By Money Mike
The Expansion Draft took place today with the Montreal Impact joining Major League Soccer in 2012. The Seattle Sounders yet again lose a key player. As a matter of fact, they lose two key players. The Montreal Impact selected James Riley before trading him immediately to Chivas USA in exchange for Justin Braun and Gerson Mayen. The Impact also acquired left back Tyson Wahl from the Sounders for allocation money, which can be used to buy down player salaries in relation to the salary cap. Former Sounder midfielder Sanna Nyassi was also taken by Montreal in the Expansion Draft. If all the speculation is true, it looks like there is another trade involving the Sounders and the Montreal Impact with Miguel Montano heading to Montreal, but there is no information at this point.
Riley joined the Seattle Sounders in 2009 having been selected by them in the Expansion draft. In his three years here, Riley made a total of 84 league appearances and scored one goal and assisted on nine others. He was voted Defender of the Year for the club and was also voted the clubs Humanitarian of the Year the past two seasons for his contributions in the community. Riley became a fan favorite here in Seattle for all of his hard work not only on the pitch, but in the community as well. With him gone, the Sounders also lose that veteran approach that Riley brought to the team. Sounders GM Adrian Hanauer said that there are going to be some changes defensively, but I didn't see this being one of them nor did the rest of the Sounder nation here in Seattle.
Wahl was another Sounder selected in the Expansion draft prior to the 2009 season. He's received some critisism from fans about his work rate a few times during the 2011 season, but you can't deny the fact that he was the most improved player on this Sounders team during the 2011 season making 23 appearances, scoring one goal and two assists. He got more playing time in 2011 than he did in his first two seasons combined here in Seattle and he got more playing time here in Seattle than he did in his three seasons with the Kansas City Wizards. This guy emerged as a weapon with dangerous crosses on set pieces. Another huge loss defensively for the Sounders.
Thoughts on Riley and Wahl leaving/Who do you go after in the transfer window?
In all honesty, I'm upset about these two guys leaving the Sounders after all the hard work on the pitch. The positive sign is that these two had a combined salary of $150,000 in 2011, so the departure of these two should give the Sounders more money to spend during the offseason.
Now there have been a couple of questions regarding home-grown talent. If you want to look for a replacement at right back, draft DeAndre Yedlin who, of course, is a defender and obviously a big deal with the University of Akron. In case you guys haven't kept track of the Sounders FC Academy, Yedlin is a native of Seattle who spent a couple years in the Sounders youth system. Yes he's only a freshman at Akron, but how often do you see a freshman defender make 22 appearances with one goal and six assists? How often do you see stats like that. I think he should enter the 2012 MLS SuperDraft and I think the Sounders should draft him in the first round. If you want a find somebody at right back, get somebody who has been in you're youth system, who knows about the team, and has prooven himself that he's ready to take his game to the next level.
Now with Wahl gone as well, who do you replace at left back? There was a rumor a week ago about Joachim Thomassen signing with the club. He's listed as a midfielder, but he can also play left back. So with Tyson Wahl now with Montreal, maybe the Sounders should consider picking up Thomassen.
Sounders lose James Riley in the Expansion Draft, trades Tyson Wahl
Mauro Rosales suffers a late injury as the Sounders win 3-0
By Money Mike
The Sounders nearly broke through in the 30th minute. Tyson Wahl's inswinger from the corner found the head of Alvaro Fernandez at the near post, who flicked it back to the far post for Fredy Montero but it was just out of his reach.
In first half stoppage time, the Sounders doubled their lead to 2-0. Mauro Rosales found Alvaro Fernandez making a run behind Daniel Woolard with a sublime pass and "El Flacco" tapped it home beautifully with his right foot. Fernandez would get another in the 60th minute. Rosales was the set up man again. A majestic from the right side found Fredy Montero in stride. Joe Willis made the initial save, but Fernandez was there to pound in the Rebound for his 8th goal of the season. D.C. United were without Chris Pontius who suffered a broken leg last week at Chivas USA. In replace, head coach Ben Olsen decided to give Austin da Luz his first start in a D.C. United uniform since he was acquired in a midseason trade with the New York Red Bulls. The funny thing is, his last appearance with the Red Bulls was here in Seattle.
