With key players missing, the Sounders continue to show their depth. Time and time again they have proven that any jersey on the field is deadly, even defenders who have never scored in 57 game appearances. Mauro Rosales had a standout game and Tyson Wahl scored his first goal ever in MLS play.
Quickly into the match, the New England Revolution struck a nerve when Sainey Nyassi deflected a corner past a wall of Seattle defenders and Keller; it was a disappointing start to a beautiful, warm, summer match. What really stood out in this back and forth struggle was the amount of fouls being committed from both teams. Nearly a handful of cautions were issued to each side before the final whistle blew. At the 20 minute mark a New England player blatantly fouled and took down Rosales, and a fight amongst players from both sides almost erupted. For Seattle, the first third of the match was mostly wasted opportunities, bad through balls, and eager aerial passes which continued to bounce out of bounds or into the arms of the keeper. Erik Friberg did not have the best of days; he controlled the ball poorly on several occasions and passed it out of bounds at crucial, momentum building times.
The Sounders finally retaliated in the 34th minute. A free kick was awarded just outside the goal box arch and to the right. Wahl, surprisingly, volunteered to take it. He sent a sprawling, curling, perfect ball into the far top left corner to tie. Then again, in the 40th minute, a demonstration of awareness, selflessness, and cooperation occurred. Rosales dribbled and powered into the goal box, passed lightly to Roger Levesque, who one touched it to the opposite post where Alvaro Fernandez was waiting for a wide open shot. Before halftime, Seattle had one more chance when a corner kick narrowly missed the head of Fernandez. At the end of 45 minutes, the score had been solidified at 2-1.
The second half consisted of scares from New England and a handful of close calls. The first of which came from a corner in the fiftieth minute when Shalrie Joseph headed the ball towards the side of the goal, Keller for the diving save. Zack Schilawski gave the audience a scare after hitting the crossbar in the 86th minute.
A final note: why was no card given after Tyson Wahl was kicked in the head. Is it suddenly deemed appropriate to nail players with cleats in the face? After watching Sunday’s match, and with the amount of injuries already suffered by the Sounders (including Parke who was sent to the lockers part way through the game and is reported to have been having vision problems), you have to keep wondering if there is some conspiracy against Seattle teams. The Northwest seems to harbor angry, resentful referees who make bad calls against home teams, while failing to make the right calls against opposing teams.
Seattle Sounders FC Starting XI: Kasey Keller, James Riley, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Jeff Parke, Tyson Wahl, Lamar Neagle, Servando Carrasco, Erik Friberg, Alvaro Fernandez, Mauro Rosales, Roger Levesque
New England Revolution Starting XI: Matt Reis, Kevin Alston, Ryan Cochrane, A.J. Soares, Darrius Barnes, Sainey Nyassi, Pat Phelan, Shalrie Joseph, Benny Feilhaber, Ryan Guy, Rajko Lekic
