Defend It – Sounders vs Chivas USA – Seattle wants fourth Open Cup

11 07 2012

“Defend it”

“Defend It” – USL Sounders slogan – keychain side 2

USL Sounders “Defend It” keychain side 1

Dusting off an old Sounders keychain, I found a message from their USL days. It’s a simple slogan lacking originality. But sends a clear message. Defeat Chivas USA, Wednesday at Starfire and the Sounders earn the right to defend their three consecutive US Open Cup titles. A unique American sports dynasty that Sounders would like to defend while striving for a fourth.

Sporting Kansas City travels to PPL Park in Philadelphia to face the Philadelphia Union in the other Wednesday semifinal.

Three is not enough. Seattle have already established a modern US Open Cup dynasty winning three straight US Open Cups. From the 2009 inaugural season to the present they have reigned supreme. Possibly more significant than winning three straight cups is tomorrows semifinal with Chivas USA, which marks Seattle’s sixth consecutive trip to the US Open Cup semifinal round. A tremendous achievement in the cups ninety-nine year history. A mark extraordinary enough to likely stand for another hundred years.

If the Sounders make it past Chivas they will become only the second team to accomplish the feat.  The last being Stix, Baer and Fuller (St Louis Central Breweries) from 1932-1935.

Advantage Levesque or advantage Riley?
Teammates and fan favorites from the Sounders inaugural season and the run of three US Open Cups. Roger Levesque and James Riley face one another as opponents this time. Both are steady cogs in each clubs lineups. Never the star, but always accountable.

Roger Levesque plays any position. From Defender to Forward. James Riley was a steady Right Back for Seattle’s first three seasons. He plays the Right Back position consistently for Chivas USA since being picked up by Montreal and subsequently traded in the Expansion Draft. Levesque has played for the Sounders since their USL days.  He’s been part of each of the Sounders six-year run at reaching as far as the semifinal.

Starfire’s home advantage. Riley knows Sounders home away from home pitch at Starfire as well as any opponent Sounders could face. The short field plays quickly. Teams have little space to build a midfield attack. It makes for an exciting game for fans as the possession transitions like hockey quickly from defense to attack. Riley will be able to help Chivas prepare for that style of play.

2012 is the 99th edition of the US Open Cup – Sounders are 1st club since 67-69 to win 3 in a row – 6 consecutive semifinal appearances

For the Sounders, there is an intriguing simultaneous duel they are fighting for beyond the one with Chivas USA to reach the US Open Cup finals. One for respect. The US Open Cup does not get its due credit as an American sporting institution. And the Sounders aren’t treated like a reigning champion.

Rather than the Sounders having home-field advantage throughout this years competition as reigning champions. They lost home-field hosting rights to Sporting Kansas City with a coin flip. A sporting flop. A coin flip determines who kicks off and who defends. Not who hosts a match.

In any other major sporting league the Seattle Sounders US Open Cup accomplishments would be more highly regarded by their peers. Winning the US Open Cup is a direct path to CONCACAF Champions League. The Sounders have benefitted from punching their CCL ticket before any other MLS club the past three years. But MLS clubs often show up to US Open Cup matches ill prepared. Portland losing 1-0 to Cal FC may have even been the match that undid John Spencer’s coaching position for Portland. The Sounders don’t need any parades, but more acknowledgment from Major League Soccer and their club peers would help grow the interest and image of the 99-year-old knockout competition.

There are no guarantees, but if the Sounders defeat Chivas USA, they will be making a fourth consecutive US Open Cup Finals appearance. Their dynasty becomes legacy.

The Final may well be a name changing event. From US Open Cup, to Seattle’s Open Cup.

 

2007 – Seattle Sounders lose to FC Dallas 2-1 overtime – Qwest Field, Seattle, WA (Semifinal)
2008 – Seattle Sounders draw Charlotte Battery 1-1, lose on Penalty Kicks (4-2) – Charlotte, NC (Semifinal)
2009 – Seattle Sounders FC defeat DC United 2-1 – RFK Stadium, Washington, DC
2010 – Seattle Sounders FC defeat Columbus Crew 2-1 – Qwest Field, Seattle, WA
2011 – Seattle Sounders FC defeat Chicago Fire 2-nil – CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA
2012 – Seattle Sounders  FC vs Chivas USA – Starfire Sports Complex, Tukwila, WA (Semifinal)

© 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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Union Payback – Philadelphia Union at Sounders FC

5 05 2012

Sounders huddle before midweek match with LA Galaxy 5/2/12 – Photo by Paul Kahl

Welcome back from midweek success.

