared a real Oz.  On December 17, 2009, Wizards President, Robb Heineman began posting video updates on the Wizards website about the teams new stadium plans.  In January, they broke ground.  One of the keys to moving so fast was the Kansas City suburb county approval of “Star Bonds”.  Wizard supporters could buy bonds to support the stadium being built.  The Wizards ownership, OnGoal, LLC, scored on what was nearly a franchise headed out-of-bounds.  Even dressed in Rave Green, I stand in support of the Wizards.  The stadium will be ready in 2011.  In the meantime, in this early 2010 season, they are playing like a team somewhere over the rainbow.  Undefeated so far in 2010.  They are completely unaware that even Common Sense itself picked them to be bottom of the league dwellers.  Instead, the groundbreaking momentum of the franchise has sprung the players into a twister of believing they are a rag-tag team on a journey searching for their true identity.  Their Oz-ownership has stepped forward demonstrating knowledge, heart, and courage.  Heineman, has kept them in Kansas.  So, the Sounders will need to wake them from their brick road dream.  I am “Sounders ’til I die”.  I am good polite people, but tomorrow I will be a bad guy.  It is time to slap this band of rainbow chasing Wizards back to Kansas reality.

Keys to the match:

Take away hope.  Attack and score early.  Allowing Kansas an early goal permits their back 4 to lock the game up.  Sub in a couple defensive midfielders and they can close up shop.  Scoring early forces Kansas into playing more forward, taking chances.  The Sounders are an attack minded opportunistic team who capitalize on other teams forward pressing risks.  This would allow Seattle to use their speed to create solo breakaways, or odd man advantage rushes, a 3-on-2, or 4-on-3.

Possess the ball. Passing widens the field opening defensive holes.  Use speed to get wide and deep attacking runs through the midfield seems created by good passing and ball movement.  From pressing forward and wide cross into the box using central attacking numbers to finish.  Then, let our defense lock down the game.

Sounds simple, but the true key to the match is grit.  Seattle will need to fight for this one.  The Wizards already have this game mentally won because no one has awoken them from the “over the rainbow” dream start they are having.  Grit and grind.  It is time to wake up the Wizards and prove the banner true.  Yes, the Wizards have arrived in Emerald City, but the real-estate belongs to Sounders FC.  So, with a warm welcome, I politely invite Kansas City into Green Hell!

Post Match:  The Fucito Finish

Do you know Michael Fucito?  Did you see his historic finish in stoppage time?  It is the highlight of the week and likely the month.  It may even be the one we look back on for goal of the year.  No matter, it stands on its own as historic.  It will forever be remembered and named for Fucito’s grit in commitment to finish a brilliant late winner.

How do you spell spectacular, exquisite finishes in soccer?  In Barcelona, it’s M-E-S-S-I.  In soccer history, it’s P-E-L-E.  In Seattle, it’s F-U-C- (OK, this is an appropriate language site, no matter what you think, I’m spelling the name of a Harvard Graduate, so stay with me folks and I’ll pull this one out of the gutter) -I-T-O. Years from today Sounders supporters may refer to a late stoppage time winner as what it was named today, the Fucito.

For 90 minutes fans stood, chanted, and cringed watching chances come close, but slip by the goal in the end.  Zakuani’s speed down the left only lasted for 15 minutes.  Kansas made him play more compact, defensive, and out of position for any breakaway goal.  So, late in the match, Sigi went to his bench.  First to appear was Roger Levesque.  For his next sub, Sigi pulled one from the coaches magic hat.  He put in hard-working, Harvard Graduate, Michael Fucito.  Initially nothing changed.  Then came the bizarre moment of the match.  The Full 90 concluded.  The ref allowed the game to play on into stoppage time, but no indication of how much stoppage time would be allotted was signaled by the fourth official.  Then, almost 1 minute into stoppage time, the fourth official finally held up the sign for 4 minutes.  Remember 4 minutes?  Yes, last week.  The Real Salt Lake buzzer beater that took our win and deflated it to a draw.  Like me, many fans had an evil Rave Green smile thinking, “maybe this is our turn”.  We are in “Green Hell” after all.  Unfortunately, If you took a moment and thought about who the hero would be, then looked out on the pitch, no Sounder made you feel a hero was there today.  The ball was played lazily into Kansas City’s half and strolled out-of-bounds on the right side for a Sounders throw-in.  Nothing was taking form and the refs end-of-match whistle made the impending feel of another draw that much more frustrating.  The refs watch turns to the 92nd minute.  Brad Evans takes the throw in.  Evans is the 70th minute sub, an attacking midfielder.  So his taking the throw-in means one less attacker.  I’m thinking to myself, like 36,000 others, “why doesn’t Riley, a defender take the throw-in?  Oh well, at least we’ll get one point for the draw.”  Evans uncorks a quick, sharp throw-in diagonally down the right side.  Fucito, comes out of nowhere, sprinting left to right, like he’s running a Matt Hasselbeck late game audible.  His speedy and timed run onto the ball narrowly beats out the defender.  Like a receiver, he brings the ball into his feet perfectly.  Immediately setting up his own right footed blast on goal.  A hesitation and the goaltender is set to make the save.  Fucito, places the ball in front of goal with poise drilling a one-timer into the nylon swell of the Brougham End net.  (south end goal)

Sounders Win!!!  Sounders Win!!!

