sounders played their ass off, and there is no fault for effort anywhere on this team. it was the full 90 and even though i was ready to have a hear attack in the last ten minutes… as i was not ready to watch another game gifted away… credit to the boys who did the job that we were so used to last year.

i didn’t get to see replays of either zakuani’s goals… the first seemed a little sloppy (no complaints) and the second a result of a nice johnny legendriley cross. or do i have those mixed up. either way… both were a result of player taking his chances by being in the righ place at the right time.  and let’s be honest… most of your goals should come from that. you can’t rely on crazy skill and wicked shooting for most goals, or you will lose more than you win. you should rely on people taking their chances and that is what he did.

some thoughts on the overall performance… and then i am off to bed.

- montero. i count this as the third game in a row where you didn’t sit on your ass and you ran it off instead. keep up the good work. if not for the sounders, or their fans, do it for yourself and your desired european move b/c you won’t get one unless you show that effort week in week out.

- nkufo. don’t shoot me… but he is still a little lost. and i don’t blame him. he is still figuring out what his teammates like/do and where they like to run/pass. i hold nothing against him. there is a lot to settle into in a new team/city/league. so time will tell, but today, he wasn’t quite there.

- parke…. you may not love seattle, but we love you. he was phenomenal tonight. we have him 1 or 2 more years? count them down b/c he likely won’t be here any longer.

- zakuani - add these types of goals to your somewhat regular breakaway goals?? you may be a 20 goal threat before you know it…. and i wouldn’t be too mad at that.

- nyassi - not sure i liked you on the left…. you didn’t do too much. please go back to the right.

- alonso - i have free weekends on 7/30, 8/14 and 8/21.  let me know when you are available for our first date.

i was sitting next to a very nice guy tonight although he was a soccer newbie. he had 100 questions for me… which i was happy to answer, but i was able to shut him up after this one… “who is the best player”. i said “that is not answerable, but watch alonso as much as you can and watch him break up the plays all game long…”   that shut him up from then on out and at the very end of the game he said… “wow, that was phenomenal. how can he not be the most important player on the pitch. he must have broken up 50 plays”.

i didn’t have any good logic to disagree with any of his logic.

- finally… thank god for keller and “that save”. due to that we would have been quite a bit more grumpy tonight.

KASEY KELLER   CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP.

all in all… results this week were pretty darn good. LA and SJ drew, rsl drew, and houston lost.

i hope the sounders aren’t just stringing us along, but they sure are giving us hope by clawing their way back in…. whatcha think?

Zakuani opened up his scoring sheet in the 8th minute after putting away a pass from Fredy Montero. The Rapids managed an amazing response a mere 30 seconds later evening the score 1-1 on a goal by Omar Cummings.

10 minutes later, Montero started the play up the right side by lofting a pass to Sanna Nyassi who slid the ball to Zakuani for the game winning goal.

Kasey Keller came up huge in the win again as he recorded three saves- all noteworthy and important. In the first half, his fingertip diverted Conor Casey’s header over the net and in the 61st Keller made a diving save on a backheel shot.

The Sounders return to Qwest Field on Wednesday as they host El Salvador’s Metapán in a play-in for the CONCACAF Champions League. Kickoff is slated for 7p.

Scoring Summary
SEA — Steve Zakuani 6 (unassisted) 8
COL — Omar Cummings 5 (Pablo Mastroeni 1) 9
SEA — Steve Zakuani 7 (Sanna Nyassi 2, Fredy Montero 17

Seattle Sounders — Kasey Keller, James Riley, Jeff Parke, Patrick Ianni, Zach Scott, Sanna Nyassi (Roger Levesque 81), Nathan Sturgis (Mike Seamon 74), Osvaldo Alonso, Steve Zakuani, Fredy Montero, Blaise Nkufo (Nate Jaqua 70).

Substitutes Not Used: Tyrone Marshall, Tyson Wahl, Miguel Montano, Terry Boss.