Today your ever-changing cast of Sounders starters host the Philadelphia Union.  The objective is clear.  This is the only meeting in the unbalanced 2012 schedule.  So, beat the Union and get payback for the flat 2-nil performance last October.

The Union will be without their prominent coach Peter Nowak.  Who is serving the second of a two game suspension.  Nowak’s suspension and fine were for his part in a scuffle with Chivas USA on April 21.

David Beckham and Robbie Keane missed a good game Wednesday.  Sounders stole the glory from the present champion LA Galaxy, winning 2-nil.  Turf excuses, travel, and a compacted schedule were the primary reasons given for the Galaxy’s absent stars.

Seattle had not defeated LA since an away match in 2009.  And had never won at home.  The midweek mash-up initially looked a high challenge with the Galaxy’s three world-class DP’s (Designated Players) Landon Donovan, David Beckham, and Robbie Keane.  Only Donovan made the trip.  Effectively, Bruce Aren put out a B-Squad line-up.  The Sounders made LA pay for it.  One reason bounced around about why Beckham didn’t play was the surface.  The Field Turf Revolution Surface yesterday received a FIFA-2 certification.  So, hopefully next time LA come to town, their list of excuses will have better validation.

Galaxy travel to Seattle again August 5th.

Last October, Philadelphia took all three points from Seattle at Century Link.  A lackluster 2-nil loss.  Philadelphia’s return marks an opportunity for Sounders FC to get payback.  Adding a little extra importance is that this will be the only meeting between the two sides in 2012.

Focal points for the match.

Freddy Adu, like Eddie Johnson is working hard to prove his value as a club level MLS leader and pave his way to the US National Team.  The teen-prodigy has had many ups and down, but has never kept his eye off the bigger objective.  As much as I root for the Sounders, I have never stopped hoping for Adu’s success.

Sports are weird.  Sometimes a players success is realized by simply finding the right environment to flourish in.  The Union seem to be a place where Adu may realize that success.  Sounders know something about that.  Eddie Johnson has followed a similar up and down path to Adu.  He is also working to forge a successful return to MLS.

The match will be a good opportunity to compare their competitive development and club level contributions.  Both hope club level success in MLS will catch the attention of US National team coach Jurgen Klinsmann.  Both wish to be in the mix of players considered for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Sounders will likely be without newly acquired Keeper Michael Gspurning for 2-3 weeks.  A hip injury.  In his place steps Bryan Meredith.  Meredith played for the Kitsap Pumas last year.  Sounders fans may remember him well.  He kept Sounders at bay in a 2-1 US Open Cup loss to the Sounders.  By keeping the match close, on key saves for Kitsap, Meredith gave the Pumas what could have been a mammoth upset.

Michael Gspurning smacks goal kick in first half vs LA 5/2/12 – Photo by Paul Kahl

Winning is such a complex variable.  The Sounders are  5-W, 1-L, 1-D and building momentum.  But a sour performance would bring that to a halt.  Early season challenges like this, at first seem like a big deal.  But in the scheme of a marathon season, a single victory may mean little.  The lasting impact is how the team feels about how they handled the challenge.  Letting fans down at home would hurt.  Earning a win, or settling for a draw would give the Sounders all the validation they need for their must successful start to a season.  Momentum favors no one.  Results do.  A draw or win is the Sounders Saturday objective.


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Walking Dead Dynamo – Houston Dynamo at Seattle Sounders FC

22 03 2012

Head bandaged Zombies, 40,000 screaming rave green fans , and NBC Sports Network.

Ingredients for a new NBC soccer-thriller-zombie-drama?  No.  This is a usual bloody, head-bash clash between Houston Dynamo and Seattle Sounders.  The difference this time, NBC Sports Network will bring a growing thrill seeking audience to this Major League Soccer version of “The Hunger Games”.

See the trees through the Bandages

Coach, Sigi Schmid calls them “trees”.  The tall, physical Houston Dynamo travel to CenturyLink Field, Friday, 7pm PST.  This match marks NBC Sports Network’s first match with Sounders FC. It’s already Prime-Time viewing when these two MLS power-clubs meet, but NBC will expose it to a larger blood-thirsty audience.

