Monday's can be challenging after an eventful weekend. I'm here to provide you Sounders fans with a little morsel to go with your danish, eggs, coffee or whatever hot or cold beverage you choose to get you through the week.
Reliving match day
It is typical March day in Seattle, gray, wet and cold. I call this "English Premier League weather."
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Normally I head downtown to get there a bit early to partake in the pre-match celebration. First, I find the perfect parking place. I have two criteria for this: it has to be within one to two miles of the stadium and it has to be free. Once there, I head over to meet my brothers and sisters of the mighty Emerald City Supporters over at Fuel and McCoys. The soccer matches are playing on "the tele" and they are holding raffle giveaways and recruiting members to join the growing ranks of the ECS.
One of my favorite parts of match day is running into friends and talking about our favorite subject of the day; soccer and the Sounders. I run into Greg Mockos who is always busy on match day. Mockos, along with Keith Hodo are two of the "capos" in ECS. Greg is on the membership council. He also helped design the amazing banner that was on display for the world to see on March 19th.
Next, I head over to Fado Pub, to say "hi" to my other brothers and sisters in Gorilla FC. As I am just about to arrive, I come to the annoying realization that I have forgotten my ticket for the match. I find this quite ironic given the fact that my last column was all about match tickets and scalpers.
I walk a mile and a half back to my car and drive back to Capital Hill to get my ticket. By the time I arrive back downtown, my "perfect" parking place is gone and I decide to drop twenty dollars (almost the price of my ticket) and park next to Fuel. It is only 20 minutes until the "march to the match" and I don't want to be late. It was an expensive lesson to have my ticket out the night before match day.
March to the match
Like last week the march to the match was electrifying, as we took over the streets, thousands joined in and raised their scarves to the heavens. It was like a Summer carnival on a winters day.
I run into my namesake and principal owner Joe Roth. I had the opportunity to meet and speak with Joe back in December. He is a great guy that is passionate about the game, winning and the fan experience. I mentioned to Joe that if they are playing this well now, I can only imagine how well they will be playing together after a few months and matches under their belt. He just looked at me and smiled. He shared with me how hard they worked to scout some great talent from around the globe. The best is yet to come.
Roth is from LA so he is used to warmer climate (I used to live there myself and it took me a little time to readujst myself) he commented on the weather. I said this is "EPL weather," to which he responded with a smile. I thanked him and shared with him how amazing opening night was. He said, that he has been to several big Hollywood premiers but that he has not quite experienced anything quite like Sounders FC first kick.
Drew Carey was there rocking out with us and watching his little one lead the band. I also had a chance to say hello to Tod Leiweke CEO of Vulcan Sports and thanked him for the hard work. Whenever I see him on TV, he is always an articulate, consummate professional representing the team. Away from the corporate world, Leiweke, is a true fan celebrating with all of us before we get ready to march toward the stadium. Right before I walk away to join the crowd, Tod smiles and gives me a fist bump.
The Game
Like last week, the Sounders took about ten minutes to settle down. There were a lot of missed passes and with the wet turf balls that would have been more "on feet" last week on a dry pitch seemed to skip away. At about 10 minutes into the match the team started connecting, started to control possession and play in the midfield, connecting on passes and moving the ball into offensive zone. Number one draft pick Steve Zakuani was starting on the left in place of Sanna Nyassi and he did not disappoint. Zakuani was able to use his speed and creativity to penetrate several times and about 17:00 into the match connected on a beautiful pass to Nate Jacqua for their first goal of the evening.
As goes the midfield and Alonso , as go the Sounders. Alonso controls tempo, plays both sides of the ball well, starts counter attacks and distributes at will. He is the glue in the middle that holds things together.
Welcome Freddie Ljungberg
Ljungberg came into the match at about 60:00 and gave the fans a taste of what he can do. He is a clever one. It seems the only way that RSL could get the ball from him was to foul him. He had brilliant heal flick that was so quick and so good I think it even fooled his own teammates. With time the chemestry will grow.
Fredy Montero's venomous strike at about 75:00 in, is one of the best goals I have seen and no doubt will be up there for the goal of the week if not goal of the year. Alonso started the attack with a crisp pass to Montero with LeToux back for the drop and Freddie Ljungberg joining up on the attack Montero had options but he saw the keeper out of position and took his shot right on the seems and sent a "knuckle ball" to the upper left corner of the net.
That was when I lost my voice.
James Riley, performed well in the back with some clever footwork, distribution from the back and overlap on the right wing to create scoring opportunities. LeToux is one of the hardest working players on the pitch grinding it out on both sides of the ball and creating opportunities.
Man of the match
Kasey Keller, showed why he is our captain and the most capped player in U.S soccer history. He was steady, confident, barked out orders to his defense and came up with the big saves when needed. In addition, Keller started a couple of great counter attacks with kicks and one particular throw that went about twenty yards over the midfield line right to the feet of Montero
All-in-all
It may not have been the most pretty at times but when it mattered, our boys reached deep down and did what they needed to do to dominate and beat a quality side in Real Salt Lake. We have a great side and it is just going to get better the longer they play together and are match tested. The players brought it, the 28,500 fans brought it and the energy and game experience was nothing short of spectacular once again.
It was another great match day from start to finish. Sounders FC go on the road for Toronto's home opener. Their fans are going to bring it just like we do. It will be a great test for our boys. I am looking forward to the viewing parties this weekend.
Reach Greg Roth at nextseasonsports@gmail.com>
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