Well this is the last thing you want to see late in the game, just as your team is playing well. In about the 89th minute, D.C. United defender Daniel Woolard stepped on Mauro Rosales's foot and Rosales awkwardly turned something in his knee. He had to leave the game after suffering what was confirmed to be an MCL Sprain. Rosales will have an MRI on Monday to determine whether the injury is mild or moderate. And not is it referee Kevin Stott's job to ref a match, it's his job to keep the god damn players under control. If you're letting players make a bunch of dangerous challenges that could the opposing players season/career at risk, then you're doing a terrible job. Seattle keeps getting victimized by the players and the refs don't do anything but kick the Sounders players out of a game for no reason. That's pretty much the reason for the majority of their losses because Major League Soccer has so many Crappy refs and we already added last weeks referee to that list and Kevin Stott has been on that list for god only knows how long.After the game, head coach Sigi Schmid said, "The league's got to start protecting him. The last two games teams have gone out there and kicked him, and I don't think the referees have done a good job protecting him. Today was a case in point. We're up on top of the game 3-0 and he's got the ball at his feet and it's a tackle that's just meant to get a little kick in. And who knows how long he's out now? We have a talented player in this league, a player who's a good player, who fans want to come and watch play, then we let thugs hit him and we don't protect him enough. I think that's something that's got to happen with the referees. I'm very disappointed with the last two games. The last game before this one, the first three times he touched the ball he got fouled and nothing got called. Today early on he got dumped and quite a few times he's not getting calls. I'd like to see the referee Kevin Stott stand there and let Brandon McDonald run into his back and see if he could stay on his feet. I'm very disappointed in that."
Sounders rally to defeat the Timbers 3-2
By Money Mike
In the 81st minute the Timbers would end up losing a player. Midfielder Lamar Neagle was tackled from behind by Eric Brunner in the box, breaking up a breakaway chance for the Seattle Sounders and referee Jorge Gonzalez quickly reached into his back pocket and showed Brunner the red card. Ozzie Alonso stepped up to take the PK for the visiting team. Coming into this game he was 0 for 1 on PK's for the Sounders, missing one last year in a Champions League match at Saprissa, but Alonso went to the right side, just out of Perkins's reach to give the Sounders the lead for good. The Sounders unbeaten streak lives on, as well as Portland misery at home since they won their first 5 home matches.
Previewing Round 2 of the Sounders-Timbers MLS Rivalry
By Money Mike:
The Seattle Sounders are preparing for their 2nd Rivalry match against the Portland Timbers at Jeld-Wen Field in Portland. On May 14, these two sides finished with a point each after a 1-1 draw at Qwest Field (now named CenturyLink Field). Alvaro Fernandez broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute with a low left foot drive to put the Sounders up 1-0. But then in the 65th minute Jack Jewsbury hooked up with Futty Danso off a free-kick once again to salvage a point for the Timbers. The Sounders need to avoid mental mistakes if they want to get this win, which would put them in 2nd place all by themselves after FC Dallas lost 2-0 to Real Salt Lake.
Injury report:
Seattle Sounders FC - Some changes here for the Seattle Sounders. O'Brian White started practicing with the team following the LA match. He won't be on the squad today against Portland, but Sigi Schmid says he might at least be available off the bench next Saturday at home against the Colorado Rapids...... you know, the team with that dumb fuck named Brian Mullan. As for Brad Evans, what the hell is going on with this dude? I don't see him playing against Portland.
