Seattle Sounders FC 2 at Kansas City Wizards 1 - October 9, 2010
KANSAS CITY, Kan. - Sanna Nyassi scored in his second consecutive league match and Alvaro Fernandez scored the second-half game-winner as the Seattle Sounders FC beat the Kansas City Wizards, 2-0, on Saturday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
With the win, Sounders FC (13-9-6, 45 points) have clinched a berth in the MLS Cup Playoffs for the second straight year.
Tickets for the 2010 MLS Cup Playoffs will go on-sale to the general public October 21 at 10 a.m. PT.
Kansas City (9-12-6, 33 points) has lost three in a row.
Nyassi scored in the 66th minute when Nate Jaqua, who entered the match just one minute earlier, played him into the box. Nyassi's initial shot was stopped by keeper Jimmy Nielson but he knocked the rebound into the back of the net to take the lead.
Nyassi has two goals in MLS after scoring the game-winner against Toronto FC last Saturday. He has four goals in the last three games over all-competitions.
Fernandez scored the game-winner in the 78th minute when he rolled a left-footed shot under Nielson for his second goal in MLS. Fernandez entered the match as a substitute in the 75th minute.
Kansas City scored on a penalty kick in the 84th minute. Jeff Parke was whistled for a foul in the box on the Wizards' Teal Bunbury. Davy Arnaud stepped up and beat Kasey Keller to his right.
The Wizards saw a pair of chances hit the crossbar. In the 35th minute, Ryan Smith found Bunbury at the far post but his header hit the top of the crossbar and Kei Kamara's sliding attempt in the first minute of second-half stoppage time hit the outside post.
Keller made two saves on a pair of first-half headers from Matt Besler.
Kansas City held a commanding advantage in shots, 18-8, but the teams were equal with three attempts on goal. Both sides were called for 16 fouls.
Sounders FC became the third team in MLS history to qualify for the playoffs in its first two seasons. Chicago and Miami both achieved the feat in 1998 and 1999.
Seattle has won its last four league matches and is 9-1-2 in its last 12. It has surpassed the 2009 win total.
Sounders FC returns home to face Mexico's CD Chivas de Guadalajara in a friendly on October 12. First kick is 7 p.m. PT on the Xbox Pitch at Qwest Field.
Seattle Sounders FC at Kansas City Wizards
October 09, 2010 - CommunityAmerica Ballpark, Kansas City, Kan.
Scoring Summary:
SEA - Sanna Nyassi (Nate Jaqua) 66
SEA - Alvaro Fernandez 78
KC - Davy Arnaud (penalty kick) 84
Kansas City Wizards - Jimmy Nielson, Michael Harrington, Jimmy Conrad, Matt Besler, Roger Espinoza, Davy Arnaud, Jack Jewsbury (Graham Zusi 73), Craig Rocastle (Birahim Diop 85), Kei Kamara, Ryan Smith (Josh Wolff 68), Teal Bunbury.
Substitutes Not Used: Eric Kronberg, Korede Aiyegbusi, Stephane Auvray, Jonathan Leathers.
TOTAL SHOTS: 18; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 16; OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: 1.
Seattle Sounders FC - Kasey Keller, James Riley, Patrick Ianni, Jeff Parke, Leo Gonzalez, Sanna Nyassi (Tyrone Marshall 89), Osvaldo Alonso, Nathan Sturgis, Steve Zakuani (Alvaro Fernandez 75), Fredy Montero (Nate Jaqua 65), Blaise Nkufo.
Substitutes Not Used: Terry Boss, Tyrone Marshall, Zach Scott, Mike Seamon, Mike Fucito.
TOTAL SHOTS: 8; SHOTS ON GOAL: 3; FOULS: 16; OFFSIDES: 1; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: 2.
Misconduct Summary:
SEA - Osvaldo Alonso (caution; Persistent Infringement) 28
SEA - Fredy Montero (caution; Delaying a Restart) 61
KC - Teal Bunbury (caution; Reckless Foul) 63
KC - Davy Arnaud (caution; Reckless Tackle) 81
SEA - Nate Jaqua (caution; Reckless Foul) 81
Referee: Kevin Stott
Referee's Assistants: Bill Dittmar; Brian Poeschel
4th Official: Mark Kadlecik
Attendance: 11,522
Time of Game: 1:51
Weather: Partly Cloudy and 75-degrees
