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Played
March 20, 2009 2:25 AM EDT
Qwest Stadium
Referee: Jair Marrufo
March 20, 2009 2:25 AM EDT
Qwest Stadium
Referee: Jair Marrufo
90′ +4
For me, this is it. Make sure to read my Friday Five to get a longer take on this one and catch the Monday MLS Breakdown on Monday for a review of the opening weekend. Until then...it's good night.
90′ +3
For New York, a serious examination of its defensive alignment must take place. That being said, this is only game one of thirty.
90′ +3
The player of the match: Fredy Montero. Scintillating effort from the Colombian striker. On this evidence, he'll be in Europe sooner rather than later.
90′ +3
Seattle deserved all three points. A fantastic start in front of a fantastic crowd. For New York? Well, let's just say there aren't many positives from this one.
90′ +2
Full time. Seattle becomes the second expansion team to win its first ever game. The first? Chicago. The Fire won MLS Cup in its expansion year back in 1998.
90′ +1
Montero gets a thunderous ovation as he's withdrawn.
90′ +1
Substitution 
Fredy Montero 
Roger Levesque
Fredy Montero Roger Levesque
90′
In to injury time.
88′
Le Toux's cross forces Cepero to punch clear.
87′
No hurry for Seattle over a corner kick deep in Red Bulls territory.
84′
Richards jinks through a couple of defenders along the end line, but Hurtado slides over to clear.
82′
Le Toux's cross from the right just eludes Alonso in the middle.
80′
The referee comes over to chat with Sigi. Seems pointless with ten minutes to play.
79′
Just marking time about now.
77′
Harkes, with his tongue firmly in cheek: "Montero...I think he's done fairly well."
74′
Petke lollygags on the ball and doesn't see Montero coming up behind him. Montero strips him and scoots in towards goal. A cool and collected finish to the top corner leaves Cepero on the ground.
74′
Goal Fredy Montero
73′
New York has shown some life in the last ten minutes or so. Time to see if they can translate it into a goal. Watch out for the Sounders on the break.
72′
Counterattack sparked by Montero. Montero's skill allows him to wriggle free to play Evans in down the right. Cross finds Zakuani at the far post, but Cepero saves the effort at his near post.
71′
Rojas with a lovely bit of skill to hit a full volley towards goal. Keller tips over the bar.
71′
Another terrible giveaway by Alonso sets up a chance for Angel. Seattle just about hacks clear.
70′
Angel gets the ball caught in his feet.
69′
Ball over the top. Kandji wrestles past Riley before firing on goal. Good reaction save by Keller to beat it away.
68′
Substitution Sanna Nyassi Steve Zakuani
Sanna Nyassi Steve Zakuani
68′
New York has looked better in the second half without looking dangerous.
67′
Nyassi comes in late and hard on Goldthwaite. A reckless tackle.
67′
Yellow Card Sanna Nyassi
65′
While Harkes sucks up to former teammate Keller, Le Toux has a couple of efforts blocked down before the whistle blows for offside.
63′
Decent free kick into the mixer hacked clear by Nyassi.
62′
Angel gets away with a foul. Then Scott slides through with a couple of feet up.
61′
Angel plays Kandji in behind, but Kandji didn't time his run correctly. Up goes the flag.
61′
Another corner kick from Rojas, but Keller's out to claim.
58′
Hurtado decides he's bored and makes a long run out of the back down the right flank. Cross left a bit to be desired, however.
57′
Oh good. Kasey Keller is on the field. Nice goal kick.
54′
Hurtado hasn't put a foot wrong so far. He snuffs out danger before it starts.
53′
Loose pass from Alonso. He's a few of those tonight. Rough edges to his game.
51′
Rojas with a cynical foul on Montero. Not sure why the Red Bulls haven't gone through Montero a bit more.
50′
Goldthwaite gets into a good position down the left and then horribly shanks his cross.
49′
Pietravallo slices wide after Seattle just about clears a Rojas corner kick.
47′
Head tennis in the Sounders FC area and no one from New York attacks the ball. Seattle finally heads clear.
46′
How does Pietravallo escape being withdrawn at half time? Borman is on for more pace in midfield.
46′
Substitution Sinisa Ubiparipovic Danleigh Borman
Sinisa Ubiparipovic Danleigh Borman
Substitution Andrew Boyens 
Jeremy Hall
Andrew Boyens Jeremy Hall
Just to signify the switch I indicated earlier in the first half.
What can the Red Bulls do? I'm not quite sure. Playing with more fire would be a nice start.
Just got this e-mail from a friend and it's too great not to share: "I wonder what Angel is saying in that dressing room right now. Probably 'remember me?'. Either that or 'I wonder what happened to that blonde-haired winger we used to have'."
Garber says that he's headed to Portland tomorrow. No reason to hem and haw now. Timbers to join up tomorrow.