Portland Timbers - Alright for Rose City FC. Big blow defensively, Rodney Wallace has a left knee injury and he is out. Bright Dike has been out with a ruptured achillies tendon on his right ankle, he's now listed as questionable along with David Horst. Defenders Jeremy Hall and Futty Danso, Midfielders Adam Moffit and Peter Lowry and Goalkeeper Troy Perkins are listed as probable.
Key matchup:
Darlington Nagbe vs Tyson Wahl - Well you're looking at a young playmaker going up against Tyson Wahl in this one. I mean really, have you guys seen his goal last week against Sporting Kansas City, I mean it was everywhere on the news including on Sports Center. Tyson Wahl better keep him from pulling off another goal like that. lol. Seriously though, this is a matchup to look at.
And with all the injury concerns, this is the only matchup to keep an eye on for this one.
Sounders defeat New England 2-1. That's now 9 points in the last 8 days.
By Money Mike
The New England Revolution got on the score sheet early, but they failed to hold on as the Seattle Sounders(8-4-7) came back with two first half goals and held on in the second half to defeat New England(3-8-6) 2-1. After two disappointing draws against the Chicago Fire and the Vancouver Whitecaps to start the month of June, the Sounders have won 3 in a row in a string of 8 days against Toronto FC, Red Bull New York and now the New England Revolution and are inching closer to the top spot in the Western Conference, only four points behind the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Revolution are halfway through their 2011 season and have only picked up 15 points which puts them in a tie for last place in the Eastern Conference with Toronto FC. With the month of July approaching means that we'll be seeing more signings, trades and more players sold through the summer. The Sounders have 5 guys on trial including Sammy Ochoa and Myron Samuel. We've had rumors and speculation about Cillian Sheridan signing with the Sounders. He was on trial for a week and did very well, but now it looks like he's actually going to sign with the Portland Timbers which was absolutely uncalled for. The Sounders didn't want him at the price he was asking for. And that's just disappointing because I was excited to see him play for this team and help with our attack and ditching him just for the price tell's me that the staff are being a bunch of pussies. I mean, what? You think you'll go bankrupt for signing him at a huge price? Stupid. Just stupid. Anyway, let's talk about the match....
In the 3rd minute, it was the visitors who struck first. Benny Feilhaber, who missed the last four games do to injury which also knocked him off USA's Gold Cup squad, took the corner from the far hash mark and played a short ball to the top of the penalty area to Sainey Nyassi ripped a hard shot on frame. Kasey Keller got a hand to it but was unable to keep it out. It was the first set piece goal Seattle has conceded in 2011.
In the 23rd minute, the Sounders started to push after Pat Phelan nailed Servando Carrasco at midfield and only picked up a yellow card, but that could easily have been and should've been a straight Red Card. Three minutes later, Carrasco picked up a yellow for his tackle from behind on Benny Feilbaber.
In the 34th minute, the Sounders would pull level off another set play. Mauro Rosales collided with Ryan Cochrane just outside the New England penalty area. The referee gave the free kick to Seattle. Erik Friberg and Tyson Wahl we're behind the ball in an area where you would think Tyson Wahl's left foot would favor it. And I was Tyson Wahl who weaved his magic and curled the ball around the wall and into the far upper 90 as Matt Reis had no clue which direction he was going. It was the first Major League Soccer goal for Tyson Wahl who became the 13th different player to score for the Sounders this season. It was also the 8th set piece goal in the last 8 matches for the Sounders.
Six minutes later, the Sounders would pull ahead. New England defender Kevin Alston broke his shoe and rather than going to the bench to get a new shoe, he stayed on the ground and played everybody onside and the Sounders took advantage of it. Mauro Rosales fed a good ball into the penalty area for Roger Levesque who tapped it to Alvaro Fernandez who finished with the inside of his right foot to put the Sounders up 2-1. Fernandez is now tied for the team lead in Goals with Brad Evans with four goals.
Lamar Neagle had a good chance in the second half to make it 3-1. Drifting out to the right, Neagle took on left back Darrius Barnes. Took a couple of touches before having a go and he wasn't far away. Neagle has one of the greatest strikes on this team, and he managed to show that on the road at Real Salt Lake.
