After a disappointing start to the season, the Sounders FC triumphed over the New England Revolution in dramatic fashion. Three goals netted Seattle three points and their first victory over the Revs since entering the MLS in 2009.
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The Sounders played one of their most paced and well-balanced games in weeks, controlling the match from the very beginning. Freddie Ljungberg was sporting a variation of his famous “Arsenal Mohawk” while playing the same right wing position he guarded on his former English team.
Seattle got off to a flying start in the first half when Leo Gonzalez scored his first goal for the Sounders in the fifth minute of the match. Gonzalez curled a left footed shot into the far corner of the net to put the Sounders up 1-0. Nineteen minutes later, Steve Zakuani added to the total with shot near the top of the box that rebounded off the crossbar into the net. However, that was not the last strike from the boys in green.
Near the end of the first half, Fredy Montero gathered an errant ball in front of the New England, dribbled into free space and fired a shot under the diving rookie New England keeper, Bobby Shuttlesworth.
Saturday’s victory, Seattle’s second in their last four MLS games, came at the best time possible for the team. A well played game in Colorado last week resulted in a loss. The Sounders’ last two matches at Qwest Field, on the other hand, have resulted in six goals in two wins.
While the starting eleven for Seattle played a measured, deliberate match, there were some negatives to their performance. Several times the Sounders made sloppy passes resulting in numerous turnovers. Luckily, none of the poor plays resulted in a New England goal.
The Sounders will have four days of rest and training before hosting D.C. United (2-8-1, 7 points) Thursday at Qwest Field. The match will be played at 7:00 pm and will air on ESPN2.
Reach Galen Helmgren at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
