Freddie Ljungberg and Joseph Niouky
Photo courtesy of Rick Morrison/Prost Soccer
June 5, the Seattle Sounders beat the New England Revolution 3-0 at Qwest Field with all three goals scored in the first half. Overall, the Sounders launched 19 goals with eight on goal and the Revolution fired only two shots with one on frame. The Revolution started poorly with Corey Gibbs earning a yellow card in the third minute for a pointless tackle from behind on Fredy Montero, setting a tone that lasted 90 minutes as New England chased Seattle.
Leo Gonzalez scored the go-ahead goal and game winner five minutes in with a left-footed blast that splintered the defense. Steve Zakuani provided that assist and in the 24th minute contributed the second goal assisted by Brad Evans and Fredy Montero in an increasingly chippy game. Shortly before the half, Montero skipped through a pack of defenders outside the box and drove home the third goal assisted by Pat Noonan and Gonzalez.
Revolution bench at Qwest Field
Photo courtesy Rick Morrison/Prost Soccer
The make-shift Revolution starting line-up was an omen of the scourge to follow. Keeper Bobby Shuttleworth got his first MLS start and came up big with five saves while stepping in for Preston Burpo, whose leg was broken in the Revolution's 3-2 win over the New York Red Bulls on May 29. The week-by-week New England backline consisted of central defenders Corey Gibbs and Pat Phelan, who was not replaced by Emmanuel Osei until the 46th minute. Kevin Alston and midfielder Chris Tierney, who has shuttled through six positions this season, were stationed respectively at right and left back.
Shalrie Joseph paired centrally with Joseph Niouky, who received his fifth caution of the season which resulted in a suspension to be served during the Revolution's next match on June 27th versus Chicago Fire. Niouky has played 972 minutes this season despite seldom completing a useful pass or breaking up play and his persistent presence in the starting line-up is a mystery. Marko Perovic played left wing next to Niouky and behind Kenny Mansally and was not able to combine as he did last Saturday versus New York when Tierney was positioned centrally. Right wing Sainey Nyassi never encountered his twin brother Sanna as he was subbed out for Zak Boggs in the 59th minute before Sanna subbed in for Ljungberg in the 88th minute. Zack Schilawski saw little of the ball while paired up top with Mansally, who was replaced by Edgaras Jankauskas at the half.
Fredy Montero, Corey Gibbs, and Chris Tierney
Photo courtesy of Rick Morrison/Prost Soccer
The Revolution's possession and opportunities improved with the second half substitutions, but it was too little, too late. For the Sounders' players and fans, the game was a shot of a confidence and a chance to reaffirm their status as an elite club.
MLS is on break for the World Cup and the Revolution next compete in a friendly with Brazil's Cruzeiro on June 13th at Gillette Stadium.
For a Seattle perspective on the 3-0 game at Qwest field, read MLS Examiner and Prost Soccer editor Steve Clare.
FOLLOW BOSTON PRO SOCCER EXAMINER AND LE EISENMENGER ON TWITTER AND SUBSCRIBE TO EMAIL ALERTS.
New England Revolution (3-7-2, 11 pts.) at Seattle Sounders FC (4-5-3, 15 pts.)
June 5, 2010 – Qwest Field (Seattle, Wash.)
Scoring Summary:
SEA – Leo Gonzalez (Steve Zakuani) 5
SEA – Steve Zakuani (Brad Evans, Fredy Montero) 24
SEA – Fredy Montero (Pat Noonan, Leo Gonzalez) 42
New England Revolution: Bobby Shuttleworth (GK), Chris Tierney, Cory Gibbs ©, Pat Phelan (Emmanuel Osei 46), Kevin Alston, Marko Perovic, Shalrie Joseph, Joseph Niouky, Sainey Nyassi ( Zak Boggs 59), Kenny Mansally (Edgaras Jankauskas 46), Zack Schilawski
Substitutes Not Used: Tim Murray, Kheli Dube Khano Smith,
STATS: Shots: 2; Shots on Goal: 1; Saves: 5; Corner Kicks: 4; Offside: 2; Fouls Committed: 11
Seattle Sounders FC: Kasey Keller (GK), James Riley, Jeff Parke, Tyrone Marshall, Leo Ganzalez (Taylor Graham 91+), Steve Zakuani, Patrick Iannia, Brad Evans, Freddie Ljungberg (Sanna Nyassi 88), Fredy Montero, Pat Noonan (Roger Levesque 81)
Substitutes Not Used: Terry Boss, Nathan Sturgis, Zach Scott, Mike Seamon
STATS: Shots: 19; Shots on Goal: 8; Saves: 1; Corner Kicks: 10; Offside: 5; Fouls Committed: 13
Misconduct Summary:
NE – Cory Gibbs (caution) 3
SEA – Leo Gonzalez (caution) 36
NE – Joseph Niouky (caution) 64
Referee: Jorge Ganzalez
Referee’s Assistants: Philippe Briere (SAR), Jeff Hosking (JAR)
Fourth Official: Ramon Hernandez
Weather: Partly Cloudy, 67 degrees
Attendance: 36,344
Comments
World Cup break couldn't come fast enough. This game was the absolute embodiment of MLS Past vs. MLS Future in terms of ownership styles, players, and attendance/atmosphere. A thrown-together afterthought of a team not even 2nd on its owner's priority list vs. a team viewed as, if not an equal, then at least a near-equal to its ownership's NFL property. We bring in a young player like Niouky and an old one like Jankauskas while they bring in a young one like Montero and old ones like Ljungberg and Keller. Says it all.
Jim,
It still doesn't add up financially or market-wise. You don't have to go halfway around the world to find players of Niouky, Dube, Mansally, and Nyassi's quality and price range. They're here in the US and some of them are on the bench. There are plenty of U.S. Hispanics beyond that quality and they would draw that demographic and improve attendance, a League objective. That's one issue.
Then there's Phelan. I don't want to think that his inclusion on the roster has anything to do with his cousin's catching a football in a college game 11 years ago. Give me another reason.
I honestly don't think there are THAT many American Hispanics who aren't playing pro soccer who should be. I think there is the perception in that community that there are, but whenever an MLS team has open tryouts, how many people (of any ethnicity) make it? A scant few. There's a lot of Boston Irish playing in Sunday pub leagues who think they can play in MLS, but they can't. Immigrant communities vastly underestimate the quality of MLS play.
I agree it makes no sense we've gone halfway around the world and brought back scraps. Mike Burns' statement after Heaps' retirement that the team would be "much more active" in the transfer market never actually happened. They're given about $20 bucks for player acquisition and have to travel far afield to convince players to come to play for this penny-pinching organization for peanuts.
I don't know why Phelan is playing. If anyone surnamed Kraft was actually interested, he'd be gone.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!