TOTAL SHOTS: 8 (Fredy Montero 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 5 (Fredy Montero 2, Steve Zakuani 2); FOULS: 12 (Fredy Montero 5); OFFSIDES: 3 (Steve Zakuani 2); CORNER KICKS: 2 (Nathan Sturgis 2); SAVES: 3 (Kasey Keller 3)

Misconduct Summary:
SEA — Zach Scott (caution; Tactical Foul) 28
COL — Jamie Smith (caution; Reckless Tackle) 58
SEA — Osvaldo Alonso (caution; Reckless Tackle) 90

Referee: Yader Reyes
Referee’s Assistants: -Kermit Quisenberry; Chris Strickland
4th Official: Landis Wiley
Attendance: 36,333
Time of Game: 1:56
Weather: Clear-and-75-degrees

This is the second matchup of the year between the two clubs with the Rapids winning at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park at the end of May, 1-0 thanks to a Conor Casey goal in the 65th minute.

Sounders FC (5-8-4, 19pts) look to build off of their road win at DC thanks to Roger Levesque’s 89th minute winner. That was the Rave Green’s 2nd win in 7 matches. Over nearly the same period of time, the Rapids have gone 0-1-4 in their last 5- all of those losses were a 0-1 defeat.

Rapids (6-4-5, 23 pts) coach Gary Smith has changed the Rapids’ formation that has moved Omar Cummings from the midfield to the striking position along with Casey. Goal scoring chances have increased, but nothing has materialized.

Personnel-wise, Kasey Keller is looking to have healed and should start in goal. Leo Gonzalez will be out for the match due to yellow-card accumulation. Blaise Nkufo is looking to see his first MLS action and will probably be paired with Fredy Montero, who is currently riding a streak of scoring or recording an assist in each of the last 6 matches.

Kickoff is slated for 730p. [Tickets] The game will be on Fox Soccer Channel nationally and KIRO 97.3 FM locally.

The Sounders will host Metapan from El Salvador in the CONCACAF Champions League on Wednesday. Tickets are still available.

i couldn’t even watch the replay in full due to other family commitments later that night.  yes, it was going out for drinks with my sister, but “family commitments makes it sound a) more official and harder to break and b) much less of an alchy.

so sorry for the delayed response…

i don’t even know what to write about the game. i really don’t. it was so uninspiring. so flat. and would firmly push someone who is on the fence about soccer over the edge onto the “soccer is boring” side. i am sure there are those of you have have many positives to take away from this match and, well, good for you. good for you and your little positive taking away attitudes. i hope these “inspired” performances, as some seem to be calling them, start to be worth something b/c zero points is all i seem to be noticing of late.

  i was afraid of the midweek win being a disguise, and i think it was just that. all we got was a taste of what could be against, which looks like to be, a very average second string group of players of a well known team in argentina. there is a reason we were singing “can we play you every week” in our section (and by section i mean me and 3 friends) at the end of the boca match.

i missed the first 25 minutes or so, but it doesn’t seem like i missed much other than a great keller save, or a bad conner kasey shot… or somewhere in between.

but, from the rest of the match, here are a few thoughts. yes, they are few b/c i can’t remember anything more. there is a reason i usually write this day of…

- parke is a very good header of the ball. i was very concerned at his injury mid match. not sure if there is anything bad there, but glad he could carry on.

- their goal…that was a thing of beauty. that chip is one of the harder things to do in football and he got it perfect. and, as much as i hate to admit it, i don’t think it was a foul. conner gave him a good and decent nudge, but this is a contact sport and we don’t want the whistle to blow every 12.3 seconds like it can at the end of an NBA game. it wasn’t more than two player fairly going for the ball, and jeff went down. not sure if he was trying to manufacture a call, but that isn’t the place to do it.