“Zombie Jaqua”

Nate "Zombie" Jaqua - Houston vs Sounders 2009 MLS Playoffs

Not once, but twice during the Sounders 2009 inaugural season, both clubs met and a Sounder ended up wearing a head-bandage.  Former Sounder, Nate Jacqua has twice been the head bitten victim.  Most notably during the 2009 MLS Playoffs.  Nate’s contract was declined by Seattle during the offseason.  Fan and player memories of those scarred Dynamo matches still haunts.

Houston Dynamo have more diverse talents than causing bloody head wounds.  But there are a few rules to follow, and faces to be aware of.

“Rule number one:  Cardio”.  The survival rule that worked in “Zombieland“ works the same here.  Houston is tall and physical and can turn any game on a single Brad Davis dead ball set piece. Sigi says about Houston “they’ve got probably the best server of a dead ball in the league, in Brad Davis”.  So, run.  Run and wear ‘em down.  Possess, pass quick, move, and make the dynamo chase the game.

Rule number two:  Beware the Trees. With a tall lineup of players, like 6′ 3″ Geoff Cameron the Dynamo are always a free kick or corner kick away from a slicing fast goal.  So playing level at 0-0 or even holding a marginal 1-0 lead is nothing Houston fears.  In fact, it only make ‘em hungrier.

That same forest height also haunts opponents when Houston are on the defensive side of the ball.  The Dynamo banged in a 1-0 lead against the Sounders in Seattle last year.  Seattle pelted Houston’s goal with 26 shots.  Steve Zakuani salvaged a late 80th minute equalizing goal.

A late escape this time is not the position the Sounders want to be in.  Last year was a lucky draw.  The fate would likely be worse this time.

David Estrada opened the Sounders season with a St Patrick’s Hat-trick vs Toronto.  He may not be able to duplicate, but what will be critical is his ability to make similar runs in behind Houston’s defense.  Like Toronto, frustrating Houston’s defense and pulling them out of position, creating offensive gaps for Alvaro “Flaco” Fernadez, and Frdy Montero will be a valuable part of Estrada’s development and Sounders success.  Possession and creativity up top in attack will force Houston to chase the game and not allow their physical presence and height to dominate the match.  Bandages will remain resting in first-aid kits.

Match Notes and Injury Update:

Media note:  Arlo White, the Sounders commentator for the past two seasons will be calling his first match back in Seattle since being selected by NBC Sports Network as their primary soccer play-by-play announcer.  I imagine a warm welcome, as Arlo has been such an exciting part of Sounders soccer since coming from BBC-5.  His warm baritone and creative calls make him a clear selection for NBC.  Here are some calls you may know, “Loitering with intent”, “Champagne soccer”, and a classic “Shambolics”

Injury note:  Mauro Rosales received a knock to his knee from Toronto.  He will miss Houston and may miss the next two weeks.  ”Flaco” may move from left to right.  Burch, Levesque, and Sivebæk are thought to possibly be options to fill in as well.

You can also see my work posted here

 © 2012 Sales on Sounders by Ryan J Sales


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2011 in review

5 01 2012

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2011 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 2,600 times in 2011. If it were a cable car, it would take about 43 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.


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Sounders on Champions Tour to Vancouver and Guatemala City – Sounders at CSD Comunicaciones

27 09 2011

Sounders '09-'10 US Open Cup Titles lead to '10-'11 Champions League

After an impressive start in Champions League with three consecutive wins, Herediano brought Sounders strong start to a halt in Seattle last Tuesday. Losing 1-nil the Sounders missed a chance to secure a spot in the quarter-finals.  The road to secure that spot in the last two Group Stage matches becomes more challenging.

New places and enemy faces.

Sounders travel Tuesday to Guatemala City, to face CSC Comunicaciones for the second time in Champions League this year. Comunicaciones are familiar faces to Sounders FC, after making easy work of them in a 4-1 trouncing in Seattle in their first Group Stage meeting. Facing them in Guatemala will prove a new challenge all together. Last year’s Champions League experience has helped the Sounders. But Comunicaciones will be on its home pitch with their fans. Playing at new stadiums, often with less than pristine pitches, always presents opportunities for unlucky ball bounces.

Sounders have done well on the road this year. Including the thrilling defeat over Monterrey in Mexico. Experience played a key roll in holding off Monterrey’s late charge. But unlike any Champions League team the Sounders face this year, Monterrey know the Sounders and they know Seattle.  They traveled to Seattle last year, and before Portland, they had the best and loudest away fan support the Sounders have dealt with at home. Monterrey defeated Seattle twice in Champions League last year, and went on to defeat Real Salt Lake to win the 2010 CONCACAF Champions League.

