Sounders 0 : 0 Toronto FC

Sounders FC and Toronto drew a blank at Qwest Field this afternoon as the race for a MLS play off place failed to draw nearer to any firm conclusion. The visitors were by far the superior side in the first half and were it not for the bravery and sheer size of Kasey Keller, could have entered their locker room 2-0 up or even more. The second half saw a much improved Sounders performance and the match ended with them missing some easy opportunities which would have brought them an undeserved victory.

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Now both sides must watch the rest of the weekend’s games to assess what they have left to do, but first of course Sounders FC have the little matter of the US Open Cup Final at RFK to concern themselves over.

For the first time in the history of this club, Sigi Schmid had a full squad to choose from. Only fringe players such as Taylor Graham and Stephen King were unfit, so there was much pre match discussion as to what in actuality was Schmid’s favourite line up. Toronto however were without the suspended Wales international Carl Robinson and Adrian Serioux, their two most prolific players in terms of appearances this season. So to a certain extent, Seattle were as much unsettled by the availability of everyone as Toronto by sudden unavailability. Chris Cummins brought in Amadou Sanyang and Emmanuel Gomez.

Only two minutes and fifty seconds had elapsed when Dwayne De Rosario missed the first of many good Toronto first half chances after rounding Kasey Keller and shooting wide from three feet after a Chad Barrett head flick. To be fair to all, Keller showed a great deal of experience in making his frame large to draw the Canadian’s hesitation.

De Rosario missed the game’s next chance too when the dangerous Marvell Wynne down Toronto’s right found Chad Barret, whose cross was just too high for De Rosario to direct on target.

Amadou Guevara put a shot wide of Keller’s right hand post in the 11th as Toronto started by far the livelier.

Referee Jorge Gonzalez waved aside a weak Seattle penalty claim in the 12th when Sanyang challenged Montero, despite Nate Jaqua’s attempt to change the official’s mind. Tyrone Marshall came off worst in a challenge with Wynne and despite one attempt to come on after treatment, the Jamaican had to be withdrawn for Pat Ianni.

Seattle continued to struggle and after 21 minutes, Barrett missed an even better chance for the Reds when he just failed to get enough on a De Rosario cross at the far post with a diving header. Seconds later Amado Guevara hit the bar with a drive as Toronto came even closer to breaking the deadlock.

To shake an insipid offense up, Steve Zakuani and Fredy Montero swapped positions with the Colombian now occupying left midfield.

Osvaldo Alonso found Jaqua wide on the right with a superb 40 yard cross field pass. The big centre forward cut in and fed Ljungberg who found space to test Frei for the first time.

De Rosario found Wynne and Hurtado deflected his drive over as Toronto continued to press, shortly after an offside flag had denied De Rosario another 1 on 1 with Keller seconds previously. From Guevara’s corner, Barrett’s drive was deflected over, and the next corner was scrambled away, as Sounders escaped a torrid first half hour unscathed.

Sam Cronin was the next to miss a gilt edged chance after De Rosario put him clear through. His touch past the on rushing Keller was way too strong and went out of play for a goal kick. Attakora picked up a yellow for a barge on Ljungberg, and Hurtado headed the free kick just wide, though it was the closest Seattle had got, before the half time whistle saved them with a miraculously undeserved parity.

The second half began with Zakuani back on the left, Ljungberg wide right in midfield and Montero up front. It seemed to help a little as Seattle started the first ten minutes of the second half marginally stronger, although the Canadians had the first chance when Guevara set up another great De Rosario chance eleven minutes into the second period but the Canadian international fired over.

Just after the hour mark, Montero and Zakuani worked a very stylish series of passes before the Congolese laid the ball into the path of Alonso who sidefooted effort was capably gathered by the diving Frei.

A minute later two different players Jaqua and Ljungberg combined in a move than ended with Frei tipping over the Swede’s shot. It just momentarily seemed that Seattle had endured the worst and were now the likelier to score, a supposition strengthened by Ljungberg’s 65th minute drive that went just past the post.

Surprisingly Montero was then withdrawn for Vagenas, with the Colombian perhaps still feeling the effects of a knock suffered minutes previously, and Le Toux came on for Zakuani after 67 minutes as has been normal for the Sounders.

Wynne headed a Le Toux header off the line from another Ljungberg corner which Pat Ianni had initially won in the air. Ljungberg and De Rosario got booked for argy bargy at a throw in after the Canadian barged into Jhon Hurtado who to his credit didn’t react, and as Ljungberg carried on the conversation with the Toronto bench, Reds skipper Jim Brennan unwisely shoved him in the chest. Ljungberg will now miss yet another game through card accumulation, the away game at DC United on September 12th. In truth, the Swede ran a long distance to get to the original incident to get himself involved, and the club’s hierarchy may not look too kindly on another needless booking which will rule their Designated Player out of another game.

Kasey Keller saved low down at his post from Emmanuel Gomez after Cronin had made good headway down the Toronto left. Brad Evans was foiled by a last ditch Nick Garcia tackle inside the six yard box as the game entered its final phase. Six minutes from the end of normal time, substitute Seb le Toux powered in a drive which had the misfortune to cannon into Nate Jaqua, before, in the last minute of normal time, some hard work by Jaqua himself retrieved a wayward Ljungberg pass. He found Osvaldo Alonso in the penalty box but left the Cuban juggling the ball with his back to goal before sending his overhead kick over the bar.

In injury time, Le Toux missed a great chance to win the game when Evans set him up right in front of Frei. His shot was more reminiscent of a pass back, lacking power and going straight to the keeper. Frei made a point blank save to deny Alonso after great work from Jaqua on the left.

But those late chances were passed up and Seattle had to settle for a point which on the balance of the whole game was fair reward for both sides.

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Sounders FC: Kasey Keller; James Riley, Tyrone Marshall (Pat Ianni 19′) Jhon Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez; Osvaldo Alonso, Freddie Ljungberg, Steve Zakuani (Seb Le Toux, 67′), Brad Evans; Fredy Montero (Peter Vagenas 66′), Nate Jaqua

Substitutes Not Used: Terry Boss, Tyson Wahl, Sanna Nyassi, Roger Levesque,

Toronto FC: Stefan Frei; Marvell Wynne, Nick Garcia, Nana Attakora, Emmanuel Gomez; Amado Guevara, Sam Cronin, Amadou Sanyang, Jim Brennan; Chad Barrett (Ali Gerba 68′), Dwayne De Rosario

Substitutes Not Used: Brian Edwards, Lesly Fellinga, Gabe Gala, Pablo Vitti; O’Brian White, Danny Dichio

Attendance: 32,679

See also:

MLS Results Spell Further Gloom for Seattle

Match Preview

Statistical Guide to the Game’s Importance