Lalas: "New York was absolutely atrocious." Tough to argue with it.
45′
Halftime. Seattle goes in with a deserved two goal lead. Quite frankly, the Red Bulls are lucky it isn't worse than it is right now.
45′
High pressure almost yields a turnover in the back. One minute of stoppage time.
44′
Red Bulls have offered less than nothing going forward.
42′
Do you think Schmid took Hurtado aside and told him that he was not allowed do anything with the ball except smash it up field?
41′
Sounders FC needs to steer this one to the break at 2-0 up. On this evidence, they may even nick a third.
38′
Richards down after a blocked cross comes back and hits him in the face.
38′
Glad to see Schmid is still working the scarf angle.
34′
Nyassi looks like he gets in behind the Red Bulls back line, but the flag goes up. The replay backs up the AR.
33′
Hall on for Boyens.
33′
Jeremy Hall is getting ready to come in. Meanwhile, Angel stands over another free kick. Instead, Rojas slams it into the wall.
30′
Alonso with a great pass to Le Toux, but a lackluster chip is easily collected by Cepero.
29′
JP and Harkes talking about all of the new defenders NYRB have in the fold. None of them play in central defense.
25′
Great ball played in behind by Montero and no one tracks Evans coming through into the box. Evans turns and slots through Cepero's legs. Where is Pietravallo?
25′
Goal Brad Evans
24′
Ball over the top for Le Toux. The Frenchman latches on to it and attempts to chip Cepero, but the Red Bulls goalkeeper is out well to snuff out the danger.
23′
Nyassi went on trial with at least a couple MLS teams before signing with Seattle.
23′
Montero slides in Nyassi. A low shot elicits an easy save from Cepero.
22′
If I'm the Red Bulls, I want to close down the space a bit more in midfield. Harkes notes it on the broadcast and I agree. More industry required from Pietravallo.
20′
Nyassi blows by Goldthwaite at midfield and the Red Bulls' left back grabs his jersey. Easy booking. Did they not do their research on the Nyassi family? Maybe too much time spent on Montero's Colombian exploits.
20′
Yellow Card Kevin Goldthwaite
19′
New York looks well assured in possession. But they need to take a little bit of the pace out of this game. Even with their speed, up and down is not what they want to play right now with this atmosphere.
17′
Montero attempts an audacious ball to play Jaqua through. Apparently, JCO didn't get enough tape on Montero from his days in the Colombian league.
16′
The Sounders FC marching band is playing. Yes, I think it's a great idea.
15′
Red Bulls look a bit overawed by the atmosphere at this point.
14′
Nyassi with a steaming run down the right hand side. Good low cross just pushed wide of the far post by Jaqua.
13′
Angel draws a foul 22 yards from goal, but then flies the resulting free kick well over the bar.
11′
Questions about whether Cepero could have done a little bit better with his angles.
11′
Le Toux slips a neat little pass out to Montero, who drifted out to the right. Simple finish to the far post for the Colombian striker to send Qwest Field into rapture.
11′
Goal Fredy Montero
11′
Decent buildup from Sounders FC flubbed out of bounds by recent signing Zach Scott. Scott is the first Maui public high school player to feature in MLS. Yes, you needed to know that.
9′
Good interplay from the Red Bulls. Angel sneaks offside to draw the whistle.
8′
Montero almost sneaks in behind as Petke hacks away a ball over the top. Unsteady for the Red Bulls back line.
6′
Red Bulls edging it so far, but both teams are displaying some ring rust in possession.
4′
Notice the bounce off the surface. It's perky. As you can guess, there hasn't been much action in the early stages.
2′
First shot of Juan Carlos Osorio's notebook. With the focus trained on it, you'd think it has the nuclear codes in it instead of oddball notes.
1′
The Sounders' uniforms match the turf. Wow, those strips are green.
1′
First kick and we're underway.
Truly impressive scene from Qwest Field. Lots of lime green across the stadium.
Suspect we're pushed back towards 9:30EST with the run over.
Waiting for a good look at the lineups. From the team sheets, I expect Seattle to line up in a 4-4-2 formation and New York to throw up a 4-5-1 with J.P. Angel up top.
Alexi Lalas talking about the fans disliking Beckham. True statement.
Good news. Basketball is over.
Kyle McCarthy here with you to take you through this one. New Mexico and Notre Dame just entered overtime in the second round of the NIT, so we could see a delay in the Emerald City.
Results
Times In EST
Top Scorers
| Player | Goals | Penalties | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kenny Cooper
Striker NY Red Bulls |
11 | 2 |
|
Chris Wondolowski
Striker San Jose Earthquakes |
11 | 1 |
|
Thierry Henry
Striker NY Red Bulls |
9 | 0 |
|
Saer Sene
Striker New England |
7 | 1 |
|
Maicon Santos
Striker D.C. United |
7 | 0 |