Club Social y Deportivo Comunicaciones

If Seattle fails to defeat, or at least draw with Comunicaciones on Tuesday, then they may as well buy lottery tickets. Leaving their chances of advancement in Champions League to a win over Monterrey in October, two weeks before MLS playoffs is about as likely as winning the lottery. Needing to defeat the defending Champions League cup holders here, there, or anywhere is as tough a professional club-level challenge as you could face in North American soccer.

Calling tomorrow’s match a must win, or must draw, is an understatement. A win means Sounders don’t have to play with mood-swinging lineup changes and desperation when Monterrey visits Seattle for the second year in a row in October.

Lineup changes and rested players.

Sounder’s Coach, Sigi Schmid will be tested the rest of the way. With Champions League, US Open Cup Final, and MLS Playoff-significant matches crammed into a compact schedule, players will have to be shuffled each match. Injuries to Mauro Rosales on top of others add to that challenge.

Seattle Sketcher, Gabi Campanario

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

Carrying momentum over from being crowned Champions of Cascadia after the weekend’s 3-1 victory over Vancouver, may prove for the Sounders their best chance of advancing in Champions League against Comunicaciones tomorrow. Vancouver is not as challenging an away destination as Guatemala City, but it shows experienced development of a young team when it finds success on the road.  The Sounders are an outstanding 7-wins, 3-losses, and 5-draws on the road in MLS this season. They are a young team that plays like veterans. Their experience gained from added US Open Cup and Champions League matches over their first three seasons is showing. Tuesday is a chance to put that acquired experience on display to the broader footballing world.

© 2011 Sales on Sounders by Ryan Sales


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Brek, Mexico and Sitting Solo in Second Position – FC Dallas vs Sounders FC

23 08 2011

This post is more than 48 hours late. No doubt about that. Considering the tardy arrival, you may feel inclined to slip down to the Post Match portion. Your inclination would be very wrong.  Very, very wrong.  You would miss the beautiful simplicity from my, albeit completely late, Prematch comments.  You would feel like you had cheated.  Like you were suddenly a teenager again, caught shoplifting, completely missing all my post match thoughts, and your cheating ways, although innocent enough in intent, would slowly build a lonely unfulfilled emotion inside you.  ”What if I had only read Sales on Sounders prematch comments first”.  The voice inside your head would say over and over and over.  The choice is yours.  Free will is a wonderful thing.  But starting at the beginning may bring you a more sweetened peace of mind than you could ever imagine.

Prematch vs FC Dallas

Seattle Sketcher, Gabi Campanario

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

Saturday is the Texas Two Step, from Frisco.  Sounders FC have never won in Texas.  Nothing from Houston Dynamo and nothing from FC Dallas. Sounders travel to FC Dallas’s home pitch at Pizza Hut Park. The winner takes sole possession of second place in the Western Conference, and the overall MLS standings. LA Galaxy leads the way. Playoff positioning is at stake.

Sounders also want a little pay-back for losing 1-nil to FC Dallas in their first meeting at home on May 25th

On Wednesday, August 17th, FC Dallas made history. They became the first MLS squad to celebrate a win in Mexico. Defeating Pumas UNAM, Mexican Primera División Champions 1-nil. A great win to start their 2011 CONCACAF Group Stage. The mid-week match may have left them tired, but the glorious victory will surely open their confidence up to full sail ahead.

On Tuesday, August 16th, Sounders FC had its most successful CONCACAF win to date. A 4-1 win over Comunicaciones of Guatemala.

Both sides meet Saturday with hopes of securing second place in the Western Conference, and overall playoff standings in MLS.  With LA signing Robbie Keane, last week, an irish international striker. It seems unlikely any team will stop LA from reaching their goal of ending the season atop the MLS table and earning the Supporters Shield.  Any remote chance of catching LA, will likely come from the team that wins Saturday in Frisco, Texas.

One player stands above all as the most likely difference maker in Saturday’s showdown.

Soccer often takes itself too seriously. Media, like Twitter, has become a good source for finding the lighter side of soccer. MLS.com features a podcast airing twice a week that balances soccer’s intensity with joyful humor. Extra Time Radio airs Monday to review the weekends results and events. It airs again on Thursday to review any mid-week matches, while looking to the weekends match-ups ahead. Greg Lalas, one member of ETR”s quartet of MLS.com’s writers and media personalities, recently made the point that Brek Shea is not a good name for soccer stardom. It may be a little early to place the full weight of that stigma on Brek Shea, but his development suggests there is good reason for us to be excited about what he could become for the US Men’s National Team.