- curiously, it was the only time the whole match that the far side linesman didn’t call a foul for any play where someone fell over. that guy was flag waving happy wasn’t he? i remember at least two occasions where the ref wanted play to go on, but his little friends got all worked up and waved his flag and the ref had to give it. that, is a stupid role by the way. the ref should use the linesman as extra eyes, but if he doesn’t think it is a foul, he shouldn’t give it. as i write this i am betting that the ref doesn’t have to give it, but in reality he always does. i am sure one of you know the real rules… please let me know.

- riley had a great game i thought. 78% of fans out there are HUGE riley fans… i somehow fall into the indifferent category. that is an argument for a different day, but i must note that i thought he was one of our best players on the pitch yesterday.

- freddie…. note sure if he didn’t complain as much this time, or we just didn’t get to see it on the tv. it seemed like he got on with it a bit more, but tough to tell. dave, over at sounderatheart nailed it in his tweet during the game, which i just read this morning.  

There is a disturbing feeling in Sounders land that if Freddie Ljungberg smiled more he’d be the best player in the world.

now obviously the bpitw talk is an exaggeration, but the point is still the same, he seems so unhappy right now. when you are unhappy, every pass sucks, every loss is unbearable and you’d rather mope around than get on your horse.

maybe he should take some E before each game.

he could have been happy if he had some 2001 legs and not 2010 legs. that great feed from zakuani (well it was a little to the left, down the middle more in the future steve) had freddie running at the keeper. he didn’t do much wrong but could not ultimately out run the defender.

- i think two of the most misinterpreted rules in football are this. “but he got to the ball first, therefore it can’t be a foul” and “the defender didn’t move his hand so it is ‘ball to hand’ and not a penalty”.

in the 66th minute, we saw the latter. if your arm is out, and it stops the ball from going where it should, it is a penalty for me, dead on, every time. i get that we then have this grey area where players may try to flick it up at your hand to get a call, and that would have to be dealt with. but this wasn’t that. his arm was down, but not right at his side and it clearly stopped that cross. maybe i am wrong, but that is how i understand the rule, and that is how it should be. it should be black and white b/c subjectiveness in that kind of call is a mess. we can’t let the ref think about a players intent. it either was or wasn’t. and this time it was. i am sure some will disagree, but “ball to hand” talk just bugs the crap out of me.

- that stall tactic, around the 80th minute where montano was about to take the corner, but then freddie waved him off and then they both jogged to switch spots was brilliant. it wasted a good 45 seconds off the clock.

ok, that is all i got. not much. but due to “family obligations” i am writing this with a hangover vs intoxicated per usual. i am sure i have forgotten much.

COMMERCE CITY, Colo. – The Seattle Sounders FC was unable to earn a result on the road as it lost 1-0 to the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night in front of a sellout crowd of 18,116 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

Sounders FC (3-5-3, 12 points) remains tied for sixth in the Western Conference while the Rapids (5-3-1, 16 points) temporarily move into a three-way tie for third place.

Conor Casey gave Colorado the lead in the 63rd minute. Casey chipped a shot from the top of the box into the far corner of the net for his fourth goal of the season and first from open play.

Seattle could not convert on nine shots (one on goal) and four corners.

In the 58th minute, Steve Zakuani found space on the left side of the box and ripped a right-footed shot on goal that was deflected out by Marvell Wynne.

Patrick Ianni also had a scoring opportunity in the 39th minute when a Fredy Montero cross was headed clear. The rebound fell to Ianni’s feet and he blasted a one-touch shot from outside the 18 that was just wide of the far post.

Kasey Keller made four saves on 10 total shots from Colorado.

Keller’s first save of the game came in the 9th minute. Julien Baudet got his head on a Mehdi Ballouchy corner and the ball took one bounce in front of goal before Keller knocked it clear.

In the 73rd minute, Keller was left one-on-one with Ballouchy but dived to his left to save the shot.

Jeff Parke made his MLS debut for the club, marking his first league action since October 2008.

