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Seattle Triumph Over United In Open Cup Final
Second half goals from Fredy Montero and Roger Levesque were enough for expansion side Seattle Sounders FC to bring home their first ever piece of silverware.
Sep 2, 2009 11:41:07 PM
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In a match that did not fail to provide the excitement, the new boys of MLS, the Seattle Sounders, were able to pip storied franchise D.C. United 2-1 in front of 17,329 fans at RFK Stadium, winning the US Open Cup.
After much was made about the location of the match by the front offices of both sides, the game lived up to its own hype, as both sides looked to win the match by scoring goals, and not by avoiding conceding them.
First Half
Action in the first half was hard to miss, as both sides had their opportunities to find a breakthrough. United were first, as a Marc Burch long ball found winger Chris Pontius in the box. Pontius held off the challenge of Leo Gonzalez, before firing wide from a tight angle.
Fredy Montero then had the chance to find the opening goal twice in the matter of minutes. From a D.C. turnover, he made some space from himself, before trying a curling effort from outside the box. The effort was just wide, and failed to test United keeper Josh Wicks. Moments later, Montero should have had the opening goal. Steve Zakuani beat the offsides trap on a pass from Freddie Ljungberg, and slid a pass into the middle of the box for Montero. Montero put his effort straight at Wicks however, and United immediately cleared the danger.
D.C. then had a couple of chances at the other end, but to no avail. In the 16th minute, Seattle had a corner kick that was caught by Wicks. He quickly played it up for Christian Gomez, who worked his way down near the Seattle box. Just as he was about to cut back though, James Riley put in an excellent tackle, and broke up any chance.
Gomez then had a chance from a free kick in the 18th minute, as he was fouled twenty five yards out from goal. Gomez did well to curl his shot around the box, but it failed to come all the back, and it bounced just wide of Kasey Keller’s post.
Right back down to the other end, Seattle were again turned away by a fantastic Wicks save. United again gifted Seattle possession, and Sebastien Le Toux did well to get close to the box, before slipping a pass in for Ljungberg. The former Swedish international took his chance first time, but the legs of Wicks made the save, denying Seattle a terrific chance.
In the 28th minute, a Seattle goal looked inevitable, but a last-ditch tackle from United defender Dejan Jakovic saved the day. United gave the ball away again in their own half, and Montero quickly played Zakuani in behind the United defense. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Jakovic dove in, and forced Zakuani to put his shot off target from a close range.
United finally forced Keller into a bit of action, as Ben Olsen did well outside of the box to make a bit of room for himself. After moving around Peter Vagenas, he released a left footed shot from outside the box, but Keller was able to put it out for a corner, which did not amount to anything for United.
There were two more chances to round out an exciting opening forty-five minutes, but neither was the opening goal. Gomez was able to run at the Seattle defense, making it all the way down to just outside the box. He let fly a left footed shot, but in addition to beating Keller, his effort also beat the post, bouncing wide. At the other end, again Montero should have scored. Le Toux’s pinpoint cross found a wide open Montero in the box, but again the Colombian striker put his effort straight at Wicks, who pushed the shot away from the corner. And at the stroke of 45 minutes, the half ended, somehow, without any goals.
Second Half
With United failing to make use of their possession in the first half, they made a change at halftime, as they brought on Santino Quaranta for Fred at halftime.
United created the chances early in the second half, but were left to rue their chances. Bryan Namoff had a header go straight to Keller, and Gomez was wasteful on two chances, sending a free kick and an otherwise open shot from outside the box well over the bar.
Burch then tested Keller from way out, as a powerful left footed shot made its way to Keller. Keller bobbled the shot, but was then able to secure it, and avoided allowing a second chance from a rebound. Minutes later, striker Luciano Emilio received a pass in the box from Pontius, but the Brazilian striker poked his effort straight at Keller.
Then in the 67th minute, the game finally got its first goal. On a swift counter attack move, Seattle moved up the field, and sent a lofted pass to Zakuani. Zakuani then headed the ball into the path of Ljungberg in the box, who quickly took a shot. Wicks did well to stop the shot, but spilled the rebound, and Montero was first to the loose ball to prod it home, giving Seattle the lead.
In the exchange, Wicks ended up earning himself a red card. After the shot went in, with Montero on the ground, Wicks stomped on the striker. After several moments, and a conference of referees, Wicks was sent off, much to his chagrin. After several moments, he was finally ushered off the field, still in disgust.
United was forced to bring on Milos Kocic for Gomez to replace Wicks, as United were now down a goal and a man.
Whilst they were down a man, United were not beaten, as they pushed forward looking for an equalizing goal. But Burch sent a free kick well over, and Riley did well to knock out a Quaranta cross that was destined to trouble the Seattle back line. United were falling short though, and looked vulnerable on the counter attack.
In the 86th minute, Seattle finally made United pay. Jakovic failed to deal with a long ball, and Le Toux was able to pick it up in the box. With time and space, he easily slide a pass through the middle of the box for substitute Roger Levesque, who easily poked the ball home, as Kocic was unable to recover. 2-0 to Seattle, with just four minutes for United to mount a comeback.
United were able to make a game out of it though, as Clyde Simms pulled one back in the 89th minute. Quaranta took a free kick twenty yards out from goal, and slammed it up against the wall. The ball fell to Rodney Wallace in the box, who touched it on to Simms, who easily slotted it home with Keller out of position. Shortly after, five minutes were given for extra time, and the United fans urged their team on.
