Sounders vs. Revolution

I went to my first Sounders league game on Thursday night against the Revolution. Even though the final score wasn't one that I was hoping to see (1-0 to the visitors), I still thoroughly the experience. Here are my thoughts concerning the fans, the game and the league.

The fans:
- There are have been a lot of people (Portland fans especially) who have slagged Seattle for getting behind this team so strongly and wondering why it didn't happen sooner with the USL Sounders. I saw several fans with old USL jerseys at the game, Sebastian Le Toux received the loudest ovation of any of the players (he was the star of the Sounders their last few years before being "promoted" to the MLS) and the recipient of the "Golden Scarf" before the game was a member of the Nordstrom who helped found the NASL Sounders (I believe, I can't remember exactly). The fans are not naive about this club's long and storied history.
- It really annoyed me when the big screens would read "scarves up" as certain points before and during the game. For starters, the fans aren't stupid. Also, let us create our own traditions and customs, not have some technician or PA person dictate what we should do.
- The Emerald City Supporters, the group of fans behind the south goal, are led in song and movement by a couple of guys in black "XBox Live" shirts who don't watch the game. I'm sure their getting paid to do this...which really bothers me. It creates a cool spectacle, but it's all staged. I was disappointed when I found this out.

The game:
- David Beckham was right about the MLS referees - they stink. The ref let the game get out of hand with rash challenges and dives all over the place. The 7 yellow cards is a sign that he didn't do a very good job.
- The Sounders were better than the Revs, but we lack that clinical finisher who can bury a single chance.
- On a related note, Nate Jaqua isn't very good. Fredy Montero had an off day by his standards (and the paper certainly agreed), but I thought he looked very sharp...until he got in front of goal. And we missed Freddie Ljungberg

The league:
- MLS should've come to the Pacific Northwest a long time ago. The fans here know their soccer (a guy a few rows in front of me had a Wolverhampton Wanderers flag next to his Sounders flag tied to the railing...you gotta know your soccer to know much about the reigning English League Champions) and are passionate about it. It's so hard to get tickets, hence why I was only able to go on a Thursday night in mid-August when people are out of town. I can't wait for Portland and Vancouver in 2011.

Just Another Reason Why I love the Sounders

This guy makes me proud to be a Sounders fan.

Fredy Montero to Europe; Fulham?

The British media is known for fabricating rumors and nonsense in all matters relating to soccer and transfers. This rumor, which I stumbled across this morning, seems much more plausible (mostly because the coach was quoted, but I suppose that could be fabricated as well).

Fredy Montero, the 21-year-old scoring sensation with the Seattle Sounders (he's the second leading scorer in all of MLS with 9 goals, only behind Columbus' Guillermo Barros Schelotto with 10) is being linked with a move to Europe, and Fulham seems to be a likely destination.

As a young player who has made such an impact in MLS, the sky seems to be the limit for him. That said, I'm surprised that he's being linked with England, Europe's undisputed top soccer league. He is explosive and is capable of making special plays whenever he's on the ball, but as I was also reminded yesterday, he's prone to making silly mistakes and be selfish with the ball.

He's young and that can change, but he's certainly capable of making a switch to Europe.

Sounders vs. Chelsea

Above are the two goals that Chelsea scored against the Seattle Sounders. I had seats up in the nosebleed section above the corner flag at the end where Chelsea scored both of their goals. Seattle competed with Chelsea and were able to move the ball around, I thought, but boy, Chelsea's defense didn't let anything remotely close to the goal. Our only real opportunity to score came from Freddie Ljungberg's free kick where Petr Cech made a flying save.

Overall, Chelsea is a very good team. They made their goals looks so simple, coming so quick. It felt like they could score anytime they touched the ball because every single player they had on the field was capable of doing something special with the ball. The players they brought on in the second half were first team players as well (Carvalho, Ivanovic, Obi Mikel).

A good day out. The weather couldn't have been better. I only learned after the game that ESPN2 showed the game nationally. Chelsea put on a show for the country, and the Sounders didn't play too shabby either.

Off to the Sounders vs. Chelsea Game Tomorrow!

I have tickets to go see the Seattle Sounders take on Chelsea tomorrow at Qwest Field. I have yet to see the Sounders play live since it's so hard to get tickets, but officials opened up the entire stadium for this friendly match. It's almost completely sold out (less than 1,000 tickets left in a stadium that holds 67,000). We (my dad and I) only managed to get tickets up in the nosebleed section, but I can't complain really. I'm just happy to be there.

I'll have thoughts and possibly even pictures on here whenever I get around to it. Tomorrow will be a busy day.

PS. I hate Chelsea. But I couldn't help myself from smiling while i watched this video Terry, Drogba and Ballack trying their hand at American football.

Sounders vs. Timbers

Tomorrow, soccer fans across the country get a rare treat in the under-appreciated US Open Cup. The Seattle Sounders FC, the expansion MLS side this year, takes on the Portland Timbers, their arch rivals from the USL. Portland will is scheduled to become an MLS team in 2011. This game will be first between the two teams in recent memory where they haven't been in the same division.

With the first four games of this round already being played, three MLS teams were upset by lower league competition. With the game in Portland, I certainly wouldn't count Portland out of adding to that total.

But because it is a rivalry game, expect the MLS side to not field a weakened team either. I'm a Sounders fan though, so I'm clearly biased.

The game is nationally televised on FSN I believe (a remarkable feat for a US Open Cup game - just shows how important of a rivalry this is). The game kicks off at 7pm PT.

The circumstances are right for an upset: home field advantage for the underdog, rivalry game meaning they'll be pumped up for it, and a large and vocal crowd on their side. Regardless of that, it should be a fantastic game as most rivalry games are. I encourage you all to tune in to experience what will be coming to the MLS in 2 years time.

DC United vs. Seattle Sounders Highlights

The first 60 minutes of the DC United/Seattle Sounders FC game last night were not nationally televised since ESPN decided to show the extra innings of a college baseball game instead. And what a game it was! Here are the highlights (and there were many) that we all missed due to ESPN's decision.