Scoring Summary:

COL – Conor Casey 63

Seattle Sounders FC: Kasey Keller, James Riley, Tyrone Marshall, Jeff Parke, Leo Gonzalez, Patrick Ianni, Freddie Ljungberg, Brad Evans, Pat Noonan (Roger Levesque 83), Fredy Montero (Miguel Montaño 76), Steve Zakuani (Sanna Nyassi 63).

Substitutes Not Used: Terry Boss, Zach Scott, Tyson Wahl, Nathan Sturgis.

TOTAL SHOTS: 9

SHOTS ON GOAL: 1

OFFSIDES: 2

CORNER KICKS: 4

FOULS: 8

SAVES: 4

Misconduct Summary:

SEA – Leo Gonzalez (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 46+

COL – Pablo Mastoeni (caution; Tactical Foul) 48+

SEA – Patrick Ianni (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 52

SEA – Freddie Ljungberg (caution; Dissent) 53

COL – Marvell Wynne (caution; Reckless Tackle) 71

COL – Conor Casey (caution; Dissent) 93+

Referee: Jair Marrufo

Referee’s Assistants: Greg Barkey; Peter Manikowski

4th Official: Ramon Hernandez

Attendance: 18,116

Time of Game: 1:15

Weather: 70 degrees and Cloudy

Seattle (3-4-3, 12 points) plays on Saturday night versus the Colorado Rapids (4-3-1, 13 points) at 6 p.m. PT at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo. A single point separates the two teams in the Western Conference standings.

After becoming the first MLS team to win at New York’s Red Bull Arena, Sounders FC will go after its second straight road win in Colorado. Seattle was beaten, 1-0, by San Jose at home last week, leaving the team winless (0-2-2) against the West thus far.

The Rapids beat D.C. United, 1-0, at home on Saturday, snapping a two-game losing streak. They lost to New York 0-3 in a U.S. Open Cup Play-In match on Wednesday at Red Bull Arena.

Last year in Colorado (5/23) we had a 2-2 draw, and turned around and got a 3-0 win at home (6/28). Conor Casey is leading the Rapids in a number of areas, including goals(3) and shots on goal. Big thing to remember is that Colorado is 0-46-14 over the last four years when they allow the first goal.

Referee is Jair Marrufo and kick is slated for 6pm Pacific. Catch the pregame at 5:30pm on KONG 6/16 or listen in on 97.3FM.

Due to severe winter weather forecasts predicted for Denver and its surrounding areas, the Colorado Rapids and Seattle Sounders FC have cancelled their Charity Shield match that had previously been scheduled for this Friday, March 19 at 7 pm at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colorado.

In looking at the potentially hazardous weather that is predicted to transpire over the next 24-48 hours, the Sounders FC and Rapids felt it was in the best interest and safety of fans, players, coaches and staff to cancel the match rather than risk any potential adverse situation. With travel conditions for Seattle not being advisable, both teams felt it was best for all involved to take this proactive position.

The “Charity Shield” will be held at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park on Friday, March 19th. Proceeds from the match will be forwarded to UNICEF earmarked for relief in Haiti.

Read More.

yesterday hopefully put a stop to that…. we put 4 points between colorado and us but in more of a surprise, the galaxy held houston.

houston is still 3 points ahead with a game in hand, but there was a point there where they didn’t look like they were going to drop another point. they play that game in hand on july 4th away to KC. should they fail to get a point there, we will be playing them on the 11th where a win would see us leapfrog them in the standings based upon goal differential.

funny how quick these things change

Nate Jaqua celebrates one of his 2 goals (by Getty Images)

From Sounders FC…

SEATTLE- Nate Jaqua scored two goals and Fredy Montero scored the game’s first and assisted on the others as the Seattle Sounders FC posted a 3-0 win over the Colorado Rapids at Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field on Sunday afternoon.

Montero scored in his fourth consecutive game as the Sounders FC (6-3-7) extended their unbeaten streak to four games (2-0-2). The match attracted the largest crowd of the season, 32,526, and it was Seattle’s first shutout in 10 MLS games.

