Substitute Greg Howes was the hero as the Seattle Sounders won the USL Title. He scored twice including the opener on the stroke of half time in a 4-0 triumph over Atlanta. Overcoming the early loss of talisman Leighton O'Brien (SEA) after 18 minutes, the Sounders opened the scoring after Howes lobbed Hugo Alcaraz-Cuellar's right touchline pass over advancing Atlanta keeper Ryan McIntosh. Alcaraz-Cuellar, who was credited with the assist, doubled the home side's lead with a crashing drive from 25 yards after Taylor Graham went on a rare mazy run, held up the ball skillfully and fed the former Portland Timbers star. Howes again and substitute Craig Tomlinson completed the rout with late goals.

The clouds circling around Starfire Sports Stadium seemed to mirror those hanging over this Seattle institution with much discussion in the crowd centering on the future of the Sounders. Everybody seems to agree that Seattle will have an MLS team in 2009. Nobody seems sure if Seattle will have a team at all in 2008. There is anger out there amongst the fan base and the authorities would do well at least to listen, and make the wishes of these fans one of the factors they take into account if not the overriding one.

None of this seemed to affect the players though with the Sounders threatening as early as the 6th minute when the brave Ryan McIntosh  rushed out to foil Roger Levesque (SEA). Atlanta however made it clear that they weren't there just to provide opposition, with Machel Millwood (ATL) narrowly putting the ball wide of Chris Eylander's (SEA) left post three minutes later. The only sour note of an otherwise wonderful night for Seattle came in the 19th minute when Leighton O’Brien (SEA) had to leave the pitch with a groin strain, unfortunate indeed for the man Prost Amerika judges Seattle's MVP of the year. His anguish at missing out on this game was manifest. It didn't seem to disrupt the Sounders however as his replacement Howes went about his midfield role with gusto as the Sounders continued to threaten.

Three minutes later Levesque fed Seb Le Toux (SEA), but the Frenchman uncharacteristically shot straight at McIntosh. He repeated this outcome a further three minutes later when Taylor Graham latched onto a right side corner to set up a chance.

But it wasn't one way traffic and the impressive Eylander tipped the dangerous Warren Ukah's attempt over with his fingertips 11 minutes before the interval.

Just as it looked that the 4,893 spectators would see a goalless first half, Alcaraz-Cuellar, having one of his most influential games of the season, chipped in from the right touchline to Greg Howes who beat the defense and instinctively lobbed over the advancing McIntosh.

If an absorbing and competitive first half had been toil for the Sounders, the second half was almost worse. Within 120 seconds of the restart, Millwood turned Graham and slotted agonizingly wide and Macoumba Kandji (ATL) tested Eylander again seconds later. From the resultant corner, Omar Jarun (ATL) brought out another magnificent save from Eylander after the ball seemed to hit his head.

That was the peak as far as any hopes Atlanta had of winning. 14 minutes later Taylor Graham seemed to have taken his pulsating dribble too far to the left. He looked surrounded and out of his depth that far up the field, but kept his nerve and shepherded the ball back into Alcaraz-Cuellar who looked up, steadied himself and thrashed the ball into the net from 25 yards. It was a goal worthy of winning any league and credit must go to the Silverbacks that it didn’t break their hearts and their resistance immediately.

Six minutes later, Angel Rivillo (ATL) produced yet another fingertip save from Eylander and from the corner, Matt Bobo (ATL) seemed to get the header that just shaved the crossbar. Atlanta gave their all but eventually the dam broke in the last 10 minutes as a noisy home support seemed to give the Sounders extra energy. Eight minutes from time, it was MVP Howes who netted the third with the help of an unfortunate deflection off Bobo. The visitors kept fighting and even with the game lost, Eylander needed to save with his feet and then foil Rivillo again three minutes from time.

As the countdown to the Title began, the volume increased and fan favorite Craig Tomlinson was given a chance to enjoy the occasion when Le Toux was withdrawn, presumably so that the fans could show their appreciation for all his effort over the year. Tomlinson was on hand to complete the rout and give the Seattle Sounders their fourth title.

Whether they will be around to defend it is as yet unknown but nobody can deny or fault the dedication and passion of the Seattleites that stay loyal to this organization and this sport despite the lack of media coverage. At the end Captain Danny Jackson implored them to "Keep on supporting soccer - the best sport in the world". When they will get the chance again remains a mystery for now.

QUOTES OF THE NIGHT:

"I'm proud of all of you. I'm certainly proud of them." Sounders Manager Brian Schmetzer

"We deserved to win. We did win and we won emphatically." Captain Danny Jackson

"C'était une belle saison." Sebastien Le Toux

Talk about the Sounders here                      Jenni Conner's musical tribute to the Sounders

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