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The Reds Fly As The Sounders And Fire Shoot Zeros
Two of the MLS’ top teams matched up evenly on the scoreboard and ejections. The Fire’s John Thorrington and Seattle’s Freddie Ljungberg received red cards in the second half to highlight a 0-0 tie.
Jul 25, 2009 8:05:23 PM
SEATTLE, Wash.— In their second meeting of the season, Sounders FC and Chicago Fire sported the same amount of points at the beginning of the match and ended it the same way (7-3-8). The 0-0 tie featured multiple scoring chances by both teams and the issuance of numerous yellow and red cards by referee Baldomero Toledo.
The teams finished with ten men each after Toledo issued his red cards in a four minute span starting in the 54th minute. Both were the result of multiple yellows to midfielders John Thorrington and Freddie Ljungberg.
Before Saturday’s match, Chicago sat atop the Eastern conference and Seattle started four points behind Western Conference leader Houston Dynamo. The Sounders played their third match in eight days.
Seattle forward Nate Jaqua, who played with the Fire from 2003 until the 2006 season, forward Freddie Montero and defender Patrick Ianni all missed golden opportunities to break the deadlock. Fire defender Brandon Prideaux responded with his own miss late in the match.
Chicago ‘keeper John Busch, fresh from a stint with the USMNT, kept a clean sheet with a total of five saves. Kasey Keller, his counterpart, only had to make only two saves during the match to earn his shutout.
First Half
Seattle forward Nate Jaqua wasted little time in attempting to score against his former team. Two minutes into the match, midfielder Freddie Ljungberg crossed the ball into the box. Jaqua’s shot headed towards the goal and hit the right post along with a diving Chicago ‘keeper John Busch
In the eighth minute, Busch kept Seattle off the board with an outstanding save on Ljungberg. The play developed with midfielder Steve Zakuani’s pass to Jaqua on his right. The Oregon native spotted an open Ljungberg who saw Busch come up big in keeping the game scoreless.
Eight minutes later, Seattle forward Fredy Montero outran two Fire defenders off a long ball that bounced high into the air. The Columbian got there first and aimed his shot towards the upper right hand corner of the goal, which barely missed.
Chicago retaliated three minutes later when forward Patrick Nyarko crossed the ball from the Seattle endline to midfielder Marco Pappa. His shot missed the right post.
Jaqua missed two chances in the 37th minute to break the deadlock. Ljungberg passed to a waiting Montero, who chipped it to an open Jaqua. His downward header was stopped by Busch, but the ball bounced in front of him. Jaqua’s next attempt went directly into Busch.
One minute of extra time provided Chicago an opportunity to take the lead before the half ended. Sounders defender Osvaldo Alonso fouled Cuauhtemoc Blanco nine yards in front of the box area. The Mexican nationals free kick was blocked by the Seattle wall to end the half scoreless.
Second Half
Thorrington received his second yellow card in the 54th minute. He tackled Ljungberg from behind eight yards in front of the box. Referee Toledo wasted little time in getting his yellow and red cards out to end the midfielder’s afternoon and put his team a man down.
Four minutes later, with Ljungberg streaking down the pitch, he fell to the ground. Toledo ignored the former Swedish national’s pleas and raises a yellow card into the air for diving. Ljungberg continued to protest the call and Toledo decided enough was enough, and out came the red for dissent. Both teams were now playing with ten men with more than 30 minutes to play in the match. The home crowd of 32,405 attendees booed the decision as an upset Ljungberg left the field.
Midfielder Steve Zakuani moved along the endline in the 63rd minute and managed to send a shot toward the right post that barely missed. Three minutes later, the English native received a cross from Jaqua that he sent directly into the chest of Busch.
With ten minutes left in the match, Montero had his own chance to score. Jaqua made a short pass to the MLS’ second leading scorer five yards in front of the box. Montero’s short struck the upper right post solidly and bounced away.
In the 89th minute, Fire midfielder sent an inswinger from the right corner to a waiting Brandon Prideaux in the box. His header hit the crossbar and Seattle cleared to end the threat.
John Zielonka, Goal.com
The teams finished with ten men each after Toledo issued his red cards in a four minute span starting in the 54th minute. Both were the result of multiple yellows to midfielders John Thorrington and Freddie Ljungberg.
Before Saturday’s match, Chicago sat atop the Eastern conference and Seattle started four points behind Western Conference leader Houston Dynamo. The Sounders played their third match in eight days.
Seattle forward Nate Jaqua, who played with the Fire from 2003 until the 2006 season, forward Freddie Montero and defender Patrick Ianni all missed golden opportunities to break the deadlock. Fire defender Brandon Prideaux responded with his own miss late in the match.
Chicago ‘keeper John Busch, fresh from a stint with the USMNT, kept a clean sheet with a total of five saves. Kasey Keller, his counterpart, only had to make only two saves during the match to earn his shutout.
First Half
Seattle forward Nate Jaqua wasted little time in attempting to score against his former team. Two minutes into the match, midfielder Freddie Ljungberg crossed the ball into the box. Jaqua’s shot headed towards the goal and hit the right post along with a diving Chicago ‘keeper John Busch
In the eighth minute, Busch kept Seattle off the board with an outstanding save on Ljungberg. The play developed with midfielder Steve Zakuani’s pass to Jaqua on his right. The Oregon native spotted an open Ljungberg who saw Busch come up big in keeping the game scoreless.
Eight minutes later, Seattle forward Fredy Montero outran two Fire defenders off a long ball that bounced high into the air. The Columbian got there first and aimed his shot towards the upper right hand corner of the goal, which barely missed.
Chicago retaliated three minutes later when forward Patrick Nyarko crossed the ball from the Seattle endline to midfielder Marco Pappa. His shot missed the right post.
Jaqua missed two chances in the 37th minute to break the deadlock. Ljungberg passed to a waiting Montero, who chipped it to an open Jaqua. His downward header was stopped by Busch, but the ball bounced in front of him. Jaqua’s next attempt went directly into Busch.
One minute of extra time provided Chicago an opportunity to take the lead before the half ended. Sounders defender Osvaldo Alonso fouled Cuauhtemoc Blanco nine yards in front of the box area. The Mexican nationals free kick was blocked by the Seattle wall to end the half scoreless.
Second Half
Thorrington received his second yellow card in the 54th minute. He tackled Ljungberg from behind eight yards in front of the box. Referee Toledo wasted little time in getting his yellow and red cards out to end the midfielder’s afternoon and put his team a man down.
Four minutes later, with Ljungberg streaking down the pitch, he fell to the ground. Toledo ignored the former Swedish national’s pleas and raises a yellow card into the air for diving. Ljungberg continued to protest the call and Toledo decided enough was enough, and out came the red for dissent. Both teams were now playing with ten men with more than 30 minutes to play in the match. The home crowd of 32,405 attendees booed the decision as an upset Ljungberg left the field.
Midfielder Steve Zakuani moved along the endline in the 63rd minute and managed to send a shot toward the right post that barely missed. Three minutes later, the English native received a cross from Jaqua that he sent directly into the chest of Busch.
With ten minutes left in the match, Montero had his own chance to score. Jaqua made a short pass to the MLS’ second leading scorer five yards in front of the box. Montero’s short struck the upper right post solidly and bounced away.
In the 89th minute, Fire midfielder sent an inswinger from the right corner to a waiting Brandon Prideaux in the box. His header hit the crossbar and Seattle cleared to end the threat.
John Zielonka, Goal.com
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