Not so fast.

Soccer 101: The time you are most susceptible to conceding a goal, is right after you score a goal!

36,000 finally had a brilliant and historic goal to celebrate.  The players were ready to walk around the pitch in celebration, applaud the fans and take a bow.  The match wasn’t over.  Kansas broke down into Seattle’s attacking third with ease and an immediate buzzer beating equalizer was on the right foot of the Wizards striker.  Even I didn’t turn back to the match until I heard the gasp of the crowd and . . . . “Keller”!  Keller parried the ball away to his right side.  He was, how should I put this, beyond anger at having to make that save.  You could just about hear his yell over 36,000.  Of the 36,000 in the stands, 11 on the field, Keller was the only Sounder still playing.  He saved the day!  He saved the match.  Then as quickly as he played the role of hero, he quietly stepped aside.  The consummate professional, veteran, and team Captain quietly stepped aside, so the young glassy-eyed hero Fucito, would have his day as the hero the fans wanted.  After all, he had just scored a Fucito.

This match will be remembered.  Named because of how spectacular and special the win is.  Time will tell if this young franchise adopts future stoppage time winners as “Fucito”!  Who knows?  For today, 36,000 at the X-Box Pitch danced and chanted his name.  Today Sounders supporters celebrated, The Fucito Finish.

Michael Fucito's first professional and dramatic extra time game winning goal on 4/17/10 v Kansas City


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Categories : 2010

First Kick vs Expansion Philadelphia Union

25 03 2010

Pre Match, Round 1 vs Philadelphia Union

Sounder 'til I die

So filled with Rave Green, I had to take a vacation day.  Still got up and did a good Uncles share today, and got my niece and nephew off to their respective schools.  They were both decked in Sounders attire.  Love them!

I’m taking the day to expand the March to the Match, and I’m marching Seattle.  Hard Rock Cafe is first stop, and then taking it to the streets of the Rave Green City.  I know, I know.  This is not Europe.  It is however, unarguably the soccer capital of America.  That is a bit self-proclaimed, but I’m taking a role in making it true.  The reality is Sounders FC are #2 today to the Huskies sweet 16 game.  I’m throwing my support to that game as well, but at the same time doing my part to show that the red carpet, center stage sporting event of Seattle, and the US today is at Quest Field.  This game should be as big as Monday Night Football.  I’m taking Seattle today to do my part so that one day it will.

Keys to the match:

Really simple.  Establish possession early in mid field.  Then push Philly back into the attacking third.  Find the guy whose ready to step into the match-journeymen Grocery Clerk position and stuff the ball in the back of the onion bag.  An early goal tonight.  First 20 minutes could open the gates.

Peter Nowak, the Philly manager, is smart and knows Sigi’s game.  So the reality is, they will do everything possible to take this match goalless or drawn even at 1 apiece deep into the 75-80th minute.  Which would make for an eye-catching, fingernail biting, hold on to your scarf because anything can happen finish.

So, look for the Sounders to push the attack early while Philly tries to hunker down, endure and frustrate the Sounders into a long match.  This catch’em sleeping approach could be a good test for the Sounders defense.  Probably the best defense in the league, but they have no idea what Philly is going to bring, or who they are going to target in their attacks.

Prediction:

Sounders FC 2 (Fredy and Freddie) – Philadelphia Union 1 (Sebastian Le Toux)

Post Match

As the match and rain shifted into a steady constant pace, there were a few empty seats.  Had the rain become the Sounders faithful first test of true support?  After 30 seconds and Union’s first yellow to Danny Califf.  The Union showing their true physical colors, and me in Rave Green heaven once again, I didn’t notice the crowd again until halftime.  Two goals and a red card later it was halftime.  Walking out for the start of the 2nd half I noticed the rain coming heavier and seats completely full.  Any doubt Seattle Sounders FC‘s faithful being tested by a little wet weather in year two was put to rest.

At the March to the Match at Occidental Park in Pioneer Square, 60 minutes before the match, Major League Soccer commissioner Dan Garber declared Seattle the soccer capitol of America.  How many American sports have their commissioner joining a team rally before their first game of the season?  Apparently it will take much more than wind and rain to challenge Sounders faithful.

The standout Man of the Match was Brad Evans.  Sigi, singled him out from his Columbus Crew championship to join Seattle in its inaugural season.  Bob Bradley has also called him up for a couple caps on the US National Team.  He and Fredy Montero scored in the Sounders inaugural match against the New York Red Bulls in ’09.  The pair each put up a goal in the first match of 2010.  Thursday was the first match I noticed what Sigi and Bradley already knew.  If you placed a GPS on Evans you’d see how much field he covers.  His recognition for being in the right places at the right times was as consistent as any player on the pitch.  His goal seemed so relaxed and simple.  Ljungberg did the workhorse move switching from right field to left, and Zakuani drove to the end line and fed a ground cross to Evans who simply fired across goal to the far post.  Recognition of player and ball movement.  Knowing his role during the flow of game almost made him appear to be a player eventually wearing the captains arm band.

Let it be noted that Ljungberg’s poise, Alonso’s everything everywhere, and the defense, oh the fantastic defense all did their part.  Scanning other MLS games this weekend, the Sounders looked as good as any team out there.  Round 2 vs New York Red Bulls should be a taste of the full season to come.


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Categories : 2010


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