Sunday, August 8, 2010

SOUNDERS FC: Montero leads Seattle to 2-0 victory with goal and assist

Fredy Montero slid to his knees after scoring his eighth goal of the season, his teammates swarming him in celebration. The MLS Player of the Month held his arms high signaling signing "No. 1" in each hand as the stadium rumbled around him.

The moment epitomized Seattle’s recent string of success.

Seconds earlier, Montero had netted the go-ahead goal in the 64th minute off a Kasey Keller goal kick. Montero, marked by one man, took the pass off his chest and boxed out his defender before sending a shot past a diving goalkeeper Tally Hall to give Seattle a 1-0 lead against the Houston Dynamo.

"This is definitely the highest level that the team has had," Montero said via interpreter. "I'm proud to share the field with my teammates. We're going to keep building and be able to match up with every team out there."



Montero and the Sounders weren’t finished. Nate Jaqua helped connect a pass to Montero, who then found Seattle’s newest designated player, Alvaro Fernandez, streaking behind defenders on the left side. Fernandez briefly mishandled the pinpoint pass but regained control with defenders on his heals. The Uruguayan national team star then finished past Hall for Seattle’s second goal of the game in the 88th minute.

Fernandez's breakaway goal gave Seattle a 2-0 lead, which stood for the remainder of the match.

The Montero efforts extended his goal or assist streak to nine MLS matches, a league best. But, more importantly he helped Seattle earn another win and three points, leaving the Sounders in playoff position with 28 points on the season, good for fourth place in the Western Conference.

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com