Dave's random mumblings…

Another big night at Quest field. Once again not the result I had hoped for, coming away with a 3-2 loss.

Pre-game entertainment this time included the worlds biggest grill! Its not going to fit on my deck, or even the driveway.

The BIG grill

Onto the game… DC have the worst record in the league, but after a horrendous start have picked up 13 out of a possible 15 points coming into the game tonight and were on something of a hot streak. Seattle was also looking good and had a lot of momentum after dominating New England Saturday. It looked like a good match up, and other than the score line it was an entertaining game to watch.

The ECS unveiled a huge and very impressive banner of Keller holding up the US Open cup prior to the game. This was the trophy Seattle won last year by beating DC United at RFK. Best titfo so far this year, nice job by the Emerald City Supporters.

Nothing like a big game under the lights

The game started out at quite the pace, both teams came out to play good football, the ref was quick to throw a couple of yellow cards and did a good job at keeping control. Seattle certainly had the best of the first half hour, they had long periods in control when they played some very entertaining passing football.A couple of shots on goal, one header from Noonan that went very close, but few other really good chances continue the theme we’ve seen a lot this year.

Unfortunately and not for the first time this year the opponents first goal came against the run of play. I was in the bathroom and missed it, but the noise left no doubt about what had happened.

A few minutes later the second DC goal came via an uncharacteristic fumble by Keller shortly before half time.

Even though they went in at half times 2-0 down, it felt like they had the best of the first half and there seemed to be some optimism for pulling it out in the second half.

This was extinguished when Chris Pontius completed his hat trick with a very pretty lofted header to the far post with about 15 minutes left to play.

Seattle Sounders 2 - DC United 3

Seattle made it exciting by scoring twice in injury time, James Riley got a lucky deflection that gave DCU keeper Troy Perkins no chance. A minute later Fredy Montero added a second. Seattle had one more chance but it was not enough to pull out the win. Troy Perkins had a good game, he made a couple of good saves to keep Seattle scoreless until late in the game.

Seattle had plenty of play and lots of chances, but once again was struggling to actually get shots on goal. The passing was typically good, but following the usual story broke down in the last quarter of the field.

There were exceptions, Ljungberg especially seemed to relish having the ball at his feet and had one of his best individual games. He got into it somewhat with the ref during the second half and collected another booking, but I find it difficult to find fault with his play. Most of the good chances came through him at some point in their build up.

Ljungberg having a slight difference of opinion with the Ref

Seattle is off for a couple of weeks now and hopefully once we get back from the World Cup break Nate Jaqua and Osvaldo Alonso will hopefully be back from injury. The addition of Swiss forward Blaise Nkufo sometime after the Swiss are eliminated from the World Cup could be huge.

The other thing to remember is the interest in Montero and Ljungberg shown by European clubs during the last transfer window. The next chance for European clubs to sign players starts in early July. CSKA Moscow were supposed to be interested in Montero, I’ll be interested to see if he’s in green for Seattle’s next home game on July 11^th.

As a sports fan in Seattle 2008 was pretty bad. Sonics left to become the Thunder (and they still suck), the Mariners were unbelievably bad, the Seahawks were rough and the Huskies did not win a game.

As someone who used to go to most of Coventry Cities home games before moving to Seattle, I understand disappointment and suffering is a fundamental part of the fan experience. I used to think not flirting with relegation in the last couple of weeks of the season was a good year.

That expectation was reset on opening night. When I brought season tickets I never imagined anything like that happening, the atmosphere was incredible and 32,000 people made it a night to remember. So much fun, it started with the march to the match and just kept going for the next three and a bit hours. The first goal followed by the second and third, Sigi paying tribute to the USL Sounders by sending Roger Levesque on as a late sub so the faithful could show their appreciation. I’ve been to a lot of games and that night is pretty close to the top of the list.

Barcelona and Chelsea visited mid season and showed two packed houses how the game can be played. Barcelona especially were sublime, the way they controlled the pace of the game was beautiful to watch.

The MLS is a physical league and some Seattle players have been on the receiving end. The refereeing has not helped, lets just say the quality has been mixed. There are a couple of refs that have let games go and been consistent in their calling, but they are in the minority.

I love the game and at the beginning of the year I saw a team that would be fun to watch, had a lot of firepower in Montero and Ljungberg, but big holes in defence. I did not see many 0-0 games on the cards. I was partially right, the team played some very entertaining games, but the defence led by Keller and JKH was tighter then I’d ever imagined. However up front it became a season of missed chances and a big swoon during the middle of the season where scoring seemed little more than a dream.

Next year we get to see CONCACAF Champions League, hopefully we get an away game somewhere south of the border with a beach, that would be a fun trip.

Tuesday night was fun, I was unable to be at the game at Starfire and was restricted to watching the computer feed. It had everything, drama, good, desperate football with everything on the line.

The Houston goal lived a very charmed life during the last 20 minutes as Seattle threw everything at them time and time again. This time the 89^th minute goal was needed just to send it into extra time, and the rest is history.

Next up is DCU in DC for the trophy, and a place in the lucrative CONCACAF Champions League next year.

Dare I dream of international club football in season two of the current incarnation of the Sounders?

To quote John Motson “This just keeps getting better and better”.

Today the war of words between the finalists escalated, it’s not just between the supporter groups (that’s been on going since the final whistle on Tuesday), but between Adrian Hanauer and Kevin Payne (DCU president).

Hanauer talked to the Olympian newspaper about DC getting the game over Seattle. How the sounders would sell out Quest Field and DC may not even get a 10,000 gate (last year they got 8,200 at RFK for the final).

(http://www.theolympian.com/sports/soundersfc/story/918575.html).

Payne replied in the Washington Post, he called Hanauers’ comments offensive and had a little bash at Seattle and playing on the plastic.

(http://voices.washingtonpost.com/soccerinsider/2009/07/payne_responds_to_sounders.html#more).

My favourite quote: “I just think it is a little out of bounds in your first year to throw stones the way they have.”

It’s 5 weeks until the game and the clubs are trash talking. Forget Portland for another couple of years, this is the big leagues and this is how rivalries are created.