New England had some chances as well including Shalrie Joseph who forced a save by Kasey Keller from point blank range off the corner, while forward Rajko Lukic just missed the far post with a searing volley. In the 85th minute, A. J. Soares fed Zach Schilawski at midfield. Schilawski turned and ripped one from distance but the crossbar saved the Sounders the 3 points. In the end the match ended 2-1 Sounders.
Scoring summary:
New England Revolution - Sainey Nyassi 1 (Benny Feilhaber 2) 3'
Seattle Sounders FC - Tyson Wahl 1 (unassisted) 34'
Seattle Sounders FC - Alvaro Fernandez 4 (Roger Levesque 2, Mauro Rosales 4) 40'
Misconduct summary:
New England Revolution - Pat Phelan (caution; Reckless tackle) 23'
Seattle Sounders FC - Servando Carrasco (caution; Tactical foul) 26'
New England Revolution - Ryan Cochrane (caution; Reckless tackle) 72'
New England Revolution - Rajko Lekic (caution; Dissent) 78'
Seattle Sounders FC - Tyson Wahl (caution; Delaying a Restart) 87'
New England Revolution - A. J. Soares (caution; Dissent) 90'
Lineup:
New England Revolution - Matt Reis; Kevin Alston, Ryan Cochrane (Zach Schilawski 81'), A. J. Soares, Darrius Barnes; Sainey Nyassi (Zak Boggs 62'), Pat Phelan, Shalrie Joseph, Benny Feilhaber, Ryan Guy (Kenny Mansally 62'); Rajko Lekic
Seattle Sounders FC - Kasey Keller; James Riley, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Jeff Parke (Patrick Ianni 17'), Tyson Wahl; Lamar Neagle, Servando Carrasco, Erik Friberg, Alvaro Fernandez (Pat Noonan 69'); Mauro Rosales (Nate Jaqua 89'), Roger Levesque
Ozzie Alonso's go ahead goal short lived as Eric Hassli's volley salvages a 2-2 draw for Vancouver
By Money Mike
Sounders end Real Salt Lake's 29-game unbeaten streak at Rio Tinto. Win 2-1.
By Money Mike
With two minutes to go, Salt Lake pulled one back. A throw in from 17-year old Luis Gil found Nelson Gonzalez in the box and the Argentine spun away from Patrick Ianni and slotted the ball past Kasey Keller into the far post. Keller was unhappy with Patrick Ianni after that one and why wouldn't he be unhappy? Looking at the replay, what the fuck was Ianni doing? Trying to trip Gonzalez and draw a penalty? Just being lazy? Either way, there is no excuse for letting him get by you for an easy goal. This is why you have defenders and luckily for Patrick Ianni, that was the only goal Real Salt Lake would get because they came close to coming away with an equalizer in stoppage time just like last year. If that were to happen, they would've been talking about that one play and Ianni would've been a goat for that one mistake. The Sounders now head to Chicago to take on the Fire. In the first meeting between the Sounders and the Fire, and of course I was at that one, the Sounders took all three points with a 2-1 win. The Fire are still looking for their first win since their 3-2 win at home against Sporting Kansas City on March 26th, and I'll talk more about the matchup when I preview the matchup next weekend.
Jeff Parke comes through with a late winner against Sporting KC.
By Money Mike
Coming off a disappointing result last week, a draw against a last placed team would've been disastrous for the Seattle Sounders, but in stoppage time, Jeff Parke came up with a clutch goal in the 92nd minute when the Sounders needed it most and for the 2nd straight year, Sporting Kansas City come to Qwest Field and give up a game-winning goal in stoppage time as the Sounders defeated KC 1-0. With the win, Seattle moves into a three-way tie for second place with Portland and FC Dallas with 17 points.
