|
|
Sounders FC Ends Colorado Rapids' Unbeaten Streak
Seattle beat Colorado 3-0 in a match that featured two Nate Jaqua goals and goal and two assists from Fredy Montero. Rapids forward Omar Cummings missed scoring on a penalty kick in the first half.
Jun 28, 2009 9:48:21 PM
SEATTLE, Wash.— Before a season-high crowd of 32,356, Seattle Sounders FC stopped the Colorado Rapids' eight game unbeaten streak with a resounding 3-0 win.
Sounders forward Nate Jaqua scored two goals in the match, and forward Fredy Montero had a hand in all three goals. The Colombian scored once and had assists on the other two goals.
Kasey Keller registered his fifth shutout of the season.
Rapids forward and MLS player of the week Omar Cummings had several opportunities to score, including a penalty kick miss. He also failed on a one-on-one scoring chance late in the game.
Seattle (7-3-7) now has four point lead on Colorado (5-4-6) in the Western Conference standings. The Rapids have two games in hand.
First Half
Two key starters from each team missed this important match. Sounders midfielder Steve Zakuani hurt his ankle in the previous game and Rapids forward Connor Casey was out due to a callup to the U.S. Men’s National Team which was in Confederation Cup action.
Colorado wasted little time in pressuring Seattle’s defense. In the third minute, Seattle ‘keeper Kasey Keller made a point blank stop on forward Omar Cummings. Keller came up big and Cummings’ shot hit him directly in the chest.
The Sounders struck in the 23rd minute when forward Fredy Montero scored his eighth goal of the year. Midfielder Freddie Ljungberg’s cross from the left side of the pitch sailed into the six yard box and forward Nate Jaqua headed the ball towards the goal. Montero stepped in and deflected it past Rapids goalie Matt Pickens to give Seattle a 1-0 lead.
Pickens prevented a second goal in the 27th minute. With Ljungberg lined up just outside the left side of the penalty area, he shot the ball towards the top part of the net. Pickens extended his arm to send it over the bar and prevent a two-goal advantage for the home side.
The Rapids missed a chance to tie the game in the 32nd minute. Sounders FC defender Tyrone Marshall brought down Colorado captain Pablo Mastreoni two yards outside the box. Midfielder Colin Clark took the free kick and it hit a leaping Osvaldo Alonso in the right elbow. Referee Alex Prus consulted with his assistant and pointed to the penalty spot. Cummings took the penalty and watched in horror as his shot hit the upper right post.
Seattle central midfielder Alonso left the game in the 39th minute with an apparent groin injury. He was replaced by Patrick Ianni.
Towards the end of the half, Colorado maintained possession in the Seattle penalty area. A corner kick was cleared to end the first half which saw the Sounders walk into the locker room holding a 1-0 lead.
Second Half
Three minutes into the second half, with Montero positioned at the top of the box and surrounded by two Colorado defenders, he passed it to Jaqua on his right. Jaqua outran his defender and kicked it low into the net for his fifth goal of the year. Montero earned his fifth assist of the season with the pass.
Rapids ‘keeper Pickens stayed busy in the 57th minute as the Montero-Ljungberg-Jaqua combination continued to wreck havoc in front of him. He cleared the ball off of a corner kick to keep the score at 2-0.
Colorado moved their defenders up in an attempt to secure more scoring chances. This led to increased pressure in the Seattle third but no goal as the game entered the last 30 minutes.
The Sounders substituted midfielder Sanna Nyassi out in the 67th minute for Sebastien Le Toux. A minute later, the Frenchman played a ball to Montero at the top of the box. Montero used a one-touch with his right foot to deflect it to Jaqua on his left. Jaqua shot the ball with his left foot high into the Colorado net. This was Jaqua’s second goal of the game and his sixth of the year. LeToux and Montero were awarded assists and Seattle now led 3-0.
The fatigue from Colorado’s third game in eight days appeared to take its toll. Colorado failed to apply any persistent pressure or scoring chances until the 90th minute. Midfielder Jacob Peterson deftly passed the ball to Cummings, who was in on Keller one-on-one. Cummings missed the entire net as the ball sailed into the stands.
Jaqua made another run at a hat trick in extra time when Pickens mishandled the ball in the penalty box, but his first touch was poor and he missed a golden opportunity for his third goal of the game.
John Zielonka, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
Sounders forward Nate Jaqua scored two goals in the match, and forward Fredy Montero had a hand in all three goals. The Colombian scored once and had assists on the other two goals.
