Sounders FC 2 : 1 San Jose Earthquakes
Seattle Return to Winning Ways against Rock Bottom Earthquakes
June 13
GOL! Montero Secures the Win for Seattle as Tod Leiweke and Peter Vagenas Look on
Sounders returned to winning ways after a six game and seven week absence by beating the San Jose Earthquakes 2-1 in front of 28,999 people. Freddie Ljungberg and Fredy Montero scored the all important goals as Sigi Schmid’s side claimed all three points against a new look Earthquakes eleven.
Schmid was forced to sideline Jhon Hurtado and Nate Jaqua through suspension, with Patrick Ianni and Seb Le Toux filling in at centre-half and centre-forward respectively. The unusual pairing of Le Toux and Fredy Montero confounded the sceptics by looking lively as a spearhead. For the Quakes, Darren Huckerby was back and new acquisitions Antonio Ribeiro and Chris Wondolowski both started the game as Frank Yallop made considerable changes. The win leaves Sounders on 20 points, still trailing Houston by seven points after the Dynamo defeated FC Dallas 3-1 in the Texas derby. San Jose remain rooted to the bottom of the Western Conference with nine points
The first ten minutes were relatively uneventful as the Quakes came to terms with all the new faces and Sounders began haltingly. The first real chance fell to the visitors when newcomer Chris Wondowloski found Darren Huckerby on the left. He tormented James Riley, but Ryan Johnson couldn’t turn round in time to direct it goalwards after 13 minutes.
More long balls were being aimed at Fredy Montero than had been in previous games as Sounders sought to shake up their offensive alternatives. Stephen King proved to be particularly adept at this department of the game. He explained after the match, “They always say to look long first, and then if that’s not on, then to play the short ball. Especially with Sebastien out there and Steve Zakuani we can use our speed to get behind. I try to look for that a lot.”
16 minutes had elapsed when Montero picked up the ball after Le Toux was flattened by Aaron Pitchkolan. Pitchkolan was booked but Le Toux’s corner was easily caught by veteran keeper Joe Cannon.
Sounders Celebrate Taking the Lead
Three minutes later, Zakuani beat a defender but his sliding cross was just missed by the onrushing Montero. Cannon fluffed the corner as he came out to punch and Patrick Ianni tried to lob it in over a crowd of players, but his effort went over. Seconds later Stephen King received the ball with his back to goal on the half way line. He turned, looked up and in one movement delivered an inch perfect long pass to Le Toux on the right. Cannon came out to meet him and Seb got there first. The cross came in with the keeper stranded, and only Jason Hernandez’s alertness saved San Jose from real trouble. From the resultant corner on the right, James Riley flicked on a header into the six yard box forcing a superb point blank save by Cannon from a Montero header.
Keller though had to be sharp to come off his line and clear as Huckerby was ready to pounce. But that was a rare threat from San Jose as the home side began to get the upperhand.
The game was by now well warmed up and Steve Zakuani looked dangerous every time he got the ball. In the 29th minute, Ramiro Corrales caught him nastily and was not booked but perhaps should have been. He was cautioned five minutes later anyway. Ljungberg’s free kick from the left was met by a light touch by the outstretched foot of a lunging Evans and Cannon had enough time to pick it up.
In the 34th minute, Freddie Ljungberg once more found Steve Zakuani causing havoc. His inch perfect cross found Fredy Montero whose shot hit the inside of Cannon’s right leg as the increasingly beleaguered keeper dived. To be honest, Cannon knew very little about the miraculous save he had just made.
The breakthrough was not long away though. Three minutes before half time, Jason Hernandez slipped on the field turf and Fredy Montero picked up the ball. He found Le Toux who needed one touch with his right foot to find Ljungberg who needed one touch with his left to draw the keeper and chip into the empty net. Ryan Johnson fluffed a good chance seconds later as Sounders were caught napping but they held their lead to half time, but not before Le Toux’s battling qualities won two late corners for the Sounders to close out a worthy first half effort by all in rave green.
Both teams came out unchanged after the interval. 90 seconds into the second period, a Le Toux corner was back headed on by Ianni but Marshall headed over much to his own frustration. Worryingly for the Quakes was Seattle winning two headers inside their six yard box. It was a portent of things to come for both Patrick Ianni and San Jose. Debutant Ribeiro meanwhile picked up a booking for clacking away at Ljungberg’s heels.
Don't Cry for Me, Patrick Ianni
Montero however turned villain shortly after as his lazy clearance was picked up by Shea Salinas, who found an unmarked Ryan Johnson on the left. Johnson’s pinpoint cross found Huckerby standing feet away from Keller and he duly buried the chance to put San Jose back into the game. Montero then acquired a pointless booking for throwing the ball away after Riley was penalised for a hand ball. Schmid couldn’t haul him out of there soon enough after that.
On 74, Stephen King picked up a Cannon clearance and tried to lob the keeper who was out of his goal from inside the centre circle. It sailed wide but was testament to King’s increasing confidence in his role.
Montero had been withdrawn for the returning Alonso and Ljungberg joined the forward line to partner Le Toux. Roger Levesque came on to replace the Congolese Zakuani but played on the right side of midfield and Le Toux and Ljungberg resumed their forward partnership. The jiggling made little difference but Levesque showed a very intelligent side of his game as a neater more compact threat on the right suggested good things may happen if allowed more time to flourish.
Five minutes from time, Sounders nearly surrendered their lead as a short corner move, orchestrated by Darren Huckerby, led to a scramble inside their box and fortunately for the home side, Ryan Johnson fired wide from inside the six yard box. It was a hugely lucky let off for Seattle. Johnson was replaced by Pablo Campos shortly after.
It was to be San Jose’s last chance at grabbing a point. Ljungberg managed to pick up a yellow for dissent but seconds later, referee Silviu Petrescu blew the whistle and confirmed Seattle’s first win for seven weeks.
Sounders: Kasey Keller; Tyson Wahl, Tyrone Marshall, Patrick Ianni, James Riley; Brad Evans, Stephen King, Freddie Ljungberg, Steve Zakuani (Roger Levesque 77′); Seb Le Toux, Fredy Montero (Osvaldo Alonso 74′)
Substitutes not used: Ben Dragavon, Peter Vagenas, Nathan Sturgis, Sanna Nyassi, Evan Brown
San Jose Earthquakes: Joe Cannon; Chris Leitch, Aaron Pitchkolan, Jason Hernandez, Michael Zaher (Quincy Amarikwa 81′); Arturo Alvarez, Antonio Ribeiro (Shea Salinas 58′), Darren Huckerby, Ramiro Corrales , Ryan Johnson (Pablo Campos 85′), Chris Wondolowski,
Substitutes not used: Andrew Weber, Kelly Gray, Eric Denton
Attendance: 28,999
We’ll have some more match reaction and some exclusive Prost Amerika interviews and quotes tomorrow. Meanwhile, don’t forget to vote for the Man of the Match.
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I would just like to say that I watched Ianni very closely this match and I think that he had a very good game. I would be disappointed if he doesn’t cement a starting position or if he gets traded down the road. Especially with Hurtado appearing to be (to me anyway) lacking a sense of urgency in his game.
On a completely different note, I want to give mention to the SJ fans that taunted, threw beer, and spit at the Seattle fans during the March to the stadium. You stay classy SJ!