Sporting looked dangerous in the first couple minutes of the match, in the 5th minute had a go with his weak right foot. A low drive that was knocked down by Kasey Keller who then held on to the rebound that Omar Bravo miss-hit.
In the 20th minute, Mauro Rosales earned a free header off the Alvaro Fernandez cross, but his effort went over the crossbar. That was one of two good chances in the first half for the Sounders, the other chance was Rosales setting up Osvaldo Alonso who struck the ball first time with his left foot, but he just put a bit too much air under it.
The Seattle backline did very well shutting down Omar Bravo. And Teal Bunbury, who played college soccer with Steve Zakuani at the University of Akron, didn't do much either. Speaking of Zakuani, he was in attendance for the match along with O'Brian White.
Michael Fucito, a second-half sub, nearly burned Kansas City with another late goal again after receiving a pass from Nate Jaqua but his shot was well blocked by Matt Besler. And a lot of fans were heading to the exits thinking that the Sounders weren't going to putt it off, but in the 92nd minute, they were wrong.....
A corner kick from the left of Jimmy Nielsen, was sent into the middle of the penalty area and Jeff Parke who outjumped the Kansas City defenders and directed a header inside the far post for a late goal and the Sounders first ever home win in the month of May.
Scoring summary:
Seattle Sounders FC - Jeff Parke 1 (Tyson Wahl 1) 92+'
Misconduct summary:
Seattle Sounders FC - Alvaro Fernandez (caution; Delaying a restart) 44'
Sporting Kansas City - Ryan Smith (caution; Dissent) 49'
Seattle Sounders FC - Servando Carrasco (caution; Tactical foul) 51'
Seattle Sounders FC - Mauro Rosales (caution; Reckless tackle) 64'
Seattle Sounders FC - Osvaldo Alonso (caution; Tactical foul) 84'
Lineups:
Sporting Kansas City - Jimmy Neilsen; Michael Harrington, Aurelien Collin, Matt Besler, Roger Espinoza; Davy Arnaud, Craig Rocastle, Ryan Smith (Chance Myers 86'); Kei Kamara, Teal Bunbury (C. J. Sapong 73'), Omar Bravo (Graham Zusi 76')
Seattle Sounders FC - Kasey Keller; James Riley, Jeff Parke, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Tyson Wahl; Servando Carrasco (Nate Jaqua 55'), Osvaldo Alonso, Alvaro Fernandez, Mauro Rosales (Michael Fucito 69'); Fredy Montero (Patrick Ianni 93+'), Roger Levesque
Sounders pound Toronto FC 3-0. Extend unbeaten streak to 6 matches.
By Money Mike
With Steve Zakuani out, it was Brad Evans who stepped in with two goals and an assist as the Seattle Sounders shutout Toronto FC 3-0. The Sounders fans paid tribute to Zakuani by raising their #11 signs in the 11th minute and also chanting his name. The Sounders were also without O'Brian White who had blood clot surgery on his leg and Mauro Rosales was also left out of the 18-man squad. Toronto FC, coming off a win in the Canadian Championship, are now winless in 6 straight matches as they had a couple holes to fill with injuries and also with Tony Tchani suspended.
when Alvaro Fernandez, who replaced Zakuani at left midfield got on the end of a Brad Evans cross, unmarked, to head the ball home for his 2nd goal of the season to give the Sounders an early 1-0 lead and they never looked back.
In the 52 minute, the Sounders would find the back of the net again. Fredy Montero found Brad Evans streaking behind the defense and Evans made no mistake, he hit it first time, into the far post for his 2nd of the season and he wasn't done yet. In the 75th minute, the Sounders were awarded a penalty. Erik Friberg's corner came off the hand of Mikael Yourrasowsky and referee Ricardo Salazar pointed to the penalty spot. Brad Evans then stepped up and slotted the PK into the right corner of the net to cap off a well deserved 3-0 win for the men in Rave Green as they are now unbeaten in their last six matches since starting the year 0-2 and have also won 3 of their last 4 matches.