Messi, Rooney, and Xavi derive unfair comparison when thinking of single name soccer stars. Dempsey is the closest we have in US Soccer. Even Landon Donovan who is the most successful US soccer star has not caught on as a single name. Lalas proposed, “Brek”. Time will tell.  For now, Brek is the primary challenge Seattle will have to mitigate if they want to win. Heat is the other serious obstacle the Sounders will face in order to come out of Texas victorious, and sitting solo in second position.

With LA Galaxy signing Robby Keane this week, it seems unlikely any team will stop them from reaching their MLS championship goal. Two teams from the West that would like to at least have that chance are FC Dallas and Sounders FC.

Post Match

Hoops

Nicknames; Hoops, Red Stripes, Toros, Burn, The Branders, Dallas 96

Sitting in second after winning in Texas, the Sounders are only two-steps from LA. ”if we want to make a run in the playoffs, you know we’re going to have to win games like this”. Keller, after the Sounders first win in Texas.

It all came down to the fifteenth minute.  Lamar Neagle received the ball near midfield, along the left sideline.  He rolls the ball forward on a slow dribble, while Montero makes a run up the middle.  Lamar’s pass avoids an FC Dallas interception finding Fredy Montero, who slides the ball past the last FC Dallas defender. Mauro Rosales runs into the penalty box, timing a one touch strike inside the near post.  Sounders lead 1-nil and all looks good.

Finally, Texas is defeated. The Sounders went on to win by the same 1-nil score. Not a pretty win. It was survival and sweat. Dallas threw everything. They even went down a man and still managed to outplay the Sounders with 10 men.

With the early goal, Seattle gave a little pay-back to FC Dallas for what Dallas did in Seattle on May 25th.  A 1-nil win in Seattle. Brek scored in the 18th minute.  FC Dallas bunkered in behind the ball.  Rarely venturing forward the rest of the match.  Seattle attacked again and again, but FC Dallas held the Alamo and stole a defensive victory. Seattle were the better squad but were not rewarded for their efforts. Carbon copy in Frisco.  Seattle took an early lead, then held on by the skin of their teeth until the final whistle.

Daniel Cruz was shown a third-minute yellow card for a reckless tackle.  Then in the 56th minute the referee thought he was simulating a fall to earn a free kick. The referee made a surprising call against Cruz, showing him a second yellow card.  Dallas played a man down the rest of the match.  You would not have known.  106 degrees hot and a sweltering attack, Dallas never gave up, and were it not for a heroic save by Keller at the death, Dallas looked poised to come back and earn a draw.

For Keller, this was his eighth shutout of the season.

The referee helped Seattle.  Twenty-two fouls against Seattle and nineteen against Dallas.  Forty-one fouls, each giving Sounders players a chance to catch their breath and drink water.  Those little pauses helped Seattle survive 106 degrees of Texas heat and equal amount of sweltering pressure from their attack.

Keller always manages to have the right words to put the perfect perspective on a match. “Maybe they should’ve won here and we definitely should’ve beat them there”.

Happily, Sounders take advantage of the win and climb into sole possession of second place.  Six points behind LA Galaxy seems a bit lofty to think the Sounders could catch them for first place in the remaining eight matches. But pulling out playoff like survival wins are what champions are made of. This is the first time I’ve felt Sounders showed that type of playoff like poise. Even more impressive it was on the road.

 

Credits:  Kasey Keller comments from post match interviews on Sounders FC.com

© 2011 Sales on Sounders by Ryan Sales


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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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Re-Union of Expansion Rivals: Philadelphia Union vs Seattle Sounders FC

16 04 2011

Peter Nowak, has his club playing with excitement and confidence.  The second year Philadelphia Union manager has players buying into his defensively physical, but gracefully eloquent pass and possession style.

The Union are the surprise club of the young 2011 Major League Soccer season.  With four matches in their books, the Union lead the Eastern Conference with 3-wins and 1-loss.  Defeating potential MLS Cup favorite, New York Red Bulls 1-nil last week is evidence revealing they are no surprise.  New York and LA are the two clubs most favored to win the 2011 MLS Cup.  Instead the Union are turning into a contender to reckon with.

Philadelphia Union - 2009 Expansion

Squaring off twice in 2010, Philadelphia and Seattle became unintended rivals.  Hard to do from across the country.  Yet both clubs did enough on and off the field to make Chester, PA and Seattle, WA feel like Cascadia Rivals.

