Sounders ended the regular season with a 2-1 win which eliminated Dallas from the post season despite their late run which illuminated the run in to the end of the season. Goals from Nate Jaqua and Brad Evans gave Sounders a come from behind win after Atiba Harris had scored a magnificent opener for the visitors from Texas.
The result means that Sounders will finish second in the Western Conference if the match between Houston and Chivas is drawn tomorrow, or third if it is not. Their potential opponents are still to be decided.
33,108 packed Qwest Field and ensured that the Sounders became the most watched side in MLS history, and it was later announced, also became the first US side ever to break into the top 50 in the world for spectator attendance.
For Dallas, one can only applaud their brave late charge and their never say die attitude. Single handedly they kept much more attention on the closing stages of this remarkable regular season than would have been the case. Despite their sadness at elimination, Dallas fans can be very proud of their side and have much to look forward to next season. They traded well and seem to have a team capable of being very competitive in the future.
Sounders started the brighter of the sides and Steve Zakuani looked very sharp against his marker Heath Pearce. Two minutes in, he found Freddie Ljungberg who fed Nate Jaqua. Nate was back in the forward line despite being initially listed as midfield. But he made the wrong call and chose to cross rather than shoot, at which point the move broke down.
Sounders pressed forward relentlessly in the opening stages. Three minutes later, Leo Gonzalez sneaked in as Sounders former nemesis Atiba Harris was caught ball watching as a Freddie Ljungberg through pass reached the Costa Rican full back. Again the chance was wasted.
Seattle had the ball in the net a minute later but Montero’s lob over Dario Salas was ruled out after linesman Adam Garner flagged for offside. Dallas then began to threaten and nearly opened the scoring when David Ferreira just about managed a clear shot on goal despite being reasonably well shepherded by his marker.
It was an early warning which Sounders didn’t heed. Atiba Harris was allowed to drift infield from the touchline and rifled in a shot from the right wing which Keller’s dive couldn’t quite reach. Daniel Hernandez was credited with an assist.
David Ferreira nearly added a second minutes later when he rounded the Sounders keeper but ran out of real estate and couldn’t keep the ball in play. Keller reacted furiously with a defence that lost concentration one time too often for the keeper.
Sala Made Some Key Saves
Heath Pearce received a yellow for hacking down Zakuani in full flight as Seattle fought back. Sounders missed their best chance of the first half eleven minutes from the interval. Zakuani pushed the ball laterally into Jaqua’s path, but he scooped it way over, and really ought to have done better.
Sala made another great save around the post for a corner from a Montero header as the game became more physical in midfield.
Seattle began to get more desperate as Dallas’s rearguard finally became more organised after a shaky start, and Osvaldo Alonso shot past from long range, and sadly for all, the local boy in Dallas colours, George John, was substituted early against his home town club for the second time this season. There was apparently a healthy clutch of friends and family from the Puget Sound area there to watch him too. Sala saved Dallas once more, this time from Tyrone Marshall who rose cleanest to head a corner goalward, emphasising that he poses a set piece danger Sounders have perhaps under exploited this season.
Six minutes into the second half, Montero found himself through on the goalkeeper but his attempted lob was weak and easy for Sala to collect. Osvaldo Alonso tried a long range drive which Sala spilled at the first attempt and had to be rescued by his defence.
But the signs were there for all to see and Sounders equalised after a move that involved Zakuani, Ljungberg, Montero and Jaqua. Ljungberg crossed to the far post where Montero nodded back across the goal for Jaqua to tap in, but Zakuani’s contribution cannot be minimised. It was the Congolese who managed to free up the Swede in the space needed to wriggle free from defenders.
Seconds later Dallas’ best player on the night, Dave van den Bergh, cleared Nate Jaqua’s header off the line and then blocked Montero’s rebound effort.
Sounders continued to create chances though. Alonso put Zakuani through but he hit it too close to the keeper in the 66th minute. The profligacy continued. Nate Jaqua danced skilfully around Jair Benitez but shot over the bar two minutes later as Seattle continued to blow chances. Bookings also continued as Alonso, Evans and Uhimelu added to the total in a rough 13 minute period, but nonetheless the game was more enthralling than physical. Sala spilled a Montero free kick from distance and was again saved by his defenders.
Dallas Held onto the Ball Well in the Early Stages
Ten minutes from the end Zakuani missed what seemed like the best chance to win it as he blasted over when presented with a close in chance from Jaqua. But he and the side were to be saved, and saved from an unexpected source.
Evans marked his return to form with the winning goal. Ljungberg tried to round Ihemulu and as he fell just nipped in with a touch across goal that found Brad Evans. Evans neatly flicked the ball into the goal over Sala for a deserved winner, as the crowd erupted in the 84th minute.
But Dallas’ heads didn’t go down. Jhon Hurtado blocked a late Dave van den Bergh effort in the 88th. In injury time, Ljungberg delighted the crowd by trying to lob Sala from 40 yards. It went over but it didn’t matter. Referee Toledo blew the whistle shortly after to signify a Seattle win, and the start of on pitch celebrations to end the regular part of a very irregular season.
Sounders FC : Kasey Keller; James Riley, Tyrone Marshall, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Leo Gonzalez; Osvaldo Alonso, Nate Jaqua (Seb le Toux 81′), Brad Evans, Steve Zakuani (Roger Levesque 80′); Freddie Ljungberg, Fredy Montero (Tyson Wahl 88′)
Substitutes Not Used: Terry Boss, Peter Vagenas, Patrick Ianni, Stephen King,
FC Dallas: Dario Sala; Heath Pearce, Ugo Ihemelu, George John (Kyle Davies 41′), Jair Benitez (Brek Shea, 85′); Daniel Hernandez (Marvin Chavez 80′), Dax McCarty, Atiba Harris, David Ferreira; Dave van den Bergh, Jeff Cunningham
Substitutes Not Used: Ray Burse, Eric Avila, Andre Rocha, Bruno Guarda
Don’t forget to vote for the Man of the Match at the top right after the game.
Attendance: 33,108.
Tomorrow:
Houston win: Sounders play Houston home first.
Draw: Seattle play Houston, away first
Chivas Win: Sounders play Chivas, home first
Sounders Enter World Top 50 Best Supported Clubs
Sounders to Play Houston in Quarter Final
October 26, 2009 at 11:11 am
i’m curious as to why sigi put wahl in instead of ianni as the late defensive sub. was it just to help wahl out and give him some more time? i think ianni is a better defender, personally, but also gives you the added dimension of being a good person to have in the box on offense for corners/headers.