However, it was not to be for United. They had several promising attacks in the final five minutes, but they failed to test Keller properly, and when the whistle went, Seattle celebrated a 2-1 cup final win.
Steven Streff, Goal.com
For more news from Major League Soccer visit Goal.com's MLS page.
After much was made about the location of the match by the front offices of both sides, the game lived up to its own hype, as both sides looked to win the match by scoring goals, and not by avoiding conceding them.
First Half
Action in the first half was hard to miss, as both sides had their opportunities to find a breakthrough. United were first, as a Marc Burch long ball found winger Chris Pontius in the box. Pontius held off the challenge of Leo Gonzalez, before firing wide from a tight angle.
Fredy Montero then had the chance to find the opening goal twice in the matter of minutes. From a D.C. turnover, he made some space from himself, before trying a curling effort from outside the box. The effort was just wide, and failed to test United keeper Josh Wicks. Moments later, Montero should have had the opening goal. Steve Zakuani beat the offsides trap on a pass from Freddie Ljungberg, and slid a pass into the middle of the box for Montero. Montero put his effort straight at Wicks however, and United immediately cleared the danger.
D.C. then had a couple of chances at the other end, but to no avail. In the 16th minute, Seattle had a corner kick that was caught by Wicks. He quickly played it up for Christian Gomez, who worked his way down near the Seattle box. Just as he was about to cut back though, James Riley put in an excellent tackle, and broke up any chance.
Gomez then had a chance from a free kick in the 18th minute, as he was fouled twenty five yards out from goal. Gomez did well to curl his shot around the box, but it failed to come all the back, and it bounced just wide of Kasey Keller’s post.
Right back down to the other end, Seattle were again turned away by a fantastic Wicks save. United again gifted Seattle possession, and Sebastien Le Toux did well to get close to the box, before slipping a pass in for Ljungberg. The former Swedish international took his chance first time, but the legs of Wicks made the save, denying Seattle a terrific chance.
In the 28th minute, a Seattle goal looked inevitable, but a last-ditch tackle from United defender Dejan Jakovic saved the day. United gave the ball away again in their own half, and Montero quickly played Zakuani in behind the United defense. Just as he was about to pull the trigger, Jakovic dove in, and forced Zakuani to put his shot off target from a close range.
United finally forced Keller into a bit of action, as Ben Olsen did well outside of the box to make a bit of room for himself. After moving around Peter Vagenas, he released a left footed shot from outside the box, but Keller was able to put it out for a corner, which did not amount to anything for United.
There were two more chances to round out an exciting opening forty-five minutes, but neither was the opening goal. Gomez was able to run at the Seattle defense, making it all the way down to just outside the box. He let fly a left footed shot, but in addition to beating Keller, his effort also beat the post, bouncing wide. At the other end, again Montero should have scored. Le Toux’s pinpoint cross found a wide open Montero in the box, but again the Colombian striker put his effort straight at Wicks, who pushed the shot away from the corner. And at the stroke of 45 minutes, the half ended, somehow, without any goals.
Second Half
With United failing to make use of their possession in the first half, they made a change at halftime, as they brought on Santino Quaranta for Fred at halftime.
United created the chances early in the second half, but were left to rue their chances. Bryan Namoff had a header go straight to Keller, and Gomez was wasteful on two chances, sending a free kick and an otherwise open shot from outside the box well over the bar.
Burch then tested Keller from way out, as a powerful left footed shot made its way to Keller. Keller bobbled the shot, but was then able to secure it, and avoided allowing a second chance from a rebound. Minutes later, striker Luciano Emilio received a pass in the box from Pontius, but the Brazilian striker poked his effort straight at Keller.
Then in the 67th minute, the game finally got its first goal. On a swift counter attack move, Seattle moved up the field, and sent a lofted pass to Zakuani. Zakuani then headed the ball into the path of Ljungberg in the box, who quickly took a shot. Wicks did well to stop the shot, but spilled the rebound, and Montero was first to the loose ball to prod it home, giving Seattle the lead.
In the exchange, Wicks ended up earning himself a red card. After the shot went in, with Montero on the ground, Wicks stomped on the striker. After several moments, and a conference of referees, Wicks was sent off, much to his chagrin. After several moments, he was finally ushered off the field, still in disgust.
United was forced to bring on Milos Kocic for Gomez to replace Wicks, as United were now down a goal and a man.
Whilst they were down a man, United were not beaten, as they pushed forward looking for an equalizing goal. But Burch sent a free kick well over, and Riley did well to knock out a Quaranta cross that was destined to trouble the Seattle back line. United were falling short though, and looked vulnerable on the counter attack.
In the 86th minute, Seattle finally made United pay. Jakovic failed to deal with a long ball, and Le Toux was able to pick it up in the box. With time and space, he easily slide a pass through the middle of the box for substitute Roger Levesque, who easily poked the ball home, as Kocic was unable to recover. 2-0 to Seattle, with just four minutes for United to mount a comeback.
United were able to make a game out of it though, as Clyde Simms pulled one back in the 89th minute. Quaranta took a free kick twenty yards out from goal, and slammed it up against the wall. The ball fell to Rodney Wallace in the box, who touched it on to Simms, who easily slotted it home with Keller out of position. Shortly after, five minutes were given for extra time, and the United fans urged their team on.
However, it was not to be for United. They had several promising attacks in the final five minutes, but they failed to test Keller properly, and when the whistle went, Seattle celebrated a 2-1 cup final win.
Steven Streff, Goal.com
For more news from Major League Soccer visit Goal.com's MLS page.
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