SOUNDERS FC: Three goals in three games? Yeah, Montero's back

Seattle needed someone to finish and Montero was happy to oblige. Aaron Weinberg / NSS

His re-emergence to goal scoring prominence appeared imminent after a crafty header against Colorado a few weeks back. But, a slide tackle, a steal and the equalizer during dead seconds in stoppage time against the Red Bulls this week sealed it.

Fredy’s back.

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"I mean, that was an unbelievable goal,” head coach Sigi Schmid said. “He just ripped it.”

And Fredy Montero has been doing a lot of that lately, finding the net three times in the last three games.

Montero’s seventh goal of the season helped earn Seattle a road point against the New York Red Bulls. Coincidentally, Montero’s goal scoring began during the inaugural match against the over-matched Red Bulls at Qwest Field, where Montero introduced himself to 32,000 fans by scoring two goals.

He won goal of the week for his efforts in Seattle to start the season, and now he’s been nominated a fourth time for his goal in New York.

Montero sits tied for third in the MLS with seven goals.

It's evident his play has picked up after slumping earlier in the season after a hot three-goal start.

Slump
Driving to the net in a 1-on-1 against Chivas USA keeper Zach Thornton, Montero uncharacteristically sailed a chip shot wide left in the 10th minute. The shot turned out to be Seattle's best chance of scoring in the 2-0 loss to the Western Conference leading Chivas USA on April 18.

Fans were used to seeing Montero's brilliant finishers, but not that week as the team lost its second straight match.

After scoring in week two, Montero went another eight weeks before scoring his fourth goal of the season against the Colorado Rapids May 23.

His play picked up the next two weeks and culminated in a three goal output during a grueling three game stretch last week.

"This is not an easy league, there are teams with some great players," Montero said. "I have to give our coach Sigi Schmid two thumbs up for the job that he has done. He put together a great team and even though we are not all to the level where he wants us, I believe that as the games and time goes on, we will all be at the level where coach wants us. Hopefully, this team stays on the rise and we reach the playoffs on a high note."

Reach Aaron Weinberg at nextseasonsports@gmail.com