The Brougham End's now-famous tifo from May 14, 2011.
News & Notes as sent out by Sounders FC Communications
Facing Canadian opposition for the second match in a row, Seattle Sounders FC returns to the scene of their first road victory when they meet Toronto FC on Saturday night. First kick is 4 p.m. ET at BMO Field and the game will be televised on KONG 6/16 and ROOT Sports.
This marks the halfway point in the MLS regular season for Seattle (5-4-7, 22 points), who are unbeaten in their last three. They have taken four points from the last two away matches.
The Rave Green are going for their second series win of 2011, having scored the biggest margin of victory, a 3-nil result, in the last encounter with Toronto at home on April 30. The Reds (2-5-8, 14 points) are searching for their first win in more than a month, having gone 0-2-4 in the last six. However they are coming off a 2-2 draw at Los Angeles, the Western Conference leader, with Alan Gordon getting the stoppage time equalizer.
Sounders FC was also held to a single point last week. A dramatic ending saw Seattle surge from a goal down to take a late lead against Vancouver, only for Whitecaps FC to equalize a minute later.
That left the Rave Green tied for third in a very competitive West and their sum of 22 points would be sufficient for a tie for first in the East, where Toronto sits seventh. Seattle’s away record is 2-2-4, nearly identical to the Reds’ home mark of 2-2-5.
Sounders FC’s record of success on the road began with their very first excursion on April 4, 2009. They won 2-0 at Toronto and have gone 13-13-12 away altogether.
Two home dates await Seattle’s return next week. They host the East co-leader New York Red Bulls on June 23 before a national TV audience on ESPN2, then the New England Revolution come to town on June 26.
Arlo White will call Saturday’s match on television and on 97.3 KIRO FM. The action can also be heard on La Gran D 99.3 FM and THIS-TV will broadcast the match in Spanish.
Using the Full 90
Following Saturday’s scoring crescendo, a full one-third of all Seattle goals have now been scored in the final 15 minutes this season. Five of those six goals have come at home where Sounders FC have notched either the equalizing or game-winning goal in the 80th minute or later three times. Against Vancouver, Mauro Rosales pulled the Rave Green even in the 81st minute and Osvaldo Alonso pushed them in front three minutes later.
Highlight Film Fodder
Not only is there no shortage of drama but there have been some sensational plays made during Seattle’s first 16 games of 2011. Last week Kasey Keller’s denial of Daniel Paladini in Chicago was voted MLS Save of the Week, giving the Sounders FC keeper his third such award so far.
Some of the shots that have gotten past Keller have been of supreme quality. Two opponents-New York’s Juan Agudelo and San Jose’s Khari Stephenson-have won Goal of the Week and another three have been nominated for the award. For Seattle, O’Brian White and Lamar Neagle have each claimed the GOW prize this season. Eric Hassli’s late goal for Vancouver is among the current nominees for MLS Goal of the Week.
Ozzie Dials Long Distance
He has been teasing fans and terrorizing keepers with his long-distance drives ever since he opened his MLS scoring account in 2009, but last week Osvaldo Alonso found the corner.Alonso latched on to a loose ball outside the Whitecaps box, avoided a tackle and drilled a shot from outside the box to beat Joe Cannon and put Seattle in front. Alonso’s first MLS goal came two years ago this week, on June 17, 2009. He sent a blistering 30-yard shot into the north net against D.C. United. Alonso started his 29th straight game since July 25, 2010.
Rosales Delivers the Verve
For sure, Sounders FC have had more than their share of unforeseen losses this season. Yet one addition that has paid irrefutable dividends is the early-season signing of Mauro Rosales. The veteran Argentine playmaker has proven a boost on both the pitch and in the locker room, and many judged his performance versus Vancouver to be one of his best to date in Rave Green.
Rosales brought verve to the attack whether coming from the center or down the channels, and served four of the team’s corner kick. Two minutes before coming off in the 81st minute, he delivered the first goal for both Sounders FC and himself in America. Earlier this season he had contributed three assists.
At the Halfway Point in 2010, 2009
Seattle will reach the halfway point in the expanded 34-match schedule this week in much better shape than a year ago. In 2010 Sounders FC was 4-8-3 and seventh in the West at midseason, but then surged in the second half, going 10-2-3 in the final 15 games.
In 2009 Seattle was third in the conference (5-3-7, 22 points). Sounders FC are six points ahead of last year’s 16-match pace, when the record was 4-8-4, and three points behind the 2009 start of 6-3-7.
Sounders FC will play more home (9) than away (8) matches during the second half. Four of those road games are to West Coast destinations, including busing to both Portland and Vancouver.
First of Perhaps Several Matches Abroad
This week brings the first of perhaps several international destinations for Sounders FC in 2011. Seattle returns to Canada on September 24 to face Vancouver, but there is also CONCACAF Champions League play beginning next month, with a trip to Panama to play San Francisco FC in the preliminary round.
Should the Rave Green advance to the group stage they would play three group games at defending champion CF Monterrey (Mexico), CD Comunicaciones (Guatemala City) and either CS Herediano (Heredia, Costa Rica) or Alpha United (Georgetown, Guyana). The latter two clubs also meet in the preliminary round beginning in late July.
nice new digs. Go Sounders.
who is LFN?
Lamar Neagle.