Sounders FC have made the MLS play-offs in their inaugural season after a 2-3 win in a thrilling match at Community America Ballpark. Tyrone Marshall, Roger Levesque and Nate Jaqua scored the goals as Sounders did their very best to throw away a game they had already done enough to win.
With these three points, Sounders take their total to 44 and become the first expansion team to make the post season since Chicago Fire in 1998. There is certain to be a celebratory atmosphere at Qwest Field next week when the Washington side entertain FC Dallas in the last home game of the regular season. This victory was Sounders fourth win in five away games and they can hold no fear of a two legged match in the quarter finals to come. With this victory, Sounders FC head coach Sigi Schmid ties Bob Bradley’s record for most MLS wins with 124.
The game started with Kansas looking dangerous. In the fifth minute, a left wing cross was headed towards goal by Fredy Montero but it lacked power and hit Matt Besler’s backside before being gathered by Kevin Hartman. A clean game was providing plenty opportunity for shots on goal, and it was the hosts who created the next good chance. Matt Besler shot goalward after a penalty box scramble but Osvaldo Alonso was well positioned to hack the ball clear from under the cross bar.
Two minutes before the half hour, Sounders took the lead. A left wing Ljungberg corner was left by everyone and caught Hartman by surprise at his near post. He palmed it out to Tyrone Marshall who scored with the rebound. The goal was a defensive disaster and demonstrated the need to put a defender on the near post at corners.
Kansas heads seemed to go down and Sounders began to dominate. Steve Zakuani hit the top of the cross bar with a lob as Hartman needlessly rushed out. With Zakuani’s pace, there was maybe a case for his taking it round the keeper as opposed to the audacious lob.
Sounders were to hit the bar again before half time. A Zakuani cross from the left was met by a firm Nate Jaqua header. But the striker turned right midfielder hit the bar and couldn’t direct the rebound goalward as Sounders dominated.
Four minutes after half time, Zakuani flicked the ball cleverly inside to Ljungberg who found Montero with an open goal in front of him. He astonishingly put it past the post.
Kansas City made Sounders and Montero pay the price heavily. Michael Harrington took a weak left-footed shot, and it was so weak that Zoltan Hercegfalvi had time to saunter unchallenged onto the end of it and hammer it past Keller for an unlikely 1-1.
Two minutes later Myers forced Keller into a diving save with a long range effort. Seconds later Kansas were ahead. Davy Arnaud hit a harmless ball from the right into the box. Tyrone Marshall took a wild swing at it and hit fresh air. Josh Wolff took full advantage of the opportunity to score Kansas’ second goal in three minutes.
Montero missed an even better chance in the 56th. Brad Evans flicked a ball through that found the Colombian ahead of any defender and seemingly offside. The flag didn’t go up and even with Steve Zakuani free on his left, Montero chose to shoot and put it wide again. Seconds later Montero hit a long range drive at Hartmann.
Montero was withdrawn for Levesque and that move paid dividend when he was first to pounce on a Ljungberg corner and headed in the equaliser.
Zakuani took on Chance Myers and shot just past the right post on 72. Keller saved Sounders again on 75 as the defence gave Josh Wolff far too much time. Seconds later Hartman threw himself at Zakuani’s close in shot to deny Sounders the lead.
Not for long as Ljungberg tortured the Wizards down the right and his cross found Jaqua perfectly positioned to tap in the winner.
The game closed nervously for the Sounders with Lopez testing Keller with a long range effort, before Le Toux who had come on earlier produced a great save from Hartman.
Seattle Sounders FC: Kasey Keller; Brad Evans, Tyrone Marshall, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez ; Pete Vagenas (James Riley, 74′), Brad Evans, Osvaldo Alonso, Nate Jaqua;Â Freddie Ljungberg, Steve Zakuani (Seb Le Toux 81′)Â Fredy Montero (Roger Levesque 63′),
Subs not used: Terry Boss, Patrick Ianni, Tyson Wahl, Sanna Nyassi, Stephen King
Kansas City Wizards: Kevin Hartman; Michael Harrington, Jimmy Conrad, Matt Besler. (Roger Espinoza 79′), Jonathan Leathers (Chance Myers45′); Davie Arnaud, Jack Jewsbury, Graham Zusi, Claudio Lopez, Zoltan Hercegfalvi (Kei Kamara 70′), Josh Wolff;
Subs not used: Boris Pardo, Michael Kraus, Aaron Hohlbein, Kurt Morsink
Attendance: 10,135
Sounders Make Play-offs in First Year
Absorbing it All the Morning After – Prost Amerika Editorial
October 17, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Couple of things. The first is that Brad Evans hasn’t looked the same since returning from the Gold Cup and never should have started. He was directly culpable for the second KC goal. Ianni should have started in his stead. Second, KC’s first goal was scored from an offside position. Yes. I watched the slow-mo replay, and he was definitely offside.
Go Sounders!