Brad Evans
Greg Roth/NSS
Sounders FC received a quick boost in the 50th minute of the second half. A ball played from the left by Steve Zakuani was picked up by Nate Jaqua, who dribbled to the top of the box and passed the ball off to the right-hand side.
Brad Evans was on hand with only Joe Cannon to beat and dispatched the ball into the back of the net from 18 yards out.
In the 77th minute, Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller broke an MLS record for minutes without allowing a goal. Ronald Waterreus held the former record of 375 minutes with the New York Red Bulls in the 2007 season. Keller finished the game totaling 391 consecutive shutout minutes.
To continue...
San Jose came out in the second half intent to score as the team pressed for a goal. Keller was called into action two minutes into the second half, after a San Jose corner came bouncing into the box. Arturo Alvares dove for a header at the near post, which Keller reacted to and batted past his left-hand post.
San Jose had more possession in the second half, which required work from the Sounders back four. The Sounders defense continued to play strongly and Tyrone Marshall got into a hard tackle against Ryan Johnson inside the box in the 55th minute.
Jaqua was on hand in the 64th minute to blast a left-footed shot high and wide after good work from Zakuani on the left.
Sebastian Le Toux was subbed on for Sounders FC in the 67th minute for Steve Zakuani, Sigi Schmid hoping to provide more defensive support for the remainder of the game.
Sanna Nyassi made an appearance for the Sounders in the 80th minute, coming on for Fredy Montero.
San Jose was able to get a shot off in the 86th minute from the left side. Leftback Eric Denton dribbled up near the 18-yard box and took a shot, which he lifted wide of Keller's goal.
There was little threat against the Sounders by the end of the match, with San Jose slowing down as the match wore on. San Jose finished the game with five shots on target but also committed 13 fouls.
Roger Levesque was subbed on for Freddie Ljungberg in the 87th minute to play his first match minutes for Sounders FC.
Man of the Match: Steve Zakuani - Zakuani started on the left of midfield and was consistently dangerous from his wing position. He was able to nab the first goal of the game in the closing minutes of the first half to give the Sounders the lead going into halftime. In the second half, Zakuani started the move which ended in Evans' goal in the 50th minute. He was then subbed off, replaced by Le Toux in the 67th.
Sounders FC travel to Chicago to face the Chicago Fire next Saturday while San Jose return home to face the New York Red Bulls.
Reach Jesse Amorratanasuchad at nextseasonsports@gmail.com
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