Sebastian Le Toux was left unprotected by Sounders FC in the 2010 expansion draft.  Philadelphia Union wasted no time snapping him up.  It was widely considered the Sounders first Front Office mistake.  Those most vocal were Sounders FC’s own supporters.  Le Toux joined Sounders FC as a USL-1 club in 2007.  He successfully helped the Sounders knock off MLS clubs in ’07 & ’08 US Open Cup matches.  He was the US Open Cup goals leader in 2008.  In 2009, his assist in the US Open Cup final vs DC United lead to Reger Levesques winning goal and Seattle’s first taste of trophy glory.

Seattle and Philadelphia are the two previous expansion cities.  Portland and Vancouver have joined this season.  Sounders FC joined in 2009 and the Union in 2010.

Sounders FC ownership launched a franchise with such high marks it makes comparison unfair for future expansion clubs.  Winning the US Open Cup and making the playoffs left Philadelphia in the wake of that comparison.  The Union’s new soccer only stadium, PPL Park was not completed.  So, for a second straight season, MLS granted Seattle the host city for First Kick 2010 vs expansion Philadelphia.  Which meant the Union had to go west for their inaugural MLS match at unfriendly Qwest Field in Seattle, losing 2-nil.

If direct comparison hadn’t already lit a spark under this unintended East v West rivalry, then match play and post match dialogue did.  During the match, physical play led to strong yellow cards, an ejection, and an injury to Ljungberg.  Union’s coach Peter Nowak felt Freddie Ljungberg dove to get a fouls called.  Ljungberg ended up injured for two weeks, which was about as long as their mild banter and jabs went back and forth.

Sebastian Le Toux & Peter Nowak

Traveling east in June Sounders FC took their magnetic media frenzy to give PPL Park, in Chester, PA, a grand opening.  Hungry for revenge, Philadelphia felt necessary to prove their quality.  Pat Noonan, Seattle’s forward for that match took some of their joy out of the occasion by scoring the first official MLS regular season goal at PPL Park.  That was enough to twist Union passion up to 11 on the rock-n-roll meter.  From that point forward Union dominated and eventually won 3-1.  Even when Montero earned a rare Sounders FC penalty kick, Noonan could not finish.

Seattle goes to Chester, PA hot off their first win over the Chicago Fire last weekend.  The Sounders unexpectedly slow start, 1-win 2-losses 2-draws, goes up against the surprisingly successful start for the Union.  Undefeated in their last 3 matches, a Sounders first away win would put them right on course.  Even a draw would keep momentum building on a stretch of away matches that includes 4 of their next 5.

In this Season of the Rivalry, it is important to look beyond regional rivals.  Houston and Seattle still have a grudge in the bank from 2009.  Seattle knocked Houston out of the Semi Final of the 2009 US Open Cup.  While Houston knocked Seattle out of the MLS playoffs with a stoppage time goal in the second leg of their first round clash.  LA and Seattle have an ever rising tiff as well.  This shows the maturity and growth of Major League Soccer.  A maturity directly related to the quality in all its recent expansion clubs and the supporters groups from their home cities.

Seattle Sketcher, Gabi Campanario

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

Sales on Sounders would like to recognize a pair of supporter based blogs.  I recently had the pleasure of meeting a fellow Sounders supporter and blogger at Tat’s in Pioneer Square, prior to the Chicago Fire match.  Jacob Cristobal, the editor of, Jibber Jabbin’ Jacob, shows tremendous knowledge of the game, and a sharp eye for key elements of matches.  Follow the link above to his site.  In addition to great taste in sport, his sense for locating a quality watering hole and amazingly authentic Philly Cheese Steak in Seattle is spot on.  Traveling to Seattle and wondering where to grab a good bite?  A supporter from Portland or any other soccer city and want to know what to eat and where to go?  Tat’s is close to Qwest field, so look no further.  In as PG-13 a manner as I possibly can, you only need 8 inches.  As good as 12 inches sounds, you can share it but you can’t finish it.  Looking to get a fresh intelligent take on the weekly MLS club Power Rankings?  Please take a look at Derek Ciapala’s, Weekly MLS Power Rankings.  Derek is an LA supporter, but his knowledge of what is shaping up throughout the league is objective and more engaging than most sport site’s Power Rankings.

* * * * *

© 2011 by Ryan J Sales, Sales on Sounders,
April 16, 2011


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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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