Comfortable Introduction to CONCACAF for Sounders

Sounders 1 : 0 Isidro Metapan

by David Wittstock

See Photos of the Game

Seattle kicked off the CONCACAF Champions League knockout stage with a deserved, albeit somewhat disappointing 1-0 victory over El Salvador side Deportiva Isidro Metapan. Seattle dominated the run of play, created a huge majority of the scoring chances and got great performances from the likes of Sanna Nyassi and Fredy Montero though still came away with only a one goal advantage heading into a deciding match in San Salvador next Tuesday.

Seattle debuted a mostly fresh side from the one that beat the Colorado Rapids 2-1 on Sunday night. Nate Jaqua, Roger Levesque, Miguel Montano, Leo Gonzalez, Tyrone Marshall, Pete Vagenas, Mike Seamon and Taylor Graham were all sitting on the bench for Seattle’s last win, but started tonight.

The Sounders started quickly putting Metapan under pressure with a series of free kicks and corners that never amounted to a serious effort on goal. In the 9th minute Pete Vagenas was issued the first yellow card of the contest for what appeared to be an early approach to a free kick as referee Ricardo Arellano showed that he would not let even the most harmless violation go unpunished. More unfortunately for Vagenas, it would be one of his last moments in the game as he left with an injury minutes later and was replaced by Osvaldo Alonso. He acquired it while taking a corner and no opponent nearby.

The introduction of Alonso did nothing to discourage Arellano’s enthusiasm for cautioning players. The yellow cards started flying as the 20th minute approached with both James Riley and Alonso both receiving cautions for tough tackles.

Despite going into book three times in 20 minutes, Seattle controlled a majority of the possession with their best chance of the early going coming in the 21st minute when Sanna Nyassi received a ball coming down the right, took it to the touchline and crossed over to a waiting Nate Jaqua at the far post. The subsequent header was off target. Just a minute later Nyassi was found in a similar position but this time the cross was cleared out by defender Ernesto Aquino.

The next ten minutes marked a number of set piece chances for Seattle the most notable of which was earned by Roger Levesque just outside the 18 yard box, on the right side. Alonso stepped up the kick but shot it into the wall. Minutes later Miguel Montano, bursting down the left side, crossed in to Roger Levesque who laid the ball off to Mike Seamon waiting just inside the 18. Seamon’s shot was on target but deflected wide by Metapan defender Moises Menendez.

Sanna Nyassi, who had caused the Metapan backline trouble with his pace and runs, nearly got on the board when he got on the end of a cross swung in by Leo Gonzalez. Gonzalez had shrugged two defenders to get the cross in but Nyassi’s shot was finally deflected offline.

The first half came to a close with the Sounders left frustrated after dominating the run of play, out shooting Metapan 7-0, and enjoying numerous set piece opportunities, but still going into the locker room tied 0-0.

The second half kicked off with Metapan seemingly in much better control of their game, enjoying more possession and probing the Seattle defense.

The 56th minute saw Seattle’s best chance of the new half when Montano fed Nyassi through for a clear shot on goal. The Gambian chose to go for power rather than placement and blasted the shot high over the bar. The play proved to be young Montano’s last contribution to the match as he was substituted shortly afterwards for first team regular Steve Zakuani.

Seattle opened the scoring in the 60th minute with a howler from Metapan keeper Alvaro Alfaro. Fredy Montero, having just substituted on for Nate Jaqua seconds earlier, received a ball and fired at goal from 40 yards out. The ball fell at the feet of Alfaro and took a strange bounce to the right, deflected off Alfaro’s hand and trickled into the back of the net. It was a moment of great luck for Seattle and even greater so considering it was likely an ill advised shot to begin with under most circumstances, but the in form Montero took it anyway to the benefit of the home side.

Seattle were lucky to be ahead the way they were, but it was deserved considering the way they had dominated the majority of scoring opportunities in the game.

The goal brought greater urgency to Metapan’s game, but Seattle still enjoyed the majority of possession. In the 72nd minute Nyassi terrorized Metapan yet again on the right, slithering down the flank and winning a corner for Seattle. The ensuing corner was cleared out of danger.

The scoring chances kept coming in the 76th minute when Taylor Graham nearly collected his first Sounders goal off a corner kick deflecting the ball down but bouncing up over the bar.

A wonderful tackle from Tyrone Marshall in the 77th minute saved Seattle from what likely would have been the equalizing goal. Combination play from Metapan put Andres Flores through clear on goal. Marshall, coming from behind the striker, reached his leg around cleanly and deflected the ball away before Flores could get a shot on goal.

Sanna Nyassi again nearly got a deserved goal in the 83rd minute receiving a ball over the top, knocking it down with his chest and firing towards the far post but just wide.

The Sounders nearly made it two in extra time when a Montero header forced a great save from Alfaro diving to his right. It proved to be the last chance for Seattle as full time came to a close and Seattle walked away with a 1-0 victory.

The return is next Tuesday in San Salvador as Metapan’s own stadium is considered unfit for CONCACAF usage. Tonight was Metapan’s first competitive game of the season and it showed. They were slow, off the pace, and barely had any possession inside the Seattle half. They will need to improve massively in six days to trouble Seattle.

Seattle Sounders — Kasey Keller, James Riley, Tyrone Marshall, Taylor Graham, Leo Gonzalez, Sanna Nyassi, Peter Vagenas (Osvaldo Alonso 14), Mike Seamon, Miguel Montano (Steve Zakuani 57), Nate Jaqua (Fredy Montero 60), Roger Levesque.

Substitutes Not Used: Jeff Parke, Tyson Wahl, David Estrada, Terry Boss.

Isidro Metapan — Misael Alfaro, Jose Alvarado, Erick Prado, Ernesto Aquino, Moises Menendez (Mark Lester Blanco 69), Oscar Jimenez, Hector Mejia, Emerson Umana, Rodolfo Suarez (Andres Flores 80), Anel Canales, Josue Flores (Jorge Luis Moran 87).

Substitutes Not Used: Milton Molina, Carlos Carrillo, Elias Bladimir Montes, Jose Gonzalez.

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