Kasey Keller registered his fifth shutout of the season.
Rapids forward and MLS player of the week Omar Cummings had several opportunities to score, including a penalty kick miss. He also failed on a one-on-one scoring chance late in the game.
Seattle (7-3-7) now has four point lead on Colorado (5-4-6) in the Western Conference standings. The Rapids have two games in hand.
First Half
Two key starters from each team missed this important match. Sounders midfielder Steve Zakuani hurt his ankle in the previous game and Rapids forward Connor Casey was out due to a callup to the U.S. Men’s National Team which was in Confederation Cup action.
Colorado wasted little time in pressuring Seattle’s defense. In the third minute, Seattle ‘keeper Kasey Keller made a point blank stop on forward Omar Cummings. Keller came up big and Cummings’ shot hit him directly in the chest.
The Sounders struck in the 23rd minute when forward Fredy Montero scored his eighth goal of the year. Midfielder Freddie Ljungberg’s cross from the left side of the pitch sailed into the six yard box and forward Nate Jaqua headed the ball towards the goal. Montero stepped in and deflected it past Rapids goalie Matt Pickens to give Seattle a 1-0 lead.
Pickens prevented a second goal in the 27th minute. With Ljungberg lined up just outside the left side of the penalty area, he shot the ball towards the top part of the net. Pickens extended his arm to send it over the bar and prevent a two-goal advantage for the home side.
The Rapids missed a chance to tie the game in the 32nd minute. Sounders FC defender Tyrone Marshall brought down Colorado captain Pablo Mastreoni two yards outside the box. Midfielder Colin Clark took the free kick and it hit a leaping Osvaldo Alonso in the right elbow. Referee Alex Prus consulted with his assistant and pointed to the penalty spot. Cummings took the penalty and watched in horror as his shot hit the upper right post.
Seattle central midfielder Alonso left the game in the 39th minute with an apparent groin injury. He was replaced by Patrick Ianni.
Towards the end of the half, Colorado maintained possession in the Seattle penalty area. A corner kick was cleared to end the first half which saw the Sounders walk into the locker room holding a 1-0 lead.
Second Half
Three minutes into the second half, with Montero positioned at the top of the box and surrounded by two Colorado defenders, he passed it to Jaqua on his right. Jaqua outran his defender and kicked it low into the net for his fifth goal of the year. Montero earned his fifth assist of the season with the pass.
Rapids ‘keeper Pickens stayed busy in the 57th minute as the Montero-Ljungberg-Jaqua combination continued to wreck havoc in front of him. He cleared the ball off of a corner kick to keep the score at 2-0.
Colorado moved their defenders up in an attempt to secure more scoring chances. This led to increased pressure in the Seattle third but no goal as the game entered the last 30 minutes.
The Sounders substituted midfielder Sanna Nyassi out in the 67th minute for Sebastien Le Toux. A minute later, the Frenchman played a ball to Montero at the top of the box. Montero used a one-touch with his right foot to deflect it to Jaqua on his left. Jaqua shot the ball with his left foot high into the Colorado net. This was Jaqua’s second goal of the game and his sixth of the year. LeToux and Montero were awarded assists and Seattle now led 3-0.
The fatigue from Colorado’s third game in eight days appeared to take its toll. Colorado failed to apply any persistent pressure or scoring chances until the 90th minute. Midfielder Jacob Peterson deftly passed the ball to Cummings, who was in on Keller one-on-one. Cummings missed the entire net as the ball sailed into the stands.
Jaqua made another run at a hat trick in extra time when Pickens mishandled the ball in the penalty box, but his first touch was poor and he missed a golden opportunity for his third goal of the game.
John Zielonka, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
Inside Goal.Com
-
EURO 2012: Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi and Van Persie named in Goal.com's dream team XI
Goal.com put together its dream team for this summer's European Championship in Poland and Ukraine
-
RIGG: Anelka struggling against the current in Shanghai
Nicolas Anelka went against the grain when he moved to Shanghai. Now he's finding that coaching and gelling tactically is like swimming against the tide.
-
ROGERS: Bradley should command a bidding war among Serie A teams
Chievo is currently shopping the American midfielder and several Italian clubs have shown interest.
-
ISOLA: Neymar-led Brazil should be considered the 2014 WC favorite
Neymar was brilliant as Brazil easily handled the United States with early World Cup preparations officially underway.
-
LATHAM: Mexico using summer friendlies to build depth
With World Cup qualifying to begin in June, Mexico is using three U.S.-hosted friendlies to build squad depth.