The second game for the Seattle Sounders FC was not going to be the same as the first. This time things were different. The weather was rainy and cold. The new smell was starting to fade. The butterflies were not as strong. Fredy Montero is not an unknown quantity anymore. The Sounders tactics are on film for the league to see.
Some things do stay the same. The game was another sellout, although Qwest Field holds 67,000 and the tickets are limited to 30,000. The fans were loud and proud again, not sitting down from before the opening whistle until hitting the road home.
The game itself showed that the Sounders can win a much more physical match against a team determined to greet reigning MLS Player of the Week Fredy Montero with more than a handshake and less than a sledgehammer although an electronic reader board on the sideline works just as well sometimes. The defense was so punishing that the Real Salt Lake backline was cautioned more than once besides earning two yellow cards.
Real Salt Lake’s defense should have been paying more attention to Nate Jaqua. He was on the receiving end of a pass in the box that he redirected into the back of the net for the first goal in the 17th minute, giving him six goals in six games against RSL in his career. On the delivering end of the pass, Steve Zakuani, the first pick for the Sounders in the draft, left defender Tony Beltran for dead with a magnificent display of ball control before centering the pass to Jaqua.
With the score line at 1-0, the Sounders found themselves in a battle for the rest of the half. In the second half, Real Salt Lake poured on the pressure even more, looking for the equalizer from all parts of the field.
Article comments
1 - Douglas Mays
Thanks for keeping up with our team. They could actually be a team viewed as a powerhouse world-wide, not just the USA.
Which is why I am a tad fustrated with management. you hear those who say we are going to lose Montero to Europe. I say play the game (on the field and in the business office) world style so we can compete with such thought. Good team, 50,000+ in the stands. Makes it more difficult to obtain our players.
Oh, I think Dr. Dread and I analysed this game on your article about the Red Bulls match. Keep up the articles, you won't be able to drag Dread and I out of the Bogcritics Pub!
2 - Douglas Mays
Bogcritics Pub?
Cannot wait till Saturday's match vs. Toronto! A true test of the team. The CBC has been advertising that match nationally for the past few weeks.
I can compare the local broadcast vs. the Canadian national broadcast.
3 - Douglas Mays
Oh, did you read the NY Times article on Sounders FC? A nice read....
4 - Dr Dreadful
You mean the one with the photo of the two fans in green face paint, one with a blue mohawk? If so, yes, nice piece.
I wonder if Portland's new franchise will revive the Timbers and Vancouver's the Whitecaps. We shall see.
5 - Douglas Mays
Oh yes, you can count on that. Especially those Canadians. Get some high-test in them and LOOK OUT!!!!
Portland will be quite faithful also. Just their USL/Timbers support is amazing. They are redoing their Civic Stadium downtown, where an NASL championship was held one year. Sounders vs. Cosmos. 2-1 final for the Cosmos, what a match. Cosmos putting in the winner late in the match. '77 or '78.
I cannot remember the fine details. The effects of high-test (Canadian slang for beer...) hehe...
best,
DM