Saturday’s matchup between the Colorado Rapids and the Seattle Sounders, whom entered the match without a loss in the past eight games, was an offensive frenzy and a rarity in professional soccer. Usually, spectators of the beautiful game see anywhere between zero and three goals scored in an entire match, but those in attendance at Qwest Stadium were lucky enough to witness seven goals! The Sounders, coming out on top with four goals, stayed true to their often dramatic, nail-biting finishes. After trailing for the majority of the game they gained a strong lead in the final fifteen minutes, only to allow another surprise goal from Colorado. However, the neon green team was able to hold on until the final whistle, placing them just one point behind MLS leaders, the LA Galaxy.
The Rapids struck early, with a shocking goal in the second minute of play. Alvaro Fernandez, showing his finishing skills and control, tied it up shortly thereafter. He also had a promising header in the 40 minute, but it was defended well. The remainder of the first half saw opportunities from both sides, but only Colorado was able to put one at the back of the net in the 43rd.
The game was the first time Seattle had seen Colorado since the late April match when Brian Mullan broke Steve Zakuani’s leg in a dirty tackle. The two sides played aggressively and with a flavor of physical brutality. Five yellow cards were issued. Not that it is any sort of consolation, but the star striker for Colorado, Conor Casey, left the game early with an Achilles injury.
The second half started with a bang; in the 43rd minute Roger Levesque scored off of a no-look redirecting shot. Several minutes later, Fredy Montero gave up an obvious breakaway chance due to laziness and a misunderstanding of a concept known as “out-of-bounds”. The Sounders had a multitude of close calls and near misses, controlling the tempo and possessing the ball down the sideline brilliantly. Fernandez again broke through a wall of Colorado defenders, but was thwarted by the last defender. Finally, in the 83rd minute Brad Evans shot from the side was deflected by the goalie and bounced to the far post where Montero gently nodded in the low header for the lead. A minute later, Mauro Rosales put one past the goalie for a 4-2 lead.
With only ten minutes left, a victory for Seattle seemed obvious. Yet, the Rapids weren’t going to give up so easily and scored again in the 90th minute and kept the Sounders alert and in it until the very end.
The Seattle Sounders put on quite a show for the 36,000+ in attendance, as well as for Manchester United’s head coach Sir Alex Ferguson. Wednesday, the 20th, is an exciting day for international futbol fans, as Manchester United will be playing the Seattle Sounders in preparation for their match against the MLS All-Stars. The team is temporarily using my university’s soccer field as a practice pitch and the local soccer culture couldn’t be more ecstatic!
Good luck to you in your upcoming match, Seattle Sounders FC, for surely you will need it.
Sounders FC Starting XI: Kasey Keller, James Riley, Patrick Ianni, Jeff Parke, Tyson Wahl, Osvaldo Alonso, Erik Friberg, Mauro Rosales, Alvaro Fernandez, Fredy Montero, Roger Levesque
Colorado Rapids Starting XI: Matt Pickens, Kosuke Kimura, Tyrone Marshall, Marvell Wynne, Drew Moor, Sanna Nyassi, Pablo Mastroeni, Jeff Larentowicz, Wells Thompson, Conor Casey, Omar Cummings