Colorado (5-3-6) had an eight-game unbeaten run ended. The Rapids trail Seattle by four points in the Western Conference and have two games in hand.

Montero opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with his eighth goal of the season. His header on the goal line came after Jaqua had redirected Freddie Ljungberg’s corner kick toward goal. Montero is now tied for 2nd in the league in goals scored.

Colorado had an opportunity to equalize in the 35th minute but a penalty kick by Omar Cummings struck the crossbar.

Jaqua made it 2-0 in the 48th minute. He slipped the ball to Montero and took the return pass for a shot past Rapids keeper Matt Pickens.

Jaqua converted his sixth goal of the season in the 68th minute. Montero received a cross from Sebastien Le Toux and laid the ball open for Jaqua’s strike from 15 yards. Three of Jaqua’s goals this season have come against Colorado.

Kasey Keller made two saves to earn the shutout .

The Sounders FC will travel to PGE Park on Wednesday night to play the Portland Timbers in a third-round game of the U.S. Open Cup. Seattle’s next MLS game is at home July 11 against the Houston Dynamo.

Colorado Rapids (5-3-6) vs. Seattle Sounders FC (6-3-7)
June 28, 2009 — Qwest Field

Scoring Summary

SEA — Fredy Montero 8 (Nate Jaqua 5, Freddie Ljungberg 4) 23
SEA — Nate Jaqua 5 (Fredy Montero 5) 48
SEA — Nate Jaqua 6 (Fredy Montero 6, Sebastien Le Toux 3) 68

Colorado Rapids — Matt Pickens, Ugo Ihemelu (Kosuke Kimura 83), Cory Gibbs, Scott Palguta, Jordan Harvey, Nick LaBrocca (Jacob Peterson 65), Mehdi Ballouchy, Pablo Mastroeni (Greg Dalby 72), Colin Clark, Pat Noonan, Omar Cummings.

Substitutes Not Used: Preston Burpo, Terry Cooke, Ross Schunk, Rob Valentino.

TOTAL SHOTS: 14 (Omar Cummings 4)
SHOTS ON GOAL: 2 (Colin Clark 1, Nick LaBrocca 1)
FOULS: 16 (Ugo Ihemelu 3, Nick LaBrocca 3)
OFFSIDES: 1 (Omar Cummings 1)
CORNER KICKS: 5 (Colin Clark 3)
SAVES: 1 (Matt Pickens 1)

Seattle Sounders FC — Kasey Keller, James Riley, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Tyrone Marshall, Tyson Wahl, Sanna Nyassi (Sebastien Le Toux 67), Osvaldo Alonso (Patrick Ianni 39), Brad Evans, Freddie Ljungberg (Peter Vagenas 87), Nate Jaqua, Fredy Montero.

Substitutes Not Used: Terry Boss, Stephen King, Roger Levesque, Nathan Sturgis.

TOTAL SHOTS: 7 (Nate Jaqua 2, Fredy Montero 2)
SHOTS ON GOAL: 4 (Nate Jaqua 2)
FOULS: 13 (Osvaldo Alonso 3, Nate Jaqua 3)
OFFSIDES: 1 (Fredy Montero 1)
CORNER KICKS: 5 (Freddie Ljungberg 5)
SAVES: 2 (Kasey Keller 2)

Misconduct Summary
COL — Ugo Ihemelu (caution; Reckless Tackle) 17
SEA — Freddie Ljungberg (caution; Delaying a Restart) 19
COL — Pablo Mastroeni (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 29
COL — Scott Palguta (caution; Reckless Tackle) 41
SEA — Brad Evans (caution; Unsporting Behavior) 71

Referee: Alex Prus
Referee’s Assistants: -Emiliano Monje; Jeff Hosking
4th Official: Mike Rottersman
Attendance: 32,526
Time of Game: 1:51
Weather: Sunny-and-67-degrees