At some point, the Sounders FC are going to lose a game. They know it, we know it, and everyone knows it. Everyone also knows at some point the Sounders defense will give up a goal too.
Right now, none of that has happened. The Sounders are three wins in three matches for a perfect nine in points accumulated. The team sits tied atop the Western Division with Chivas USA.
The back of Kasey Keller’s net is virginal as well. No one has tickled the twine yet. It’s going to happen. It’s inevitable but so far, it has been a clean sheet for the season. Seattle has scored seven goals in three games. New York, Real Salt Lake and now Toronto FC have scored failed to score against Seattle.
Going in, the Sounders knew that Toronto was going to be a tough match. The crowd is just as rowdy as the fans in Seattle. Fredy Montero, leading goal scorer so far in the MLS, was back in Seattle sick. The other Freddy, Freddy Ljungberg, was put into the starting role, his slow rehabilitation from hip surgery cast aside. How Seattle would handle the road was a major question mark.
Fifteen minutes in, all questions were answered as Freddy Ljungberg ran a give and go play with Nate Jaqua to beat Toronto defender Adrian Serioux and get the return pass before blasting it past goalkeeper Greg Sutton for his first goal of the season.
The vaunted Toronto crowd was stunned silent. Any chance they would come back ended when Steve Zakuani pounced on a rebound and drove it into the net for his first goal of the season moments before half time.
With a 2-0 lead after the half, Seattle buckled down and held on but Toronto FC did not mount much in the way of an attack. The best attack was by a Toronto FC fan when he poured beer on Sounders FC owner Drew Carey. His reply, as quoted in the Toronto Sun, was as sterling as his team when he told the fan, “We get as many X-Box's as we want. You guys get all the B-M-O's you want. Whatever they are." Carey was referring to the Toronto FC stadium, BMO Field.
Article comments
1 - Douglas Mays
Here I am, Mr. soccer mania getting in again...
Yes, a well played match. Toronto is no slouch, but the Sounders must be the hardest working team in the MLS. Their 'work rate' is unsurpassed.
Oh man, some beautiful play. Ljungberg's goal was clinical beauty. There was a pass down the right side of the field to an open spot that made me swoon, showing some teamwork that was creative and showing good 'anticipation' for the workings of the game.
Damn! I am watching Man. U vs. Portugal right now. The Sounders still have a bit of work to do to catch up to that level. But, they can do it...
2 - Dr Dreadful
I am watching Man. U vs. Portugal right now. The Sounders still have a bit of work to do to catch up to that level.
So do Man U. They're good, but not quite at the level at which they can call themselves their own country yet!
They were playing FC Porto (of, confusingly, Portugal) in the Champions' League.