SSFC 2
SJ Earthquakes 1
June 13, 2009
Seattle, WA
X-Box Pitch at Qwest Field
Good on paper? I was beginning to wonder ...
Really, a team is its record and results. And, although I generally believe that a team with more talent will win out over the long haul it was beginning to be more than just a game or two glitch. Last year the 7th and 8th seeds had 39 and 40 points respectively and with a win the Sounders FC are now at 20 with less than half the season played. They appear to be a legitimate playoff team, not simply a flashy team that had a few hot games at the start.
I shook Joe Roth's hand in Occidental Park before the game and he still had that same knowing and confident smile. Nate Jaqua responded positively when I commented that they were due for a five or six game win streak. Even without a number of starters they continued to play forward and attack. Last night they played smarter too. Yes, the Freddie's each had a moment or two with the refs that led to more stupid yellow cards, but the few moments were still not enough to totally throw them off their games and came late in the game with a lead.
I know that Ljungberg got the Man of the Match, but the yellow tipped me to really considering it to be Le Toux. Le Toux was as relentless and influential as Ljungberg, set up the first goal, and didn't get the stupid yellow for dissent. Montero got the second goal, but his error on defense and yellow tipped it again towards Le Toux for me. It was good that Montero and the crowd exchanged applause, as he really had a good game up to the defensive error and made a couple nice plays right after. Kasey Keller (looking ready to direct traffic after the game in construction worker orange) was as steady as ever, but was exceptionally demonstrative after the goal. The team played well overall and when Alonso came in as a late sub, his presence was noticed in how the defense stabilized against the Earthquakes pressure.
Random notes:
- I finally did the Fan Rally and March to the Match and that was fun. Getting to meet a couple players and shake Roth's hand was cool.
- Even though gift wrapped, the San Jose goal came because they brought pressure and capitalized with a strong shot. The end result was a closer scoreline than the overall play warranted, but it was not like they didn't play forward when behind to try and get back into it.
- Before the first goal, SJE had 11 players behind the ball with not one guy ten yards from midfield at one point with Ljungberg in possession. That was as big a defensive shell as I have seen a team go into in league play in the first half of a game ever. Plus, all 14 SJE fans got to see most of the first half up close that way.
