Both sides were missing their top two forwards with SKC more used to playing weakened. Nemeth was in Hungary, Ike Opara out on a long term injury and Dom Dwyer just on the bench. For Seattle, Obafemi Martins and Clint Dempsey were absent. Osvaldo Alonso was suspended.

The game was settled by a penalty decision awarded against Stefan Frei for a foul on Dominic Dwyer. Goalkeepers often attack the ball with their knees up to protect their torsos with their hands grasping for the ball. Usually, they clean out the forward and get away with it. Not so tonight, and Frei can feel hard done by.

(Match images to come)

Stefan Frei 8: Alert in 17 in his first piece of action. Held de Jong’s drive well and even better to palm away Zusi’s drive. Dived bravely at De Jong’s feet. He conceded an 82nd minute penalty for crashing through Dwyer. Very harsh but there was significant contact by Frei’s knee although keepers are usually cut some length when they go in with their knees up. We’re not taking a point off him for it.

Dylan Remick 6: Another mature performance, mostly in a defensive role. The SKC replacement forwards are weaker than he will usually face in MLS although Connor Hallisey will surely some day be a household name.

Chad Marshall 6: Was on the wrong end of a clumsy De Jong challenge. He won the ball superbly in 38 0n a Pappa corner to head across the SKC goal. Not quite as sharp as usual on the ground.

Zach Scott 5.5: In for Brad Evans who was away with the National side, Scott also took over the captaincy and lost De Jong at the first cross. He was slow to the interception a few more times. He rose brilliantly at the other end to direct a header on target. The penalty was not given against him.

Tyrone Mears 6: Blocked De Jong’s 12th minute effort well. Other than that, a quite outing as SKC do not use flaks as much as other sides.

Michael Azira 6.5: (off in 86′) With Alonso suspended, this was a real chance for Azira to shine. Easily robbed by Jalil Anibaba in 14. He gave away a needless free kick when his side had plenty cover just before the interval. However, he showed Sounders fans do not have to hide behind the sofa when Alonso is absent.

Gonzalo Pineda 6: Robbed easily early. His first free kick was very good and perhaps caught Rose unaware. Totally fooled by Feilhaber’s tricks in 24 which did not bode well, but the midfielder’s slide pass was too far from De Jong. With the high profile absentees, he needed to raise his game a little more than he did. He made a key late tackle to stop a time wasting effort by the opponent.

Marco Pappa 8: (off in 80′) His first corner was very good dipping at the far post and finding Neagle in a good pre-arranged move. Tracked back all the way in 17 to protect Frei – good defensive work for a midfielder.He made Melia work from distance. Harried SKC at all ends of the field. Corners much better than in previous weeks. His crossing was excellent all night. Showed his brilliance in 62 by dancing through defenders to unleash a shot. He was denied an assist by Neagle’s misreading of the offside line. Pappa gets better by the week.

Andy Rose 5: It was a bad miss in 15 when Pineda’s free kick found him alone. Still to see how Rose becomes a regular first teamer.

Cristian Roldan 5: (off in 76′) Struggled in the first had as SKC dominated possession. He’ll have better days.

Lamar Neagle 7: Martins and Dempsey’s absence gave Neagle a chance to play forward. He shot straight at the keeper Melia with his first chance when he still had other options. He tried too hard  to win a free kick off Besler rather than play football. Should have netted in 36 when clean through. Getting into good positions though. Good defensive block just before half time but timed his run wrong in 66 and his ‘goal’ was chalked off. Higher mark for the number of times he read the game well enough to be in the right place. If only he could finish like Wondolowski.

Substitutes:

Leo Gonzalez 6: (on in 76′) Roldan was  making little impact and the decision to introduce the Costa Rican defender signified Sigi Schmid’s desire to leave the mid-west with a decent draw. Through no fault of his own, his job changed after he came on.

Thomas: (on in 80′) Given ten minutes to acclimate to the league then the game was changed with a PK. Has to have been hard to get new instructions out to him.Not going to mark him high or low for that reason.

Darwin Jones: (on in 86′) Brought on after the SKC goal. No time for impact.