With the emotional return of Steve Zakuani and O’Brian White to Qwest following their surgeries last month, and a dusty, road whipped Sporting KC enterering the Sounders’ home turf, a victory seemed imminent for the Sounders. Like two gunslingers, the teams rattled it out for a full ninety minutes.
Still at a draw, two unlikely heroes emerged in stoppage time; a direct bulls-eye header from Jeff Parke off a dagger of corner from Tyson Wahl ensured a 1-0 victory. The three points earned from the spectacle of a play places the Seattle Sounders FC at second in the Western Conference.
“I scored a lot of goals during preseason matches and stuff like that, of course,” Seattle defender Jeff Parke stated in postgame interviews. “I’ve had my chances but tonight was finally the back of the net.”
The action started in the 20th minute as Alvaro Fernandez found himself with space following a ballerina like spin allowing him to chip the ball into the six yard box. Mauro Rosales was there for the header, but he mistimed his jump and flicked the ball over the net. Fernandez has been playing fearlessly for the better part of the season, and has noticeably become more of a playmaker and spark since the injuries which have plagued Seattle. His trickery and control has been a marvel to watch and will hopefully lead to more productive, deadly results in the games to come.
His ability to make plays on the field may be getting to his head, however, as was evidenced by his spontaneous kick after not being awarded a throw in. The unnecessary behavior earned him his first yellow card on the season.
In the 58th, a wayward, ping pong play off a Tyson Wahl free kick created a near ying-yang scenario. Wahl’s cross met the fist of the visiting goalie. The deflection was popped back across the box to Fernandez. His treacherous header to the corner was again batted away by the keeper. Fredy Montero suffered an intermittent blow during the keeper’s swipe at the ball. The already fractured Montero would play out the rest of the match, coming off only for Ianni in stoppage time.
The win continues the streak of Seattle losing only one of their last ten matches. Sporting KC drops to last in the MLS (1-6-1), and bumps Seattle to 17 points (4-3-5).
Seattle Sounders FC Starting XI: Kasey Keller, James Riley, Jeff Parke, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Tyson Wahl, Servando Carrasco, Osvaldo Alonso, Alvaro Fernandez, Mauro Rosales, Freddy Montero, Roger Levesque
Sporting KC Starters XI: Jimmy Nielsen, Matt Besler, Roger Espinoza, Michael Harrington, Aurelien Collin, Davy Arnaud, Ryan Smith, Craig Rocastle, Kei Kamara, Omar Bravo, Teal Bunbury
