|
|
Seattle Overcomes Adversity In 1-1 Draw with Chicago
The Chicago Fire dominated play against Seattle Sounders FC. But Seattle stood strong, despite falling a man down and a goal down. The visitors eventually forced a 1-1 draw.
May 3, 2009 1:12:06 AM
BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – The Seattle Sounders fought back from both a one-man and one-goal deficit to force a 1-1 draw against the Chicago Fire. It was a tough game for both sides. At the end, Chicago remains undefeated (2-0-5). And Seattle (4-2-1) allowed its first goal, while earning its first draw.
A scoreless first half between the Chicago Fire and Seattle Sounders was a defensive battle. Chicago’s defense limited Seattle’s attempts, while the Sounders' defense broke up the Fire’s offensive push.
Things changed quickly in the second half. The Chicago Fire found themselves with a one-man advantage when Seattle forward Fredy Montero exited the game with a red card in the 48th minute. Twenty minutes later Marco Pappa gave Chicago a 1-0 lead. But six minutes later, Seattle answered with a Tyrone Marshall goal.
First half
Seattle defender Tyrone Marshall set the gritty tone early, when he took down Brian McBride for a yellow card in the first minute.
Seattle forward Nate Jaqua had the first scoring chance, as he positioned himself well on a corner kick in the eighth minute. Jaqua jumped up for a header, but Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch grabbed it before he could take a shot.
Chicago then turned up their attack. In the ninth minute, midfielder Marco Pappa dribbled the ball in the box. McBride slid, but the ball was cleared by Seattle’s defense.
Three minutes later, Pappa sent the first shot for the Fire high. Defender Tim Ward then blasted a shot wide right in the 18th minute.
The Fire had the best opportunity of the half just two minutes later. Midfielder John Thorrington crossed the ball into the box, where Fire forward Patrick Nyarko stretched to the ball, and sent a left-footed shot off the left post and back into play.
Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller made two crucial saves in the first half. Pappa shot a short ball directly at goal in the 29th minute. Keller grabbed it. In the 41st minute, midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco sent a short ball into Keller’s arms.
Seattle closed with two quality shots late in the first half. Midfielder Steve Zakuani soared the ball just wide right of the net in the 42nd minute. In first-half stoppage time, forward Nate Jaqua rocketed a shot high of goal.
The home team was generally controlling the game, as Chicago outshot Seattle 8 to 2 in the first half, with two shots on goal. The Fire’s defense kept Busch’s job relatively easy in the first half.
Second Half
Just three minutes into the second half, the Fire received a huge advantage. Seattle forward Fredy Montero fouled defender Gonzalo Segares in the face, as he elbowed him on a mid-air collision. Segares crumpled to the pitch. Montero, one of Seattle’s leading scorers and one of their biggest offensive threats, left the match with a red card.
Sounders FC brought on fresh legs in the 56th minute as Sebastien LeToux replaced Zakuani. Chicago also brought on fresh legs, with forward Chris Rolfe replacing Thorrington in the 66th minute.
In the 68th minute, Chicago accomplished something that no other MLS team had done. Blanco dribbled the ball into the right side of the box and crossed to Pappa, who sent a perfect shot past Keller and into the net. The goal was Keller’s first conceded goal since joining the league.
Segares hit the pitch before the goal and soon was assisted off the field. Defender Brandon Prideaux replaced Segares, who suffered from a moderate left calf contusion.
The 1-0 lead was short-lived for the Fire as a corner kick from Seattle midfielder Freddie Ljungberg resulted in a goal. Ljungberg sent the ball precisely into the box. Marshall met up with the ball on the left side of the goal, firing a short ball into the net, tying the game at 1-1 in the 74th minute.
Seattle’s attack ended with their goal. The Fire, however, kept pushing for the win until the final whistle.
Nyarko headed an attempt toward Keller in the 79th minute. The goalkeeper easily grabbed it for the save. Keller also stopped another Nyarko attempt in the 83rd minute. Blanco and Rolfe added shots in the final minutes. Keller and company stood strong, forcing the 1-1 draw.
Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com
Goal.com has coverage of all the action in Major League Soccer!
A scoreless first half between the Chicago Fire and Seattle Sounders was a defensive battle. Chicago’s defense limited Seattle’s attempts, while the Sounders' defense broke up the Fire’s offensive push.
Things changed quickly in the second half. The Chicago Fire found themselves with a one-man advantage when Seattle forward Fredy Montero exited the game with a red card in the 48th minute. Twenty minutes later Marco Pappa gave Chicago a 1-0 lead. But six minutes later, Seattle answered with a Tyrone Marshall goal.
First half
Seattle defender Tyrone Marshall set the gritty tone early, when he took down Brian McBride for a yellow card in the first minute.
Seattle forward Nate Jaqua had the first scoring chance, as he positioned himself well on a corner kick in the eighth minute. Jaqua jumped up for a header, but Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch grabbed it before he could take a shot.
Chicago then turned up their attack. In the ninth minute, midfielder Marco Pappa dribbled the ball in the box. McBride slid, but the ball was cleared by Seattle’s defense.
Three minutes later, Pappa sent the first shot for the Fire high. Defender Tim Ward then blasted a shot wide right in the 18th minute.
The Fire had the best opportunity of the half just two minutes later. Midfielder John Thorrington crossed the ball into the box, where Fire forward Patrick Nyarko stretched to the ball, and sent a left-footed shot off the left post and back into play.
Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller made two crucial saves in the first half. Pappa shot a short ball directly at goal in the 29th minute. Keller grabbed it. In the 41st minute, midfielder Cuauhtemoc Blanco sent a short ball into Keller’s arms.
Seattle closed with two quality shots late in the first half. Midfielder Steve Zakuani soared the ball just wide right of the net in the 42nd minute. In first-half stoppage time, forward Nate Jaqua rocketed a shot high of goal.
The home team was generally controlling the game, as Chicago outshot Seattle 8 to 2 in the first half, with two shots on goal. The Fire’s defense kept Busch’s job relatively easy in the first half.
Second Half
Just three minutes into the second half, the Fire received a huge advantage. Seattle forward Fredy Montero fouled defender Gonzalo Segares in the face, as he elbowed him on a mid-air collision. Segares crumpled to the pitch. Montero, one of Seattle’s leading scorers and one of their biggest offensive threats, left the match with a red card.
Sounders FC brought on fresh legs in the 56th minute as Sebastien LeToux replaced Zakuani. Chicago also brought on fresh legs, with forward Chris Rolfe replacing Thorrington in the 66th minute.
In the 68th minute, Chicago accomplished something that no other MLS team had done. Blanco dribbled the ball into the right side of the box and crossed to Pappa, who sent a perfect shot past Keller and into the net. The goal was Keller’s first conceded goal since joining the league.
Segares hit the pitch before the goal and soon was assisted off the field. Defender Brandon Prideaux replaced Segares, who suffered from a moderate left calf contusion.
The 1-0 lead was short-lived for the Fire as a corner kick from Seattle midfielder Freddie Ljungberg resulted in a goal. Ljungberg sent the ball precisely into the box. Marshall met up with the ball on the left side of the goal, firing a short ball into the net, tying the game at 1-1 in the 74th minute.
Seattle’s attack ended with their goal. The Fire, however, kept pushing for the win until the final whistle.
Nyarko headed an attempt toward Keller in the 79th minute. The goalkeeper easily grabbed it for the save. Keller also stopped another Nyarko attempt in the 83rd minute. Blanco and Rolfe added shots in the final minutes. Keller and company stood strong, forcing the 1-1 draw.
Kathryn L. Knapp, Goal.com
Goal.com has coverage of all the action in Major League Soccer!
Inside Goal.Com
-
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.
-
McCARTHY: Harrisburg springs its wildest Open Cup upset to date
The City Islanders fought back from three goals down with nine minutes to play and won the game on penalty kicks in a stunning game on a wild night for the U.S. Open Cup.